25 White Elephant Gift Ideas for People Who Can’t Stop Talking About Food

If you receive an invitation to a white elephant party this holiday season, there are plenty of ways to choose a gift that people will genuinely be excited about. Luckily, since there are no official rules for this festive game—other than bringing a wrapped present—you can get creative without worrying about meeting anyone’s individual wishlist preferences.

In a white elephant situation, you’re gifting without a recipient in mind. Why not play it safe with a food-related present? We’ve rounded up 25 gifts that any food lover will obsess over. We recommend winners from our extensive reviews, such as the best Microplane, and some "just because" picks, like a delicious Haitian chocolate bar. Whether you’re in the mood to splurge for your white elephant party or stick to a budget, we created a list of potential presents that anyone grabbing (or stealing!) from the pool will be delighted to receive. 

White Elephant Gifts Under $15 

A Crunchy and Tangy Finishing Salt

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

$8 at Amazon $11 at Williams Sonoma View on Webstaurant Store

With a simple garnish of Maldon finishing salt, you can take warm chocolate chip cookies or seared ribeyes to new peaks. The flaky seasoning adds a crunchy texture and enhances the flavor of many dishes. Plus, a small box will last a long time in anyone’s cupboard since you only need a pinch to do wonders. 

An Irresistibly Cute Pack of Tinned-Fish Nail Stickers

Lisa Says Gah Nail Art Stickers

View on Lisasaysgah.com

If you’re hosting or attending a white elephant gathering with a group of foodies, throw these culinary-inspired nail art stickers from Lisa Says Gah into the pool. The fashion brand collaborated with SE fave Fishwife to drop the most scrumptious-looking illustrations. Paste anything from smoked trout to olives on your nails to make them pop at your next dinner party.

A Delicious Ethiopian Chili Pepper Blend

Brundo Berbere Ethiopian Chili Pepper Blend

$17 $14 at Amazon

Stock a fellow white elephant participant’s pantry with berbere, an Ethiopian chili pepper blend traditionally used in dishes like doro wot (chicken stew) and kik alicha (lentils). You can add this spice to sauces, meats, vegetables, or legume dishes to upgrade their flavor.

A Reusable Pineapple Print Beeswax Wrap

Trifecta Living Co. Beeswax Wraps

$19 $17 at Amazon

Replace single-use plastic wrap with a reusable beeswax version. After testing 10 different types, we found that the one from Trifecta Living Co. preserves food the best. The versatile set comes with small, medium, and large wraps that crimple nicely onto leftover ingredients like fruit and cheese.

Eye-Catching Espresso Cups

Kinto Double Wall Espresso Cups

$15 at Amazon View on Kinto-usa.com

For coffee lovers, our favorite espresso cup features double-walled glass, allowing you to see the rich color of your shot. The vessel’s double-walled construction keeps espresso insulated so that it remains hot while you sip. 

A Spicy Olive Oil

Heraclea Chili Infused Olive Oil

View on Heraclea.co

Who doesn’t adore finishing creamy pasta dishes or toasted crusty bread with a drizzle of flavorful olive oil? This chili-infused one from Heraclea because enhances a simple pasta dish and, well, just about everything else.

A Spicy, Crunchy, and Tingly Chili Crisp

Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp

$10 at Amazon $11 $10 at Target View on Yamibuy.com

You can drizzle this chili crisp from Fly By Jing on practically anything, from desserts like vanilla ice cream, cupcakes, or cookies to mains like dumplings, pasta, or pizza. It’s so popular that if you’re playing a game of white elephant where you can steal unwrapped gifts, you’ll want to watch out because someone will most certainly snatch this gem.

White Elephant Gifts Under $25

A Comforting and Flavorful Tea

Serengeti Kenyan Safari Breakfast Black Tea

View on Serengetiteas.com

There’s nothing better than sipping on a warm beverage when the chillier weather starts to set in. This black tea from Serengeti offers fruity and gentle malty notes unique to Kenya’s Nandi region, where the leaves are produced and harvested. 

A Colorful Rasp-Style Microplane Grater

Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater

$18 at Amazon $18 at Williams Sonoma $12 at Walmart

This Microplane rasp was our top pick in testing, and it’d be a fantastic gift for anyone who loves to cook or is obsessed with that viral shaved fruit trend. It comes in 32 shades, so you can pick a color you think the people participating in your white elephant will obsess over. 

A Punchy Yet Refined Espresso

Peace Coffee Black Squirrel

View on Peacecoffee.com

Everyone can appreciate a solid bag of espresso beans, whether they are big coffee drinkers or not. If you encounter the latter in your white elephant swap, tell them to use it to make a tiramisu (or steal another gift). Besides, someone will find joy in this delicious blend from Peace Coffee, bursting with cocoa, brown sugar, and macadamia flavors.

Our Winning Mini Mortar and Pestle

Fox Run Granite Mortar and Pestle

$27 at Amazon $26 at Home Depot

After testing 10 different mini mortar and pestles, this one from Fox Run rose to the top. It’s crafted with unpolished granite, which gives the inside a rough interior ideal for grinding up whole spices (get ready for homemade chili blends!) and garlic. 

A Bamboo Steamer Ideal for Frozen Dumplings

Helen’s Asian Kitchen Bamboo Food Steamer with Lid

$30 $19 at Amazon

Whether you’re making frozen dumplings or broccoli, a bamboo steamer is a necessary tool for quick cooking. This steamer refused to let food stick in our tests, and fits the standard 10-inch paper liners effortlessly. 

A Gorgeously Green Sicilian Pistachio Spread

Il Colle Del Gusto Sicilian Pistachios Spread

$18 $17 at Amazon

If you’ve been seeing countless videos of that popular Dubai chocolate bar and want to recreate it—or take a note from Serious Eats and use it as inspiration to create a delectable tart or yeast-raised donuts—you’ll need to get your hands on a proper pistachio paste. This one from Pistacchiosa is crafted with Sicilian pistachios and extra-virgin olive oil, which creates a creamy and aromatic spread. 

A Creamy Haitian Chocolate Bar

Askanya Paradis Milk Chocolate

View on Askanya.ht

For chocolate enthusiasts who prefer to savor and bask in the intricate notes of certain bars, try this one from Askanya. It’s filled with fruity and rich cacao flavors. Or, if you’re looking to introduce a white elephant gift with bolder bites, you can snag the brand’s Bouquet Vert Dark Lime Chocolate Bar, which infuses zesty notes from the added citrus. 

A TikTok Famous Mini Le Creuset Cocotte

Le Creuset Mini Round Cocotte

$28 at Amazon $22 at Williams Sonoma $22 at Sur La Table

If you scroll on TikTok, you’ve likely seen recipe creators making the most adorable-looking dishes in a mini round cocotte from Le Creuset. Think tiny focaccia, pot pies, and French onion soup. These pots are ideal for single-serve meals because you can toss many ingredients in the eight-ounce vessel and create a cozy dinner (or dessert!).

A Crock for Super Simple Fermenting

E-Jen Vacuum Lid Fermentation Container

$17 at Amazon

Whether you’re hoping to make kimchi, pickles, or sauerkraut, if you want to ferment, you’ll need a vessel to do it in. We’ve waxed poetic about this plastic, dishwasher-safe one from E-Jen because it does a great job of preventing oxygen from getting inside and spoiling your hard work, and it holds in any strong odors. 

White Elephant Gifts Under $50

An Adjustable Rolling Pin Spotted on the Great British Baking Show

GIR Rolling Pin

View on Gir.co

We spotted contestants on the Great British Baking Show using this type of rolling pin when making some of their most meticulous showstoppers. It also passed our tests with flying colors, earning a spot on our winners list for the best adjustable rolling pin. This dowel-style pin excelled in rolling out even pie dough.

A Bodega-Inspired Cookbook

Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store - A Cookbook

$35 $28 at Amazon $35 at Barnesandnoble.com $35 $33 at Bookshop.org

James Beard-nominated chef and Bakers Against Racism cofounder Paola Velez proves in her debut cookbook that delicious baked goods don’t need inaccessible ingredients to shine. This pastry guide will walk you through how to create the most stunning sweets inspired by NYC corner stores and Velez’ Dominican heritage, from her Maria cookie icebox cake to her cosmic brownie whoopie pies. 

Our Winning Moka Pot

Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker

$40 $38 at Amazon $40 at Williams Sonoma $38 at Target

Not only are moka pots ideal for brewing up a delicious cup of joe, they’re also an often-overlooked kitchen decor item. Whenever people visit my home, they compliment me on how adorable mine looks glistening on my stove. Based on our tests, this one from Bialetti performs even better than it looks, delivering the tastiest brews during our tests with 11 other models. 

A Fast and Powerful Handheld Vacuum Sealer

Anova Precision Port Handheld Vacuum Sealer

$24 at Amazon View on Anovaculinary.com

Don’t let your salami or Gouda spoil! Vacuum seal it to preserve it for longer. This palm-sized vacuum sealer from Anova proves that creating a tight seal doesn’t require a huge, hulking machine. It works well enough for food preservation, infusions, and sous vide cooking. 

A Sleek and Sharp Oyster Knife

R Murphy/Ramelson New Haven Oyster Knife Shucker

$39 at Amazon

Whether it’s the holidays, summer, or a random Tuesday night, it’s always a good idea to pick up a bag of fresh oysters and get shucking. After cracking open nearly 150 oysters, we voted this oyster knife from R Murphy as our top pick because it’s sharp and easy to use. The wood handle is beautiful, too.

A Cookbook That Honors Palestinian Cuisine

Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food

$40 $31 at Amazon

From slow-roasted lamb decorated with fenugreek and cardamom to grape leaves stuffed with Nabulsi cheese, you’ll unearth how to cook some of the most beautiful and delicious Palestinian dishes. Beyond recipes, you’ll catch a glimpse of the powerful stories of local farmers and artisans on a quest to preserve their culinary traditions and culture. 

A Fondue Pot Ideal for Cheese and Chocolate

Nostalgia 12-Cup Electric Fondue Pot Set

$35 at Amazon $50 at Macy's

We consider cheese a food group, and if you know a few people who would agree, you should undoubtedly wrap up one of these fondue pots from Nostalgia for your next white elephant party. You can melt a block of Emmentaler or transform a bar of dark chocolate into a molten pool ideal for dipping snacks. 

A Clear Ice Cube Tray to Upgrade Your Whiskey Sour

True Cubes Clear Ice Cube Maker

$58 $34 at Amazon

This ice cube tray from True excels in pulling impurities out of the water as it freezes, creating stunningly clear ice cubes with big visual impact and no freezer flavors. You can plop one into a rocks glass, fill it with a tart whiskey sour or a booze-free raspberry lime gimlet, and feel like a bartending pro. 

A High Quality Matcha Powder

Ippodo Tea Ummon Matcha

$35 at Amazon View on Ippodotea.com

For a traditional matcha preparation, you need to follow a ceremony: Measure the tea, brew hot water, and whisk the powder carefully. If you’re looking for high-quality matcha to invest in, this one from Ippodo—a Japanese tea company with over 300 years of experience—offers rich umami and sweet flavors.

FAQs

What are the white elephant gift exchange rules?

White elephant is a fun holiday game that can be enjoyed with friends, family, or colleagues. Each player brings a wrapped gift to contribute to a shared pool. Players then draw numbers to determine the order in which they can select gifts. Once the first player chooses a gift from the pool, then comes the fun part. Each subsequent player can either take a gift from the pool or “steal” an already chosen gift from someone else. Don’t worry—everyone will still end up with a gift to unwrap at the end, but it stays a surprise until then.

What’s a good white elephant gift?

White elephant gift exchanges are meant to be fun and casual, so don’t overthink it! Consider the audience—is this a gift exchange at the office? Among friends? Extended family?—and go from there to determine what to buy. If you’re not sure how much to spend, ask the organizer what the target price point is and use that as your guideline. 

What’s the best cheap white elephant gift? 

“Best” is subjective, so, again, go with your gut! We like a gift that’s fun but practical, so if you’re on a tight budget, consider something like Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp. It’s less than $15, it’s versatile, and it’s memorable.

Why We’re the Experts

• Ashia Aubourg is a freelance writer with experience researching cooking appliances and working in kitchens (and farms!).
• Her work with Serious Eats spans gift guides, educational pieces, and product reviews. She recently churned out pounds of noodles to find the best pasta extruder.