I Tried the “Burr Basket” Trend, and It’s Going to Be My New Winter Tradition

I’ve always been a big fan of Valentine’s Day — the air is filled with love, there are tons of flowers everywhere, and everything is red or pink. Yet as sweet as it all sounds, it can still be a pretty chilly time of year for many (it’s still winter after all!), so finding something that’s equally cute and cozy can be top of mind when finding a Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one.

I had this same dilemma when deciding what to get my sister until she told me she wanted a Burr Basket after discovering them on TikTok. Making her one has been the highlight of my winter and I plan on making it a yearly tradition. Here’s how I did it.

Burr baskets are personalized gift baskets filled with small, cozy items designed to make the recipient feel relaxed and comfortable at home. And that’s exactly where the name stems from — it was inspired by the term “brr” in reference to the cold winter temperatures. You can make these baskets any time of the year and include a variety of things like candles, lotions, face masks, fuzzy socks, tea, and more. These gifts quickly became a viral trend on TikTok with people sharing their own creative burr basket ideas.

I was excited to make one for my sister and decided to put some of the home essentials I know she loves into it. I shopped for everything at Marshall’s and Trader Joe’s and handpicked each item for her, with the goal of keeping the total under $50.

At Marshall’s, I focused on getting items from the beauty aisle. I ended up buying a travel makeup bag, a head turban, eye patches, and a sleep eye mask. When I got to Trader Joe’s, I gravitated toward their home section. I found the Chocolate Berry Lip Mask Duo and instantly added it to my cart because she loves lip masks. As I continued to browse through the aisles, I found a beautiful Rose-Oil Moisturizing Hand Cream, a candle, and snagged a Valentine’s Day card. I spent $45 dollars in total and added some extra flair to the basket by tying red and white bows around the sides. 

Even though we’re miles apart, sending my sister this special gift was my way of making sure she felt heard, cherished, and appreciated this Valentine’s Day. A burr basket is the perfect gift for anyone — whether it’s your sister, best friend, or romantic partner — as a thoughtful gesture that will brighten their day on a cold winter’s day. I can’t wait to FaceTime my sister and see her reaction when she receives her basket.