XtoysDunking Dickies Willie Shaped Shortbread Review: A Cheeky Gift
Editor's opinion
This is a 130g pack of British-made buttery shortbread in a novelty willie shape, pitched squarely at hen parties, milestone birthdays and Secret Santa. It works best as a light-hearted gift that gets a laugh and then gets eaten. The main caveats are the small pack size and the milk and wheat allergens, so it is not for everyone at the table.
Some gifts exist to make a joke, and this is one of them. Dunking Dickies are traditional shortbread biscuits shaped into a cheeky silhouette, sold as a 130g pack aimed at occasions where a bit of harmless mischief goes down well.
The sensible thing to weigh here is not whether the joke lands, but whether it holds up as an actual biscuit and as a gift. A novelty shape only carries a present so far; the shortbread underneath and the practicalities of who you can safely give it to matter just as much.
The good and the bad
What works
- Made in Britain to a traditional buttery shortbread recipe
- Self-explanatory novelty that breaks the ice without a big reveal
- Edible, so unlike many novelty gifts it gets used up rather than gathering dust
- Sits happily alongside tea, making it a shareable party centrepiece
What to be aware of
- At 130g this is a modest pack, better as a talking point than a spread
- Contains milk and wheat, so unsuitable for dairy-free or gluten-free guests
- The joke is the whole appeal, so it has a short shelf life as entertainment
- Shortbread is crumbly by nature and may not travel well if roughly handled
Buy it if
Anyone organising a hen do, a landmark birthday or a Secret Santa who wants a gift that raises a smile and can then be shared out with a cuppa.
Skip it if
People catering for guests with dairy or gluten intolerances, or anyone wanting a substantial biscuit gift rather than a one-note novelty. For the former, look for a clearly labelled free-from treat; for the latter, a larger traditional biscuit selection.
What you are actually getting
Underneath the cheeky shape, this is described as classic British shortbread made to a traditional buttery recipe, so buyers should expect the familiar crumbly, rich character rather than anything reinvented. The novelty is entirely in the silhouette.
The 130g pack size is worth noting. That is a light gift portion rather than a family tin, so it reads better as a centrepiece for a laugh than as the main catering for a party. If you are feeding a crowd, plan on it being one element among others.
How it works as a gift
The strength of this present is that it explains itself. Set the biscuits out with the tea and the shape does the talking, which sidesteps the awkward moment some novelty gifts create when the recipient has to work out the joke.
Because it is edible, it avoids the usual fate of novelty gifts that end up in a drawer. That said, the humour is single-note, so it earns its laugh once. Treat it as a moment rather than a gift that keeps giving.
Allergens and serving
The pack contains milk and wheat, which rules it out for anyone who is dairy-free or coeliac. If you are handing these round at a party, it is worth a quiet check before offering them to guests with dietary needs, and worth keeping the pack to hand so people can read the label themselves.
As traditional shortbread it is crumbly by design, which is part of the appeal but also means it wants reasonably careful handling in transit. A crushed novelty biscuit loses both its shape and its punchline.
How it compares
Against other novelty party gifts, the edible angle is a genuine point in its favour. Inflatables and plastic trinkets get a glance and a bin; biscuits get eaten, so there is less waste and less clutter afterwards.
Against a serious box of shortbread, this is obviously a compromise on quantity and presentation in exchange for the gag. Choose it when the occasion calls for a smile, not when you want a considered food gift for someone who simply loves biscuits.
The bottom line
As a cheeky, edible gift for a hen do, a birthday or a Secret Santa, Dunking Dickies do exactly what they promise: raise a smile and then get shared out with tea. Just go in knowing it is a modest 130g pack with milk and wheat, and best suited to occasions where the joke is the point rather than the biscuit itself.
Frequently asked questions
Are these safe to eat or just a gag gift?
They are proper edible shortbread, made in Britain to a traditional buttery recipe. The willie shape is the only thing that sets them apart from ordinary shortbread, so they can be served and eaten as normal.
Do they contain any allergens?
Yes. The pack contains milk and wheat, so they are not suitable for anyone who is dairy-free or coeliac. Always check the pack label before offering them to guests with dietary needs.
How many biscuits are in a pack?
The pack weighs 130g. That is a modest, gift-sized portion rather than a large tin, so it works better as a party talking point than as the main catering for a crowd.
Are they suitable for a hen do or Secret Santa?
That is exactly what they are aimed at. The self-explanatory shape breaks the ice at hen parties, milestone birthdays and novelty gift swaps, and being edible they get used rather than binned.
Will they survive being posted or carried to a party?
Shortbread is crumbly by nature, so while the biscuits themselves keep fine, they benefit from careful handling. Rough transit risks crushing them, which spoils both the shape and the joke.