Ok, so you just got the invite: It’s a white elephant gift exchange with a price limit. Where do you even begin? What could you possibly get that’s effortlessly cool, steal-worthy, and not over budget? Luckily, this won’t be as complicated as you think.
As a product expert, it’s my job to source goods that deliver on both quality and usefulness. Below is a list of great white elephant gift ideas ranging from $15 to $38 that are plunderable, including everyday essentials like Lodge cast-iron skillets and fun gifts like Pamela Anderson’s pickle collaboration with Flamingo Estate. All you need to do is wrap it up and watch the envy unfold.
Editor-Loved White Elephant Gifts Under $40
- Tried-and-Tested: Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $24 (was $25) at amazon.com
- Non-Toxic: Earlywood Handmade Wooden Kitchen Cooking Utensil, $22 at amazon.com
- Healthy Omega-9 Fats: Algae Cooking Club Chef-Grade Algae Cooking Oil, $21 (was $23) at amazon.com
- Stunning Collectable: Le Creuset Extra-Large Logo Mug, $28 at lecreuset.com
- Pamela Anderson Collab: Flamingo Estate Pamela’s Pickles: Winter Edition, $38 at flamingoestate.com
Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Amazon
Yes, you can get a whole cookware piece for just $24—a perfect price for a white elephant party. I will always recommend a cast-iron skillet for gifting because everyone should own one. It’s versatile, non-toxic and lasts seemingly forever when you care for it properly. Wrap it up with a little handwritten note for long-term care instructions, and this will be the gift everyone trades for.
Heilala Premium Vanilla Bean Paste
Amazon
Vanilla bean paste used to be a best-kept secret between pastry chefs, but now it’s finally getting the love it deserves. I use this often, and it’s one of the most essential ingredients in my pantry. Add it to whipped cream, buttercreams, puddings, oatmeal and even Greek yogurt. I also love this for homemade jam! Heilala makes the best-tasting vanilla bean paste; it’s very pure and floral, and it doesn’t have an artificial note at all. At this point, I prefer it to whole vanilla bean pods since it’s easier to use, gives recipes a rich taste and distributes throughout a mixture seamlessly.
Earlywood Handmade Wooden Kitchen Cooking Utensil
Amazon
My favorite cooking utensil of all time, the Earlywood spatula, becomes everyone’s go-to tool the second it falls into their hands. The long, flat shape is so perfect, I reach for it for virtually every cooking task, whether I’m sautéing, stirring, flipping or tossing ingredients around a pot or pan. They hold up well even after years of use, too. At this point, I think I own around 10 of them!
Algae Cooking Club Chef-Grade Algae Cooking Oil
Amazon
This genius invention came out within the last year or two. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a cooking oil made from algae. Why? This seaweed is easy to come by and produces a product that has a high concentration of healthy omega-9 fats with a high smoke point. Rest assured: It has no taste and is completely clear in color. Because of its 535°F smoke point, this can be used for plenty of applications—searing, frying, roasting and more—without scorching. Folks will either think this gift is super weird, or they’ll be beyond excited to start cooking with it. Either way, it’s the talk of the party!
Naomi After-Cooking Hand Scrub
Amazon
Ever go to bed with the scent of garlic wafting from your hands? Yeah, it’s not pleasant. Chefs put their brilliant minds together to create Naomi’s hand scrub to prevent just that. The added deodorizers come from bread yeast enzymes, which break down tougher scents from ingredients like alliums and seafood. Coupled with a soothing exfoliating texture and luxe smell combinations including bergamot and cardamom, this is pretty much a winter cook’s dream.
Tartine: Revised Edition: A Classic Revisited Cookbook by Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson
Amazon
Tartine’s classic cookbook is a baker’s encyclopedia. These recipes are most similar to the ones I used as a professional pastry cook, written in weights and organized in such a way that takes preparedness and precision into account. This is a good thing! It makes complicated recipes easier to follow. When I read it or make a recipe from it, it inspires me to continue to perfect my craft every time. It’s also genuinely stunning to flip through. This is the book you get for people who want to learn how to perfect the simplest baking techniques.
Valrhona Holiday Discovery Box: 18 Dark & Milk Chocolate Squares
Valrhona
Valrhona makes my favorite all-purpose chocolate. It’s so high-quality that it’s the best chocolate to snack on, if you ask me. You can taste the unique differences between each type the brand offers, from sweet and tangy notes to bitter and woody flavors, making this discovery box an explorative and educational experience for any chocolate lover.
Souper Cubes 2-Cup Silicone Freezer Tray with Lid
Amazon
Not enough people know about Souper Cubes. A sturdy silicone freezer companion, this mold is ideal for storing sauces, soups, stews and other leftovers for the future. You can even store citrus juice, coconut milk and other handy liquids for future cooking and baking projects. It comes with a handy lid, which makes storing and stacking easy. So brilliant!
Kitchendao Acacia Wood Salt Cellar
Amazon
While a simple gift, a nice salt cellar can go a long way. This is very similar to the one I love and use multiple times a day. It makes seasoning so easy: Salt is always ready to grab, and the included spoon means I’m not constantly dipping my fingers into the bowl. I also like that it’s sort of a built-in measuring spoon, so you’re aware of how much salt you’re actually using.
Heraclea Early Harvest EVOO
Heraclea
My favorite high-quality olive oil is from Heraclea. The brand makes liquid gold. I love how smooth, buttery and flavorful this Early Harvest is and how the beautiful bottle protects the oil inside. Made from single-origin olives in Turkey, the crop is handpicked and cold-pressed for a fairly produced product. You can’t really go wrong with this showstopper.
Le Creuset Extra-Large Logo Mug
Le Creuset
I am team extra-large mugs! Perfect for hot chocolate adorned with whipped cream, a tall cup of drip coffee or a relaxing cup of tea, this 20-ounce mug is ready for just about any warm drink you can pour in it. Available in a variety of the brand’s coveted colors, I love that it has the classic Le Creuset flair, including an embossed logo that spans across the exterior.
Maldon Salt Gift Pack
Amazon
Sprinkle some serious holiday cheer with this Maldon gift pack. It comes with classic sea salt flakes, smoked sea salt flakes and garlic-infused sea salt flakes. The standard salt is excellent for finishing pretty much anything, from sweet to savory meals, while the chili salt adds serious zing to proteins, produce and chocolate desserts. The garlic option is another savory flavor booster most people will love.
Burlap & Barrel Martha Stewart Spice Blend Set
Burlap & Barrel
I’m a huge fan of Burlap and Barrel’s products. The brand makes excellent traceable single-origin spices and spice blends, like this fun Martha Stewart collaboration set. It includes an herb-forward blend perfect for poultry, a citrusy herbal blend for seafood and chicken and a bold and savory blend for beef and lamb. Though these blends are geared towards those proteins, you could very easily sprinkle them on other ingredients, like potatoes or Brussels sprouts. They’re excellent all-purpose options that everyone (including vegetarians and pescatarians like me) can get use from.
Flamingo Estate Pamela’s Pickles: Winter Edition
Flamingo Estate
Everyone knows Pamela Anderson, and I’m sure that this will pique curiosity during the gift swap. Will these be good? Why is she making pickles? Those in the know can confidently steal this jar, which is filled with her Great Aunt Vie’s award-winning pickle recipe. This is the winter edition, which has a flavorful twist: The pickling liquid is infused with notes of citrus, cranberry and rose for a tangy, floral and spicy twist.
The Original Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark
Williams Sonoma
Williams Sonoma’s peppermint bark is no match for other white elephant gifts. A coveted product, the combination of rich dark chocolate, creamy white chocolate and refreshing candy canes makes this a seasonal favorite that likely won’t last past the night. It comes in a chic tin that’s easy to wrap or could be reused the next year for the giftee’s holiday cookies.
