17 Editor-Loved White Elephant Gifts That Everyone Will Try to Steal, Starting at $7 (2024)

The holidays are the season of generosity and giving, and yet shopping for your loved ones is often anxiety inducing — sometimes you just can’t decide what to give, or no one in your family can agree on a budget (and there’s always that one relative that goes overboard, putting everyone else to shame). That’s why we recommend a white elephant gift exchange. This fun tradition takes the pressure off gift giving. White elephant gifts are usually inexpensive, versatile enough to fit all kinds of tastes and personalities, and sometimes but not always, have a sense of humor behind them.

Even if your family or friend group opts for a white elephant gift exchange this year, you still might be looking for recommendations. So our editors used our brain power to put together a list of the most clever, funny, and yes, even useful, white elephant gifts. You’ll find a wide range of options here from sparkling water to sturdy sheet pans. All our picks are under $50, and prices start at just $7. Keep scrolling for our 17 editor-loved picks — you can thank us later.

Editor-Loved White Elephant Gifts

• Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag, $20 at uncommongoods.com
• Kuhn 3-Pack Rikon Original Swiss Peelers, $20 at amazon.com
• Le Creuset Miniature Round Cocotte, $22 (originally $32) at williams-sonoma.com
• Sauce Up Chili Crisp, $16 at amazon.com
• OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, $7 at amazon.com
• Recess The Original Mood Sampler, $30 at takearecess.com
• Nordur Salt, $18 at amazon.com
• Giadzy Pasta Duo Box, $39 at giadzy.com
• Nordic Ware Quarter Sheet Pans, $22 at amazon.com
• Oreo Ultimate Dunking Gift Set, $26 (originally $30)at amazon.com
• Fellow 16-Ounce Carter Insulated Mug, $35 at amazon.com
• Tortilla Throw Blanket, $25 (originally $40) at amazon.com
• Farfalloni-Shaped Pot Holders, $17 at amazon.com
• Charles Viancin Wine Bottle Stoppers, Set of 3, $16 at amazon.com
• Tinned Fish Dish, $26 at bignightbk.com
• Breadtopia Bread Lame, $13 at amazon.com
• Nostalgia Tabletop Indoor Electric S'mores Maker, $24 (originally $28) at amazon.com

Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag

“This glass bowl has been circling in my peripheral vision online for years. It feels like having a Koons tabletop sculpture—sure, it won't protect perishables, but you won't have a single guest pass it by without noticing. Fill it with jelly beans and you can guarantee at the white elephant exchange the initial ‘oh that's so quirky!’ will quickly turn into ‘that bowl needs to be in my possession as soon as possible.’” — Megan Soll, associate editorial director

Kuhn 3-Pack Rikon Original Swiss Peelers

I grew up using a swivel peeler, and while peeling potatoes is inherently kinda fun (at least, to me!), it wasn't until I got my hands on one of these super sharp Kuhn Rikon Y-peelers that peeling potatoes became transcendent. Smooth, light, buttery...those are words that come to mind when I shave off a peel from a potato, lemon, or apple. They also come in a few cute colors, and make a fantastic stocking stuffer or white elephant gift. I know I'd be happy if I got one. — Grace Kelly, associate commerce editor

Le Creuset Miniature Round Cocotte

“I'd never say no to a Dutch oven of American Girl doll proportions, and this mini cocotte is more multifunctional than you'd think. Use it to cook a head of garlic to a spreadable smoothness, bake a wheel of brie for scooping, make a personal sized lava cake, or keep it as a salt cellar on the countertop.” — Megan Soll, associate editorial director

Sauce Up Chili Crisp

“Chili crisp punches up almost any dish with just a heaping spoonful — I can’t eat rice or eggs anymore without it, honestly. Right now, there are about four different jars of chili crisp in my pantry, but my favorite is the Sauce Up chili crisp. It has the earthiest, most pungent aroma. The flavor is smokey, and the spice level isn’t overwhelming making it a great option for people who want to experiment with new flavors but aren’t used to heat. It comes in a small jar but it will transform the recipient’s cooking experience.” — Elisabeth Sherman, commerce writer

OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup

This mini measuring cup from OXO is the definition of small but mighty. They’re (because yes, I have three of them) a kitchen essential in my household. I use them to drizzle olive oil into salad dressings, measure small amounts of liquids (hello, honey!), and add ingredients to co*cktails. I love that they have tablespoons, milliliters, ounces, and the entire vessel holds up to 1/4 cup so you can measure, dole, and drizzle with whatever metric you'd like. If you know me, you'll probably be getting one of these for Christmas (and I'll probably add another to my own collection, too).” — Grace Kelly, associate commerce editor

Recess The Original Mood Sampler

“This sparkling water sampler from Recess claims calming benefits from magnesium and L-theanine, and I swear sipping these drinks makes me more relaxed. Recess has found a sweet spot with fruit flavors that aren't sugary and don't taste artificial, and my favorite changes day to day. They're a refreshing alternative to alcohol, and that makes them a great gift in a season filled with parties.” — Mary Claire Lagroue, associate commerce editor

Nordur Salt

“Salt! It's the move! My sister brought me back a tin of this flakey salt after a trip to Iceland and it's absolutely delightful, with a slighter finer texture than Maldon that I (gasp!) prefer. Plus, it comes in a cute reusable tin.” — Ridley Schirm, senior commerce editor

Giadzy Pasta Duo Box

“Not to be dramatic but pasta is one of the few things that keeps me afloat. I truly enjoy Giadzy’s pasta — I think it’s a fair value for the quality. The pastas have the rough, dry scraggly texture I look for in dried pasta, which typically results in a better tooth and a better cling. These pastas delivered whether I simply tossed them in oil or made a full-fledged dish. I love that this comes with two kinds of tomatoes to sample with each shape. They’re unique varieties from Puglia and Campania that deserve to shine in dishes of their own. I think this is a great gift set for that reason, and I’d easily fight for it at an exchange.” — Kristin Montemarano, food commerce writer

Nordic Ware Quarter Sheet Pans

“Fun fact: I once brought a duo of quarter sheet pans to an office white elephant party and it was the *most* stolen gift (that's food media for you, huh?). But it makes sense: They're versatile and perfect for cooking in a toaster oven, baking just a couple of cookies, and an array of prep tasks.” — Ridley Schirm, senior commerce editor

Oreo Ultimate Dunking Gift Set

“Do you really need to complicate dipping an Oreo into a glass of milk? Of course not. But absurd gifts are the best white elephant gifts for high drama and low stakes. This kit comes with a mug, a clip-on cage to keep cookies close, as well as tongs to dunk your Oreo into milk without getting your fingers wet. Drop this into the white elephant mix and watch the chaos ensue.” — Katie Macdonald, editorial director

Fellow 16-Ounce Carter Insulated Mug

“Coffee is a way of life for a lot of people, but sometimes you’re late for work and can’t drink your coffee at home, or sometimes you need a pick-me-up on the go. For that you’ll want a nice insulated mug. The reason this Fellow one is at the top of my list for gifting is that it was carefully crafted to protect not only the temperature of your coffee, but also the flavor. The inside is lined with a ceramic coating, which helps prevent any other flavors from interacting with your brew. It’s also fully leakproof with a helpful splash guard. It’s a mug coffee aficionados and everyday drinkers alike can appreciate.” — Kristin Montemarano, food commerce writer

Tortilla Throw Blanket

“I’m pretty sure these are required at all white elephant exchanges. I won this after an epic battle with my cousin in 2019, and it’s been my cat’s favorite blanket since. If you aren’t a fan of the tortilla, you can also grab a cookie, waffle, or pizza to spice up the party.” — Katie Macdonald, editorial director

Farfalloni-Shaped Pot Holders

“There's a classic episode of The Office where Phyllis ends up giving Michael a hand knitted pot holder for secret santa. He ends up switching the gift swap into a white elephant because of this, but even still, no one steals his pot holders. Well, this is all to say, these are pot holders that I'm pretty sure everyone would steal. After all, they are shaped like pasta.” — Daniel Modlin, commerce editor

Charles Viancin Wine Bottle Stoppers, Set of 3

“I love gifting these flower-shaped stoppers, which can turn an open wine bottle into kitchen decor. Not only are they fun and whimsical, but they really work. The silicone provides a nice airtight seal that keeps wine fresh for days.” — Katie Brown, food commerce writer

Tinned Fish Dish

“We all know that this was a big year for tinned fish. Well, now that everyone is fully stocked up on their favorite conservas and other tiny tinned gifts, they'll need an equally tiny proper serving vessel. I love these cute ceramic dishes by Jose Gourmet, which could also double as a matchbook holder or soap dish. I would 100% snag this if I saw one swimming around a white elephant-style gift exchange.” — Danielle St. Pierre, commerce editor

Breadtopia Bread Lame

“I love to bake, so one year I bought myself this bread lame. It's both practical and cute with its baguette-inspired handle, and I think it would make a great stocking stuffer for the bread baker in your life (just keep it in the cute box it comes inside for safety reasons).” — Taysha Murtaugh, commerce director

Nostalgia Tabletop Indoor Electric S'mores Maker

“I've been obsessed with s'mores makers all-year, even though I can never make them myself (thanks, apartment life). Then I found out about indoor s'mores makers — I can have s'mores galore without a campfire, smelly clothes, or bugs. This one comes with wee marshmallow forks and a little tray, and even seems safe for kids.” — Siobhan Wallace, senior commerce editor