DIY Breakfast Gift Basket with Homemade Pancake Mix

Looking for a thoughtful homemade gift? This breakfast gift basket includes everything for a perfect morning meal, including homemade pancake mix, maple syrup, pastries, and coffee. Perfect for teacher gifts, hostess gifts, or holiday giving!

This breakfast gift basket is the perfect thoughtful gift for the holidays and beyond. A bottle of wine is nice, flowers are sweet, but I really love giving something practical yet special and more personal. Everyone would love a gorgeous breakfast basket like this one. This basket makes a great teacher gift or hostess gift during the holidays.

I love writing on the card for dinner party hosts: "You made dinner, so I took care of breakfast." It's the perfect hostess gift. But really any breakfast lover would appreciate this basket full of gourmet treats. These beautiful goodies turn a lazy Sunday into a glorious morning.

If you're looking for more gift ideas, you might also enjoy our Small Batch Pancakes For Two Recipe, Holiday Hostess Wine and Cheese Gift Basket, or Printable Christmas Gift Card Holders.

What to Put in a Breakfast Gift Basket

The key to a great breakfast gift basket is including a mix of homemade and store-bought items. Here's what we included in our basket:

Essential Items

• Homemade pancake mix (recipe below) in a vintage mason jar
• Real maple syrup (not pancake syrup, the real stuff!)
• Gourmet coffee (we used Starbucks Holiday Blend)
• Fresh pastries from a local bakery
• Pretty basket or container to hold everything

Optional Add-Ins

• Butter or whipped cream (if delivering locally)
• Scented candle for ambiance
• Cloth napkins in holiday colors
• Fresh berries (if gifting immediately)
• Flavored syrups or preserves
• Hot chocolate mix
• Tea bags for non-coffee drinkers

Choosing Your Basket Items

The Pancake Mix

My favorite part of this basket is the homemade pancake mix with real maple syrup. You could substitute with store-bought pancake mix or waffle mix, but homemade is special. As a Canadian, we had to include real maple syrup for that classic combination. You could also add flavored syrups or strawberry preserves.

I grew up on store-bought pancake mix. Then my husband started making pancakes from scratch, and they're amazing. These are worth the tiny bit of effort. Once you've tried these, you'll never go back. We used a vintage mason jar to package our pancake mix, but any pretty jar, canister, or clear cellophane bag works well.

For chocolate lovers, include dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips. Add them right into the dry pancake mix or pop a bag into the basket.

The Pastries

Breakfast pastries are one of life's greatest pleasures. It's like permission to start your day with dessert! We went to our local bakery and picked up a few fruit-filled pastries. You'll want to give these in a timely manner so they're still fresh for the recipients.

Best pastry options:

• Homemade banana bread wrapped in parchment
• Danish or almond croissants
• Scones or muffins
• Cinnamon rolls
• Chocolate croissants for chocolate lovers
• Chocolate chip muffins

Looking for a non-perishable option? You could include a baking mix for muffins or scones.

The Coffee

We couldn't make a breakfast basket without coffee. Any coffee lover would never start the day without a cup or two. We added holiday blend for a nod to the season.

Other great options include tea, or hot chocolate mix (see our homemade hot chocolate mix recipe).

A beautiful set of porcelain coffee mugs makes a great addition too.

The Basket

We found a pretty wire basket as our base. A wicker basket works beautifully too. You might also turn your basket into a bed tray gift using a bamboo bed tray with fold-out legs. Pile your gifts on top and wrap the whole thing in cellophane for a perfect breakfast in bed gift tray.

Our wire basket is lined with pretty cloth napkins, with all the treats piled in. It's nice to include a variety of colors. Classic red and green work perfectly for holidays. We used fresh greenery and berries on the front, tied with baker's twine for a festive seasonal look.

How to Assemble Your Breakfast Gift Basket

Step 1: Make the Pancake Mix

Combine the dry ingredients from the recipe below. Package in a pretty mason jar or container. Attach the free printable with instructions for the wet ingredients.

Step 2: Choose Your Container

Select a sturdy basket, mixing bowl, or bed tray that's big enough to fit all your items. Line the bottom with tissue paper, crinkle paper, or cloth napkins.

Step 3: Arrange Your Items

Start with the tallest items in the back (coffee bags, syrup bottles).
Place medium items in the middle (pancake mix jar, pastry boxes).
Position smaller items in front (candles, small jars).
Fill gaps with tissue paper or shredded paper to keep everything secure.

Step 4: Add Finishing Touches

Tie a ribbon or baker's twine around the handle. Add fresh greenery, berries, or a small ornament for seasonal flair. Attach a gift tag with your personal message.

Step 5: Wrap for Gifting

If transporting, wrap the entire basket in clear cellophane and tie at the top with a big bow. This keeps everything secure and looks polished.

Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe

This homemade pancake mix is simple to make and seriously delicious. The pancakes turn out fluffy and light every time.

For Gift Giving

Combine the dry ingredients, put them in a pretty container, and attach our free printable with the wet ingredient instructions. The printable is available in our Free Resource Library. Subscribe below for instant access. Check your email for the password. Don't see it? It might have gone to your junk folder by mistake, so check there too.

To Make the Pancakes

If you're making these for yourself, combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Stir dry and wet together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Cook on a hot, greased griddle or frying pan until golden brown, flipping once little bubbles appear.

Creative Breakfast Gift Basket Ideas

Theme Variations

• New Parent Basket: Focus on grab-and-go items: granola bars, instant oatmeal packets, protein bars, travel mug, and coffee. New parents will appreciate quick breakfast options during sleepless nights.
• Brunch Basket: Include champagne or sparkling juice, fresh berries, croissants, jam, and mimosa mix for a special brunch celebration.
• Coffee Lover Basket: Feature multiple coffee varieties, flavored syrups, biscotti, coffee mug, and a small french press or pour-over setup.
• Family Breakfast Basket: Include kid-friendly items like chocolate chip pancake mix, fruit, juice boxes, cereal, and family-sized portions.
• Healthy Breakfast Basket: Focus on nutritious options: homemade granola, steel-cut oats, honey, fresh fruit, green tea, and Greek yogurt (if delivering locally).
• College/University Student Care Package: Send exam survival essentials: instant oatmeal packets, coffee or energy drinks, granola bars, pop-tarts, easy mug muffin mix, and a gift card to their favorite coffee shop.

Seasonal Adaptations

• Christmas Morning Basket: Red and green colors, peppermint hot chocolate mix, gingerbread pancake mix, holiday blend coffee, candy cane stirrers.
• Easter Basket: Spring colors, lemon pastries, berry preserves, herbal tea, fresh flowers.
• Mother's Day or Father's Day: Personalize with their favorite coffee, special pastries, and a handwritten note about lazy Sunday mornings.
• Teacher Appreciation: Include an apple-themed item, school colors, and a note thanking them for all they do.

Expert Tips for the Perfect Breakfast Gift Basket

• Use real maple syrup. The authentic stuff makes a huge difference. Skip the imitation pancake syrup and invest in real maple syrup for a truly special gift.
• Package homemade items beautifully. Use mason jars, tie with twine or ribbon, and place the pastries in a clear celophane bag.
• Mix homemade and gourmet store-bought. You don't need to make everything. Combine your homemade pancake mix with high-quality purchased items for the best of both worlds.
• Consider shelf life. Most items in our basket are non-perishable, so you can assemble it ahead of time. Only add fresh pastries or berries if gifting immediately. Change these for non-perishable items if you need to.
• Think about your recipient. Does the teacher prefer tea over coffee? Is your neighbor gluten-free? Personalize based on what you know they'll love.
• Don't overfill. A thoughtfully curated selection looks more elegant than a crammed basket. Quality over quantity.
• Include the recipe card. If you're giving homemade pancake mix, be sure to include our free printable with the wet ingredients needed and instructions.

Budget-Friendly Shopping Tips

• Hit the dollar store for baskets, tissue paper, and basic items. Many dollar stores carry surprisingly nice containers.
• Shop sales and clearance. Stock up on coffee, syrup, and packaged goods when they're on sale. Store for future gift giving.
• Buy in bulk for multiple baskets. If you're making several baskets, buy pancake mix ingredients, coffee, and other staples in larger quantities.
• Use what you have. That pretty bowl or basket in your cupboard makes a great container. Repurpose what you own.
• Make your own mixes. Pancake mix, hot chocolate mix, and granola are all easy to make at much lower cost than gourmet versions.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Thoughtful Gift Ideas

If you create this breakfast gift basket or any other ideas from my blog, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I'd love to hear who you gifted it to! Thanks for visiting today!

Recipe

Homemade Pancakes

Fluffy and light homemade pancakes with this simple to make pancake mix.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 122kcal

Author: Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 3 tablespoons sugar
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ cups milk optional: substitute buttermilk for regular milk
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ 3 tablespoon melted butter
• ▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

• Whisk all the dry ingredients together in a bowl, and then pour into a pretty container for gift giving, and be sure to attach the rest of the ingredients and instructions with our free printable.
• If you're making them for yourself, combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Stir dry and wet together until just combined, be careful not to over mix. Cook on a hot, greased griddle or frying pan until golden brown -flipping sides once little bubbles begin to appear. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 122kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 198mg | Sugar: 5g

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