Spoonful of Comfort Review: This Is the Best Care Package to Send to a Sick Friend
Updated: May 01, 2024
A soup care package is the perfect pick-me-up for an ill loved one. Read on for our honest Spoonful of Comfort review, as tested by our gifting expert.
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Gift-giving is my love language. And while I live for holidays, birthdays and anniversaries, I also find opportunities to show affection in the monotony of daily life. While the good times—a new job, a housewarming, an engagement—are, of course, worth celebrating, the bad times deserve recognition, too. When a loved one faces a challenging circumstance, like illness or grief, it’s crucial to show support.
As an editor at Taste of Home, it’s no surprise that my go-to pick-me-up is food. I love baking cookies or whipping up a pot of soup for local friends and family, but it’s harder to soothe long-distance loved ones. Luckily, I found a hack: Say hello to Spoonful of Comfort.
What is Spoonful of Comfort?
Spoonful of Comfort is a women-owned online retailer specializing in care packages and food gift baskets. The brand is most famous for its soup delivery. But you can find all sorts of yummy comfort foods, including pies, cookies, rolls and mac and cheese. They even offer vegan and gluten-free options.
Plus, since a good care package includes more than just food, it’s easy to add blankets, socks, dog treats and even cookware to your order.
KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Get Well Soon Gift Package
Looking to send a little love? You can't beat a care package from Spoonful of Comfort. It's the perfect gift for a pal in need of a pick-me-up!
How We Tested It
For this review, I tried the Get Well Soon Gift Package. The care package arrived in April 2024.
When I’m feeling under the weather, the last thing I want to do is cook. This bestselling care package for a sick friend makes sending a loved one a pick-me-up easy. A classic box includes 4-6 servings of soup or mac and cheese, six rolls, six cookies, a keepsake ladle and a personalized note card. You can also choose to “double it up” if you want to send a few extra servings.
Ordering Process
To order, start by choosing your flavors. When selecting my box, I could choose from seven options: Chicken noodle, tomato basil, broccoli cheddar, garden vegetable, poblano chicken chowder, mac and cheese or chicken and wild rice. For variety, there are also five combo options to choose from. I opted for the chicken noodle and mac and cheese duo. Next, you’ll select your preferred bread and cookie flavors. I went with Asiago rolls (which require a minimal additional fee) and chocolate chip cookies.
Before heading to checkout, you can level up your care package with various add-ons. There are options for healing gifts—like a bedside bell or a tea and honey bundle—as well as pet treats, soup toppers, blankets, books, puzzles, tea towels and self-care items. You can even add on a pie or a Dutch oven! The customization options are truly endless.
Unboxing
When my Spoonful of Comfort order arrived at my door, I was instantly impressed with the packaging. The exterior of the box was cheerful, complete with a friendly rooster print. On the inside, though, is where the packaging really shines. I was first greeted with the ladle attached to a piece of cardboard printed with the message “Love by the spoonful.” Next came instruction cards, a note and clearly labeled boxes for the soup, rolls and cookies. Each box was sturdy and printed with colorful interiors and inspirational quotes. They’re perfect for re-using as gift boxes or even holding recipe cards and other doodads.
The soup was tucked inside a silver insulation bag to prevent leaks and was still partially frozen when it showed up on my doorstep. I popped it in the fridge to continue thawing, but if you’re eager to eat right away you can defrost in the microwave.
Taste Test
For my first meal, I scooped some mac and cheese into a pan and warmed on medium heat until hot. Right away, I was shocked by how saucy it was. (Truthfully, it was too saucy for my tastes—I wanted more noodles!) It was also incredibly rich. I was getting full after just a few bites. The mac did have a complex, cheesy flavor (it reminded me a bit of Panera mac and cheese) and the pasta was perfectly cooked.
The Asiago rolls and chocolate chip cookies were delicious—especially when warmed in the oven for a few minutes per the package instructions. They really did remind me of the comfort foods my grandma used to make.
The chicken noodle soup, however, was the star of the show. I warmed the contents on the stove over medium-high heat, then transferred them to a bowl. The broth was peppered with herbs, and this soup doesn’t skimp! There were plenty of chicken chunks, thick egg noodles and carrot rounds in each serving.
I don’t typically eat meat, so I snuck a few bites of the noodles and carrots, which were perfectly cooked. Usually, chicken noodle soups are soggy, but this one still had a bit of an al dente bite, which was a delightful texture in contrast to the smooth, savory broth. My husband thought the chicken chunks were slightly dry, yet generously sized and filled with flavor.
Mini Pie Medley
In the name of sugar and science, I also tried one of the brand’s Mother’s Day offerings: The Mini Pie Medley. This selection includes four mini pies—in flavors peach crumble, apple, strawberry rhubarb and mixed berry—as well as a keepsake pie server, greeting card, personalized note and pretty packaging. Like the soup care package, you can add an assortment of items to personalize your gift further.
The pie medley arrived in the same box as the soup care package and was as beautifully packaged. The pies were nestled in a sturdy blue box and labeled for easy eating. Talk about an impressive gift basket for her!
Before digging in, I warmed the pies in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes. This step was optional, but who doesn’t want warm pie?! After baking, you’re supposed to let the pies rest for 20 minutes so the filling can set. But I was a little impatient and cut into them after only 10 minutes of rest. As expected, some of the filling spread out.
I taste-tested these pies with my husband and parents—and our opinions were surprisingly unanimous. We all loved the mixed berry pie. The thick and sweet filling paired beautifully with the flaky, glazed crust. It truly tasted homemade. Thanks to the tart-sweet interior and coarse sugar-speckled crust, our second favorite was strawberry rhubarb. The apple and peach crumble were good but a little more basic than the other flavors. Pro tip: Be sure to serve with vanilla ice cream!
While this mini pie care package is currently sold out, you can still order a full-size pie or add one to any care package.
Pros
- Beautiful care package for an under-the-weather friend
- Impeccable packaging experience
- Solid variety of soup flavors with restaurant-quality taste
- Wide array of add-ons for a custom gift
- Options for various dietary restrictions and preferences
Cons
- Mac and cheese was a little too rich for my tastes
- Pricey
FAQs
Does Spoonful of Comfort arrive frozen?
Sometimes! With overnight shipping or in cold climates, your soup may still be frozen when it shows up. However, per the brand’s website, each order is flash-frozen and secured in an insulated envelope with ice packs. It’s intended to thaw while en route and arrive cold to the touch.
Who founded Spoonful of Comfort?
Marti Wymer founded the brand in 2008 after her mother’s cancer diagnosis. You can get the full scoop on the brand’s About Us page.
Product Comparison
I’ve tried many care packages from brands like Harry & David, Olive & Cocoa, Happy Box, Sugarwish and Gourmet Gift Baskets. I’ve tested selections with all kinds of treats, from chocolate to cheese and coffee. These brands are all a bit pricey for what you get, but they create a gifting experience that’s hard to beat. Plus, it’s still cheaper than assembling and shipping your own care package.
Value-wise, Spoonful of Comfort is right in line with its competition. You can send a thoughtful gift to an ill friend for about $100 (plus $13 for 2-day shipping). Is it cheaper than placing an order for DoorDash or Instacart? No. But is it more thoughtful? Absolutely. The packaging alone (plus that restaurant-quality chicken noodle soup!) will have me ordering again.
Final Verdict
You can’t beat a care package for a loved one who’s going through it. The Get Well Soon Gift Package from a Spoonful of Comfort is my go-to gift basket thanks to its filling and quality food items, thoughtful packaging and endless add-ons. While on the pricey side, I love that it’s more practical than a flower delivery and a solid substitute for homemade comfort food.
Where to Buy Spoonful of Comfort Care Packages
KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Get Well Soon Gift Package
Looking to send a little love? You can't beat a care package from Spoonful of Comfort. It's the perfect gift for a pal in need of a pick-me-up!
You can buy Spoonful of Comfort care packages directly from the brand’s website. The box we sampled starts at $100, plus shipping.
Originally Published: May 01, 2024
