Secret Santa has a habit of producing the same gifts every year: novelty socks, a mug with a joke on it, a candle nobody wanted. If you’ve drawn someone you don’t know well, or you’ve got a strict £10 limit, food is one of the safest bets there is. Almost everyone likes cheese, it gets eaten rather than left in a drawer, and it doesn’t take up space after Christmas.
Here are some cheese-based Secret Santa gifts under £10, built from individual items so you can mix and match to the budget.
Why Cheese Makes a Good Secret Santa Gift
It’s consumable, so there’s no clutter. It’s a small treat that feels a bit indulgent. It suits people you don’t know well, because almost everyone eats cheese. And at around £3 per item, it’s easy to put together something that looks generous without going over budget.
The one thing to check before you buy: whether the recipient is vegan or doesn’t eat dairy. If in doubt, a charcuterie or chutney-and-crackers combination is the safer choice.
Secret Santa Gift Ideas Under £10
Each of these is built from individual products, so the total comes in under a £10 limit.
The Classic Cheese & Chutney: £8.85
One cheese wedge (£3), a jar of Cheeseboard Chutney (£3) and a box of Original Sourdough Crackers (£2.85). A mini cheeseboard in a bag, and the safest choice if you don’t know the person well. A Vintage Cheddar wedge is the crowd-pleaser.
The Spicy One: £8.85
Our Charcoal Cheddar (£3), a jar of Chilli Jam (£3) and Pink Peppercorn Crackers (£2.85). The jet-black cheese makes it a talking point at the office exchange, and the chilli jam gives it a kick.
The Waxed Truckle: £8.35
A 200g waxed cheese truckle (£5.50), such as Cracked Black Pepper or Vintage Cheddar, with a box of sourdough crackers (£2.85). Truckles look like a proper gift straight away, no wrapping skills required, and the wax makes them hardier than other cheeses (more on that below).
The Charcuterie Lover: £8.84
A Tempus House Salami (£5.99) and a box of crackers (£2.85). Good for the person who’d rather have meat than cheese. For a little more variety, the Tempus Three Meats selection (£6.99) with crackers comes to £9.84.
The Cheese Tasting Trio: £9.00
Three different cheese wedges at £3 each. Pick one familiar flavour, one adventurous one and one wildcard so the recipient gets a mini tasting session. A simple handwritten label for each makes it feel more considered.
| Gift | What’s in it | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Cheese & Chutney | Wedge + Cheeseboard Chutney + sourdough crackers | £8.85 |
| The Spicy One | Charcoal Cheddar + Chilli Jam + pink peppercorn crackers | £8.85 |
| Waxed Truckle | 200g truckle + sourdough crackers | £8.35 |
| Charcuterie Lover | House Salami + crackers | £8.84 |
| Cheese Tasting Trio | Three cheese wedges | £9.00 |
Secret Santa Gifts Under £5
Some Secret Santas have a £5 limit, and there are still good options:
A single cheese wedge (£3). Simple, and a nice size for one person. Choose something a bit different, like Charcoal Cheddar, to make it feel less like a supermarket grab.
A jar of chutney or chilli jam (£3). A useful gift that lasts, and it pairs with whatever cheese they already have at home. Try our Sundried Tomato & Smoked Garlic Chutney for something less expected.
A wedge plus Sassy Franks Crunchy Cheese Nibbles (£4.94). A wedge with a bag of Sassy Franks cheese nibbles (£1.94) for a snack-sized treat.
If You Can Stretch the Budget
If the limit is closer to £15, or you’re buying for someone you know well, the 5 Wedge Deal (£12.50) gives five cheeses for not much more than three. It also makes a good stocking filler for a cheese lover at home.
Organising the office Secret Santa? Orders over £30 qualify for free delivery, so if you’re buying a few gifts at once (or a couple of colleagues order together), you can avoid paying delivery on a sub-£10 gift. It’s worth factoring delivery in if you’re only buying one item.
Practical Tips for a Cheese Secret Santa
Keep it chilled until the exchange. Cheese wedges are vacuum-sealed but still need to be kept in the fridge. If the Secret Santa is at a work party, keep the gift in the office fridge until the swap, and let the recipient know it needs to go in theirs when they get home.
Waxed truckles are the hardiest option. The wax coating protects the cheese, so an unopened truckle will cope better with a few hours out of the fridge than a wedge will. If the gift is going to be sitting under a desk all afternoon, a truckle is the safer choice. Our guide to opening waxed cheese is worth passing on to the recipient.
Wrap it simply. Brown kraft paper and string, or a small paper gift bag with tissue, makes a cheese, chutney and crackers combination look like a deli hamper. A sprig of rosemary tucked into the string is an easy festive touch.
Add a pairing note. A small card suggesting what to eat it with (say, the chilli jam with the charcoal cheddar on a cracker) makes a budget gift feel thoughtful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Secret Santa gift for under £10?
Food gifts are a safe choice because they get used. A cheese wedge, a jar of chutney and a box of crackers comes to under £9 and works as a mini cheeseboard. A waxed cheese truckle with crackers, or a salami with crackers, are other good options under £10.
Is food a good Secret Santa gift?
Yes, especially when you don’t know the person well. Food is consumable, so it doesn’t add clutter, and treats like cheese and chutney feel indulgent without costing much. Check for dietary requirements first if you can.
What can I get for £5 for Secret Santa?
A single flavoured cheese wedge (£3), a jar of chutney or chilli jam (£3), or a wedge with a bag of cheese nibbles (£4.94) all come in under £5.
How do I keep a cheese gift fresh for an office Secret Santa?
Keep it in the fridge until the exchange and remind the recipient to refrigerate it at home. Waxed truckles are the most robust choice if the gift will be out of the fridge for a few hours.
What’s a good Secret Santa gift for someone who has everything?
Something consumable and a little unusual, like a black Charcoal Cheddar paired with chilli jam. It’s a conversation starter, it gets eaten, and nobody already owns one.