If you look at other gift guides out there, particularly for stocking stuffer ideas, you might notice they’re frequently organized into three “types”: men, women, and kids. Personally, I don’t think that’s an exciting way to shop. Stocking stuffers are, above all, little treats and for me that usually means two things. First, they need to be thoughtful. Second, they should be food-related. No shade to other stocking stuffer gift guides out there, but I think we can do better than, “bath bombs for woman,” “golf balls for man,”“crayons for kid.” So here are the rules we follow when buying stocking stuffers during holiday shopping season:
Rule One: Make it thoughtful
I think of the person on my list and I ask: What brings them comfort? What brings them joy? What brings them tidings of comfort and joy? (Sorry, I have “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” stuck in my head.) What are they spending their free time on (or what would they be spending their free time on if they had free time)? Do they always have a new outdoor cooking gadget they’re excited to yap about? Have they ever FaceTimed with me while drinking sea moss gel and wearing a skin-care headband? Do they bring their own house slippers along with a bottle of wine whenever they go to a dinner party?
Rule Two: Make it delicious
Why food-related? Well, I strongly believe that feeding a person (or helping them feed themselves) is the best way to show you love them. Everyone has their comforts, so whether your person is the one who wakes up before dawn to smoke a brisket in January, has a lip balm flavor for every craving, or whose TikTok FYP is entirely full of smoothie recipes, this is the gift guide for them (and you). And hey, even if your person isn’t on this list, keep reading–there’s enough variety to inspire something more specific (and delicious) than a gift card.
Jump right to stocking stuffer ideas for…
…the one who keeps it cozy: OHOM Ui Artist Collection Self-heating Mug, $128 at Amazon
…the dessert lover: Peppermint Bark, $30 at Williams Sonoma
…the kitchen gadgeteer: The Fluicer, $17 at Amazon
…the one who grills year ‘round: Weber Premium Gloves, $53 $40 at Amazon
For the one who keeps it cozy:
Who wants socks as a holiday gift? Me. I do. I’m looking at my stocking, which is already a sock, and wishing there was another, smaller sock in there. Happy Socks delivers, evoking the traditional Christmas cracker (think party favors, not cheese accessory) with this gift set of two holiday-themed food prints: candy canes and hot chocolate.
If the multiple yule log videos on YouTube are any indication, curling up by a fire during the holiday season is the iconic cozy activity. For those who want to enhance the experience with a delicious fragrance, this cherry-scented candle from Apotheke is just the thing.
A Box of Nice Tea
No cozy Christmas tableau is complete without a steaming mug of tea. Choose from this selection of spicy, citrusy, chocolaty blends from our favorite tea brands (or go for all three).
Nothing is more disappointing than making yourself a cup of hot tea or cocoa, only to have it go ice cold before you can enjoy it. That is not the holiday spirit–but this ceramic, self-heating mug definitely is.
A Great Food Memoir
My favorite cozy holiday tradition comes from Iceland and is called “Jólabókaflóð” (“Christmas book flood”). Every year on Christmas Eve, folks exchange books with their loved ones, and then they all curl up with something warm and read. This year I’ll be cozying up with a stack of these food memoirs:
For the dessert lover:
Vosges is a big hit with the chocolate lovers at BA, and their luxe drinking chocolate is no exception. Made with pure 62% dark chocolate, it’s a thick, creamy, super-indulgent cup of cocoa.
Fans of matcha know it isn’t just for drinking– you can use it in cookies, cake, even salad dressing. But did you know it’s also available in a silky, creamy jam? You do now (and you’re welcome).
I remember when Cherry Chapstick was as exciting as lip balm could get. No shade, but I think we’ve come a long way since then. This limited edition duo from Glossier will keep wintery chapped lips at bay and deliver a hit of sweetness (because if it’s going on your mouth, shouldn’t it taste good?)
What’s better than a candy cane? Bits of candy cane studded onto delicious chunks of chocolate bark. This trademark winter treat from Williams Sonoma is perfect for nibbling on its own, but perhaps your giftee will be inspired to add some to their next batch of chocolate chip cookies.
What is sweeter than a Gingerbread man? How about a Gingerbread man-shaped marshmallow relaxing in a mug of cocoa? Fairly specific, I know, but trust me: the sweet-tooth in your life is absolutely going to be on board. These little guys could also be best-dressed on a Holiday S’more Platter.
For the kitchen gadgeteer…
If you’ve ever needed a big batch of freshly-squeezed lemon juice–whether for lemon bars, olive oil cake, or a zesty cocktail–you know that juicing citrus can be a real slog. Enter the Fluicer, a re-engineering of the classic citrus squeezer. This baby rips through piles of citrus with ease, and then lays flat for easy storage (which also means additional room in your stocking).
When it comes to garlic, I think we can pretty much all agree that more is more…except when it comes to hand-peeling. Give your favorite home cook a break from fragrant garlic fingers with this ingenious gadget from Oxo. Simply insert the garlic cloves, roll the tube on a firm surface, and voila! peeled cloves.
It may seem silly to think about an electric pepper mill as an “upgrade” but, when you’re shopping for a gadget lover, there is no job so small that it cannot be improved upon. The Zwilling Enfinigy Pepper Mill impressed our friends over at Epicurious with its affordable price and grinding versatility. Plus it’s rechargeable, so you don’t have to include batteries (but you could include some quality peppercorns).
We love a good kitchen project in the colder months, and homemade pasta is on pretty heavy rotation. This is a particularly fun gift for anyone who likes cooking best when it’s a group activity; take turns cutting, rolling, and shaping the pasta before adding it to a delicious bolognese or cozy, creamy pumpkin sauce.
It’s a pretty safe bet that any food lover you’re shopping for needs a Microplane (and even if they already have one, it might be time to replace it). This set of three doesn’t just grate cheeses; it adds a peppery dash of nutmeg over eggnog, some garlicky heat to a winter salad, and adds citrusy notes to buttery, roasted pecans. With a tool this versatile, there’s no way you can stop at just one.
For the one who grills year ‘round…
We’ve got more than our share of barbecue enthusiasts here at BA, so it’s not surprising that we’ve teamed up with spice superstars Burlap and Barrel to create our very own grilling rub. It’s salt-free, because you want to salt your proteins well before you’d apply a dry rub (but your grill-master giftee already knows this).
There are a lot of digital thermometers out there (we know, we’ve tested them), and chances are your grill-lover already has one. When it comes to big projects like smoking a brisket, though, is one thermometer really enough? There are multiple zones of heat, ambient temperature vs. internal temperature–your griller is gonna need backup, and the Javelin PRO will prove a very worthwhile addition to their arsenal.
Grill brushes are an indispensable tool for keeping your grill grates clean, but it doesn’t take long for the grease to build up on the bristles (or worse, the bristles can break off and get stuck in someone’s food). This metal grill scraper from Cave Tools forgoes bristles entirely, focusing on a stainless steel head with grooves specifically designed to get into those grates.
This is a no-brainer: If you want to keep your griller’s hands warm from the cold, but protect them from red-hot charcoal, you need heat-resistant gloves. These gloves from Weber are our sister publication Epicurious’s pick for best grilling gloves.
One of the biggest challenges of outdoor cooking in the winter is the limited sunlight. The next time someone you love is reaching into a smoking hot grill in the dark, make sure they are wearing a headlamp. We won’t grill without one.
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