If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Holiday Planning & Ideas Holiday Gifts Our Editors' Go-To White Elephant Gift Ideas You May Want to Keep for Yourself From cookware to self-care, we have it all. By Olivia McIntosh Olivia McIntosh Olivia McIntosh is a writer and editor who has worked as a lifestyle content writer and digital marketer since 2020 for B2B and B2C companies. She joined Martha Stewart as an associate editor in September 2024. Editorial Guidelines Published on November 19, 2024 Photo: Courtesy of Crate and Barrel / Amazon Hosting and attending a white elephant gift exchange party is one of our favorite ways to gather and celebrate the season. White elephant gift exchanges are not like any other. The attendees take turns unwrapping a gift they choose from the pile—as the game progresses, they can steal unwrapped gifts from other players. The gifts brought to a white elephant party are often within a set budget. But with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, finding the right gift to bring can become an afterthought and a last-minute errand on your way to the party. To help you out, we have compiled our editors' go-to picks that are sure to please anyone lucky enough to keep them during this fun holiday tradition. 39 Stocking Stuffers That Don't Feel Like an Afterthought 01 of 14 Holiday in the City Stoneware Mug Courtesy of Anthropologie One of our go-to formulas for a white elephant gift exchange is pairing a unique or festive mug with a bag of seasonally flavored coffee beans, hot chocolate, or tea. These Anthropologie mugs feature iconic scenes from one of seven cities. Anyone who loves Christmas or traveling will be clamoring to get this gift. $16 at Anthropologie 02 of 14 Martha on the Mantel Courtesy of Walmart One of the great things about white elephant gift exchanges is that guests often bring quirky or creative items that make for a cute gift. It's hard to resist bringing the Martha on the Mantel Christmas plush doll to the party this year. Our favorite part about this gift—aside from the iconic subject matter!—is the cute accessories that it comes with, like the golden champagne bottle and wrapped presents. $25 at Walmart 03 of 14 Crate and Barrel Christmas Icon Double Old-Fashioned Glass Courtesy of Crate and Barrell One can never have too much festive glassware on their bar cart. Consider picking up these Christmas icon glasses from Crate and Barrel. Whoever gets to keep this gift can use the glasses for iced coffee, egg nog, and holiday cocktails for many holiday seasons to come. $13 at Crate & Barrel 04 of 14 Tree Snowfall Candle Courtesy of Uncommon Goods A festive candle your fellow gift-exchangers are sure not to have seen before, this Tree Snowfall candle is the cutest and will be a surefire favorite for stealing throughout the game. The candle even comes with fake snow to sprinkle on the tree to give it a real "snowfall" effect as the wick burns. $35 at Uncommon Goods Martha Has All the Holiday Gifting and Entertaining Essentials You Need—Shop Her Products Here 05 of 14 Gingerbread Icon Wine Charms—Mixed Set of 4 Courtesy of Pottery Barn The gift that every host will be reaching for—these glass gingerbread wine charms make any glass of wine this holiday season festive. Consider pairing this gift with a nice bottle of wine to make it even more irresistible. $32 at Pottery Barn 06 of 14 Martha Stewart Bainford 4-Piece Wooden Kitchen Tool Set Courtesy of Amazon A practical yet elevated gift to bring to a white elephant exchange is this Martha Stewart wooden kitchen utensil set. Many are cooking more than normal during this time of year, so freshening up on utensils is always a treat. The wood texture and dark hue are timeless and can be used throughout the year. This set is perfect if you want to gift something that isn't exclusive to the holiday season. $35 at Amazon 07 of 14 Snowflake Oven-to-Table Casserole Dish with Wood Trivet Courtesy of Crate and Barrel There's no such thing as having too many serving dishes during the holidays. We love these snowflake dishes because they are safe for baking in the oven, and they sit beautifully on a table for serving—resulting in fewer dishes and more compliments from guests on the food display. $30 at Crate & Barrel 08 of 14 The Original Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma If you have ever stepped foot in Williams Sonoma during the holidays, you know the lore behind this peppermint bark. This seasonal treasure features a few different flavors: original peppermint bark, salted peppermint bark, and dark chocolate peppermint bark. Williams Sonoma's peppermint bark is one of our favorite go-to gifts for a white elephant exchange because, by the end of the game, everyone will be passing around the tin, indulging in the festive treat. $30 at Williams-Sonoma 09 of 14 Benedita Bow Metal Serve Set Courtesy of Anthropologie We are obsessed with Anthropologie's kitchen and cookware regardless of the season, but especially during the holidays. These silver and gold bow-handled serving knives are the quintessential white elephant exchange gift to bring when you know there will be guests who love to entertain or cook. Guests who weren't lucky enough to leave with these serving knives will be asking you for the link at the end of the night. $48 at Anthropologie 38 Unique Home Gifts That'll Make Their Space Extra Cozy This Season 10 of 14 Pinch Provisions Super Spa Set Courtesy of Anthropologie Self-care products or treatments are always a go-to, and these spa sets have a little something for everyone—and for a great price. If you're attending more than one white elephant gift exchange party this holiday season, you can split up this Pinch Provisions Super Spa Set from Anthropologie to create two separate gifts to bring and pair them with a festive mug or candle. $35 at Anthropologie 11 of 14 500-Piece Vintage Christmas Puzzle Courtest of Anthropologie If you're looking for a festive activity to bring as your gift, look no further than vintage-style holiday puzzles of iconic Christmas scenery. This 500-piece vintage Christmas puzzle is nostalgic and, once completed, can be framed and brought out each year as holiday dècor. $19 at Anthropologie 12 of 14 YETI Rambler 14 oz Stackable Mug Courtesy of Amazon If you're going to a white elephant exchange and don't know the other guests well, bringing a YETI mug is a safe gift that anyone will be happy to leave the party with. If you want to be festive, choose a red mug and stuff it with seasonal treats to spice up the gift. YETI mugs are a practical yet sophisticated gift that can be used throughout the year for the recipient's favorite hot or cold beverages. $30 at Amazon 13 of 14 Set of 2 Satin Pillowcases Courtesy of My Kitsch Another self-care gift we love bringing to a gift exchange is the Kitsch satin pillowcase set. It's an affordable, practical gift that keeps hair and skin thriving at night. Small self-care gifts like this go a long way and will be a crowd-pleaser for all your beauty-obsessed friends or family members. $38 $28 at Mykitsch.com 14 of 14 Winter Mantel Homesick Candle Courtesy of Homesick Homesick's candles are a go-to for any gift year-round due to their charming specificity. The chic packaging and delicious scents make for the perfect gift to bring to your exchange—and who doesn't love candles? Homesick has a winter-season collection featuring a variety of scents that are reminiscent of this time of year. $30 at Homesick.com 18 of Our Favorite Finds on Uncommon Goods for Everyone On Your Gift List Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit