Best luxury Christmas crackers to help you celebrate with a bang

As soon as I opened the delivery of these crackers, I was struck with a seductive whiff. Utterly unique in both design and concept, the crackers look absolutely beautiful – with a kitschy red and pink jewel motif and satin ribbons – and the quality is exceptional. You can really tell they’re made with care.

The crackers are hand-rolled and filled, while the packaging exudes quality – and it’s all plastic-free (apart from the ribbon, but this can be reused or recycled). Opening with a satisfying snap, these crackers are a far cry from the ones you’d find in your local supermarket, as each cracker contains a miniature hand-poured scented candle (worth £10) with different scents. Does it get more luxury than that? I think not.

Sure to be treasured by festive dinner guests, the candles are covetable treats, and I loved passing each one round and seeing which aroma each person got – honestly, I was quite sad I couldn’t just keep them all for myself. While these gifts are certainly on the more luxurious end, compared with your usual cracker fare, traditionalists will be pleased to learn you also get a festive paper crown and a joke.

Although I’m a big fan of the Christmas jewels cracker, it’s worth noting there are five other designs to choose from – my other favourites being the Christmas lady and Christmas bauble. Whichever style you opt for, these crackers will bring a touch of opulence to your festive feast.

Hosting for a tribe of chocoholics? These Hotel Chocolat crackers will go down a storm. Ideal for adding a small (but mighty) spark of festive fun to your table setting, the miniature designs each contain an individually wrapped chocolate in one of the brand’s most popular flavours, including pecan praline, billionaire’s shortbread, caramel cheesecake, dark dizzy praline and – my personal favourite – salted caramel cream. I also loved that each one has space ready to write each of your guests’ names, meaning they double up as handy place settings, too.

While there’s no bang, joke or party hat, these crackers are sure to leave a lasting impression on everyone around the table. Alternatively, the mini crackers make for brilliant stocking stuffers or tree decorations – simply tuck them between the branches and hope the rest of your family are able to resist the tempting contents.

If you’re less traditional and more of a rebel when it comes to festive décor, Rockett St George’s rock ‘n’ roll Christmas crackers are set to be your new table-top heroes. Designed to bring a bold, music-inspired edge to your celebrations, these statement crackers swap novelty nostalgia for unapologetic cool. Drenched in shimmering black and metallic details, they feature iconic rock motifs – think electric guitars, lightning bolts and star accents – all delivering serious festive swagger to your tablescape.

Each cracker is filled with a curated collection of rock-star-inspired treats turning the classic festive snap into a moment worth waiting for. There are three different filling options available in the range, but each set is supplied as one complete, matching collection chosen at random, adding an extra element of surprise to proceedings. Forget flimsy trinkets: these crackers come packed with playful, stylish gifts that feel genuinely worth keeping, from star-themed keepsakes to tongue-in-cheek slogans that perfectly capture the spirit of party season. Equal parts chic and rebellious, they’re the ultimate way to inject a little rock-star energy into your Christmas celebrations – a guaranteed conversation starter that proves festive traditions can still have serious attitude.

If there’s one guaranteed way to elevate your festive tablescape, it’s with a touch of glitter – and Mrs Alice’s silver glitter crackers deliver sparkle in abundance. Sold in boxes of six, each cracker is a dazzling little showpiece, finished with a plush green velvet bow that adds a luxurious contrast to the shimmering surface. The result is a design that feels both glamorous and timeless, bringing instant elegance to your Christmas table while still capturing that childlike festive magic.

As beautiful as they are on the outside, the contents stay true to classic cracker tradition. Inside you’ll find all the familiar favourites – a paper crown, a festive motto and a selection of charming small gifts, from cookie cutters and pencils to playful surprises like marbles. Perfect for dressing your table with understated sparkle and guaranteed to earn a few admiring glances from guests, these crackers are a simple yet sophisticated way to add an extra-special finishing touch to your Christmas celebrations. Alongside the silver-and-green option, there are several other colour combinations available to suit your chosen theme, including red crackers tied with crisp white bows, gold crackers finished with red bows, and gold crackers accented with classic white bows.

If the people you’re hosting for this Christmas love nothing more than to eat, drink and be merry, these crackers are sure to be a hit. Ideal for those looking to toast to the most wonderful time of the year, six of Moth’s most-loved cocktails have been included in this bumper pack, from a zesty margarita, to a sweet pina colada and invigorating espresso martini. A great way to sample the brand’s offerings, there’s something for everyone, and the tempting cocktails are ready to serve, meaning all you need to do is have some ice on standby.

The tipple-filled crackers look the part, too – each is labelled with the delectable cocktail your recipient can expect to find inside. My guests and I had plenty of fun trading for people’s favourite drinks and taste-testing each one. Plus, I liked that you also get trivia and charade cards, providing plenty of fun for everyone around the table. I think these would also make stellar stocking stuffers or Secret Santa picks, if you’re short on ideas.

If you’re looking to bring a fresh, joyful twist to your festive table, Nancy & Betty’s clementine crackers are a fantastic choice. Their bright clementine-and-leaf design – complete with bold orange bows – stands out from the usual reds and golds, adding a cheerful splash of colour that feels modern but still classic.

Each set includes six beautifully crafted crackers, made in England with thick, high-quality paper stock and recycled wherever possible – a sustainable but indulgent treat. When you pull them, you’ll find the usual festive essentials: a silver paper crown, a joke, and a satisfying snap. But inside you might also discover a thoughtful, plastic-free little gift – from wooden honey drizzlers and cookie cutters to mini jams and washi tape – all charming keepsakes that feel far more special than typical novelty crackers. Perfect for those who want their Christmas décor to be both stylish and sustainable, these crackers manage to combine timeless tradition with contemporary flair.

The Kaneo reusable Christmas crackers immediately impressed me with their rich velvet finish and sturdy construction, bringing a high-end, reusable alternative to the usual paper crackers. Each set comes with chalkboard name tags and gold lettering, allowing you to personalise them for guests, while 18 included sticky snaps ensure the classic festive “bang” is still part of the fun.

I tetsed the leopard print crackers, which are fantastic for adding a playful, statement touch to a bold, modern table and immediately drew compliments from guests. But, there’s a variety of patterns available, from birds and mistletoe to floral designs, making it easy to match them to your table décor. The crackers arrive empty, so you can fill them with your own gifts, hats, or jokes – perfect for a personalised touch, though it does require a little extra planning. Being reusable and stylish, they are a more sustainable, long-term option, though they do need some care to stay looking fresh.

These crackers were an instant hit with the kids. The bright, colourful wrappers with glittery accents immediately made them feel playful and festive. Inside each cracker was a red tissue paper hat, a joke, and a fun eraser shaped like Christmas trees, snowmen, gloves or bells – little treats that the children can actually use or collect.

What I loved most was how well they were designed for younger guests. The mix of cheerful designs and kid friendly surprises made the classic cracker pull feel exciting and fun. The only minor downside is that the gifts are simple, so they won’t impress adults, but for children that simplicity is perfect. Overall, these crackers are a brilliant choice for a family Christmas or any gathering with children, bringing festive fun, colour and a little extra magic to the table.