54 Holiday Gifts Our Editors Are Giving Their Families This Year

Do you know an absolute kitchen superstar? If so, this five-piece set from All-Clad is a fantastic gift for the loved one who loves cooking and hosting. If they have some heavily used kitchenware that needs an update, this gift will give them a much-appreciated upgrade.

“All-Clad is one of those ‘buy it for life’ brands. It’s unlikely I’ll ever need another set,” says editor Katie Tuttle. This gift is on the pricier side, but it’s well worth it, Tuttle says. “With this quality, it’s unlikely the recipient would ever need another stainless steel cookware set. The two frying pans and saucepan should cover most kitchen needs.”

This electric grill from Current is something that the grill master in your life will greatly appreciate. It’s a top-of-the-line appliance that our tester, writer Raki Swanson, loves. “If you were lucky enough to get this from someone for a gift, you are now one of the most blessed people in the world,” she says. “This grill changed our grilling experience — everything is on the grill now.” Her favorite feature is her ability to cook different things at different, precise temperatures at the same time. She also says it cooks every inch of food the same.

If you want to go the extra mile with your gift, consider adding the grill cover as well. It’s waterproof to prevent mildew and odors, and it fits the grill perfectly. What are you waiting for? Get cooking!

Give someone the gift of a fresh, homemade tortilla. They can use the Victoria Cast-Iron Tortilla Press to make flour, corn, or gluten-free tortillas in addition to roti, empanadas, arepas, tostones, and more.

Your elders’ best recipes deserve a permanent home. This printed gift towel is a beautiful way to honor amazing recipes while immortalizing them in a handy, easy-to-use spot. All you have to do is take a picture of a handwritten recipe from a family member and send it to the company. They’ll then apply it to your dish towel. You get to approve a final version, too, before they send it.

“This is one of the nicest items I’ve received to test this holiday season,” says Scully. “I was able to send in a recipe my mother had written, and now the dish towel hangs prominently in my kitchen as a way to remember her.”

Under time pressure? Let this gift be a saving grace for those who crave the health benefits of a home-cooked meal but barely have the time to prepare it. The Fissler Vivavit Pressure Cooker, paired with a matching cookbook, can help your loved one create delicious meals in minutes.

“Food cooks so fast. I made a mushroom risotto that cooked in five minutes (minus the chopping and sautéing beforehand, of course),” says Tuttle. In fact, the pressure cooker makes food 70 percent faster than other cooking methods while keeping up to 90 percent of its vitamins.

The Schmidt Brothers Delta 7-Piece Knife Block Set can fulfill all chopping needs. “This knife set is gorgeous. It comes with seven knives — an 8 ½-in bread knife, 8-inch chef knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 5-inch fine-edge utility knife, and 4-inch paring [knives] — which is honestly pretty much everything I personally use,” says Scully. “The knives also have real walnut handles, making them feel expensive and beautiful, and the knife itself is made of stainless steel. The forged blades are very sharp (so be careful), but beautiful. I personally liked how well-balanced the knives felt.”

Scully says this cookbook is “the first one I could find that not only helped me find yummy anti-inflammatory foods and recipes, but that was also plant-based. Google ‘anti-inflammatory diet’ and you’ll see just how many plans or books will give you dishes with meat in them.”

Don’t put this gift on the chopping block (metaphorically) — because you’ll actually want it on the chopping block! The Schmidt Bros. Jet Black 12-piece Giotto Knife Block Set is elegant, durable, and made from 100 percent German stainless steel and polished black titanium. This gift is the perfect way to add an air of sophistication to your kitchen.

“Other than sexy as hell? The black knives are very beautiful — I love that they are one piece, and you get a variety of knives — you get some to help you cook and to help you eat,” Swanson gushes. “This is so very worth the price — you get 12 knives and a beautiful Rotating Storage block. The quality of the block, along with the knives, is worth every penny! If taken care of properly, this could last someone years.”

This is a gift you dough-not want to miss! If you know someone who loves bread, pasta, and pastries, the Wildgrain bread and pastry subscription can deliver a variety of goods like doughnuts, sourdough bread, croissant loaves, cranberry pecan rolls, and gluten-free snickerdoodles right to their door. The goods come frozen, and you can heat them in the oven whenever you want.

“I could get frozen loaves to cook right before dinner (and they were incredible), as well as get pastries like croissants for breakfast, scones, seasonal cider donuts, fresh pastas, and even essentials like butter (real, French butter too!), pasta sauce, and more,” says Scully, who grew up in France and misses the bread she had there. “Now, the bread is way more expensive than bread is in France still, but it is nice to have fresh bread with dinner from time to time (and straight from the oven) without having to knead dough and make it myself (which, frankly, I just don't have the time to do).” She adds: “I also do like that the bread and pasta arrive frozen, so you don't feel like you have to rush to eat it right away. Now I just have it on hand when I need it.”

“It’s delicious — genuinely yummy. I had COVID when I received this, and it really helped soothe my sore throat and cough when I added it to my tea. I even ate a huge spoonful on its own once when my cough was particularly bad,” says Campbell.

Tea is best when shared, and this collection of tea-related gifts can make tea time a special occasion. The Tea Forte Wellbeing Tea Assortment and Presentation Box and Steeping Cup, are sure to impress your loved one, so you can both spill the tea together.

“This tea is yummy, and the mugs are pretty, and there are bagged and loose-leaf options,” says Campbell. “As a tea lover, I’d be very happy to receive this as a gift. It’s beautifully packaged and presented and tastes great.”

This gift is great for coffee and espresso lovers alike. The Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi makes a thoughtful kitchen gift that your loved one will cherish.

“I first drank coffee from this coffee maker at my parents’ house, about five years ago,” says Swanson. “My mom said to me at the time, ‘This will be the best coffee that you will have ever tasted, other than what you can get at a coffee shop.’ She then showed me how to use this machine. She was not wrong!” Swanson received the machine herself as a gift three years ago, and has been using it (and enjoying amazing coffee) ever since.

Don’t know what to gift your loved one? Don’t sweat it, literally. The Evercool Cooling Comforter is a great gift for anyone who overheats at night and wakes up in their own sweat. The fabric is made with the company’s signature cooling fabric and is moisture-wicking to keep sleepers dry and their temperature regulated.

“If you sleep hot, get hot flashes, or it’s summer — and your house, like mine, has no AC — then this is the comforter for you,” says editorial director Simone Scully. The comforter feels similar to a top sheet and isn’t necessarily ideal for wintertime, she says, but it’s great for warmer months and locations, plus super-hot sleepers.

The Evercool+ Cooling Starter Sheet Set is the perfect gift for the person in your life who overheats at night. “I used to wake up sweaty in my room in the summer—but not anymore with these sheets,” says editorial director Simone Scully. “I feel like they make me actually relax too, because they're nice and soft and cooling,” she adds.

This gift is “faux real.” This faux fur blanket from Evergrace is luxuriously soft and perfect for snuggling up with on the couch. “It's incredibly soft (faux fur on one side, soft velvety fabric on the other), and it has a good weight to it. I have the 60 x 80 inch size, and it’s great for snuggling up with my two kids,” says Ziegler. It’s a good gift choice since it’s “a luxury a lot of us wouldn’t get for ourselves,” she adds.

This clock is a Himalayan salt rock in the shape of a sphere. It comes in both white and pink and looks a bit like a moon. “I really like how simple this one is,” says Scully. “You don’t need to connect to an app to program it or use it; it’s totally screen-free. Even the clock face feels more calming because it doesn’t have plastic.”

In addition to the clock’s calming feel, Scully loves how gently it wakes her up. “The light is very bright, so it does truly wake you up as a sunrise alarm clock, but it gets brighter slowly, so you can slowly wake up. All around, it's a great alarm clock with no harsh sounds, plastic, or Wi-Fi. I love it.”

We’ve filtered through hundreds of gifts to pick awesome products like this. Drinking water is essential to life and health, and the Sans Water Purifier can make clean, filtered water accessible to your whole family. The product is third-party tested and removes up to 99.9 percent of contaminants from water.

“I like that it is a countertop unit, so it’s out in plain sight for whenever anyone needs water. I also like that it comes with a glass water pitcher, which means your water isn’t sitting in plastic all day,” says Scully. “It refills instantaneously after you put it back, too, and lets you know when it runs out. I have well water at my house, and this unit helps me feel way better about keeping my family safe.”

If you love hiking or taking outdoor day trips, keeping your whole family hydrated can be a challenge, especially when clean running water may not be accessible. The Zulu Goals Mammoth 101-Ounce bottle in the color yucca is large, portable, and insulated. It keeps drinks cold for 120 hours and hot for 24 hours, making it the answer to your prayers.

While hydration wasn’t my goal when I tested this, since I used it to make a batch cocktail for a friend’s birthday party, I was still blown away by how it kept drinks cold all night. It’s also super-easy to carry thanks to the handle. Whether you’re going on a family outing or celebrating with friends, this jug serves many purposes. Next time I use it, I plan to make a healthy soup and bring it to a dinner party.

If your loved one is backpacking in Europe one day and flying to Mexico to see the ruins the next, this gift is perfect to fit their nomadic lifestyle. This LifeStraw Go Series water bottle filters out contaminants like bacteria, parasites, chlorine, sand, and dirt. So if a gas station, airport bathroom, or tap without potable water is your only option, this filtered bottle can keep you safe. It’s made from healthy BPA-free materials, too.

“I like that it’s stainless steel and cuts back on the plastic. It keeps water cold and filters it as you’re drinking,” says Bonaccorso. “This has become my new go-to water bottle. It’s a great, healthy gift.”

This is a screen-free toy your child will love! The Yoto Player (3rd Generation) audio player features insertable cards with a variety of stories, music, and educational content for kids ages 3 to 12 to explore. The audio device also doubles as a nightlight, clock, and even a room thermometer.

“I think every family should have one of these if they have kids 3 and older,” says Scully. “It truly does entertain kids, and with so many different cards aimed at different ages, it really does grow with them. For example, right now my son loves that he can listen to his favorite Disney stories and books, like Dragons Love Tacos and A Bad Case of Stripes. But I also like that when he outgrows those books, he can graduate to longer novels, like Harry Potter or Roald Dahl books.”

Scully also says that the educational content is enjoyable. “My son actually wants to listen to them and learn about things, like space and dinosaurs.”

The amount of time kids spend on screens is puzzling, and this gift offers a fun, educational, and collaborative alternative. The Large as Life Penguin Puzzle and Red Panda Puzzle (there’s also a koala one) are animal puzzles designed to entertain and teach your child useful skills.

“What I loved most is that this is highly educational. On the back of the puzzle are animal facts, which will help this puzzle remain interesting to him even as he grows up. I also like that they break the puzzle down into segments with colors so your child can sort the pieces and more easily get started,” says Scully. “There are also a number of animal-related puzzle pieces in it: With the penguin, that includes a penguin piece and an Antarctica piece, and with the red panda, it was some red panda pieces and a paw print. The puzzle also comes with a fact sheet about the animal.”

Keep your kid away from screens and gift them an interactive toy that will entertain and engage them. This gift is similar to the aforementioned creative Tonies in that your child can listen to stories and songs and play games, though those are made for kids over 3. This newer version is ideal if you have a kid as young as 1.

“The new Toniebox is compatible with the new toddler Tonies, which include farm animals and the like, which are more appropriate for young kids (and would have likely meant that he would have interacted with it more when he was littler),” says Scully. “It works as a nightlight and a sunrise alarm, which is great for setting routines and makes the Toniebox more versatile. My son also just likes the rainbow light in general. It is also just a little sleeker. This is definitely the Toniebox to get if you have a younger kid because now it will work for kids as little as 1 year old.”

If your kid loves it when you tell them bedtime stories, they’ll absolutely love Creative-Tonies. These cute figurines hold up to 90 minutes of custom audio, so you and the other important people in your kid’s life can record custom stories that your child can listen to at any time. In addition to recording your own content, the toys feature an app that lets you download other free recordings.

“I would definitely recommend this to a friend. This is a great screen-free activity for kids,” says Bonaccorso. If your child struggles with separation anxiety while you’re away or wants to listen to a story when they wake up in the middle of the night (without needing to wake you up), this toy can give them the feeling of being close to you.

When it comes to teaching kids about their feelings, it can be hard to find a good book or toy — but that’s what makes the Slumberkins so special. “My son has been struggling with two big losses in his life lately — his grandmother and his dog — and we’ve been trying to find books on grief that actually help,” says Scully. “The Sprite Kin was the first thing that worked, because not only could we read the book Sprite Helps Say Goodbye, but also because he could hold and hug the very soft Sprite stuffy toy that comes with it.”

“The Sprite book helped walk him through his feelings: It told him what grief would feel like, and how it would come in waves,” Scully adds. “It also made sure he knew that whatever his feelings were, they were OK to have.” And the Sprite Kin is far from the only one we loved. We also love the Otter Kin for anxiety and building connections, the Yak for self-acceptance, and the Periwinkle Bear for Repair — and we plan on buying more for our kids this holiday season. These therapist-created toys can be just what the family needs to get through hard times.

Family planning has never been easier with this extremely thoughtful gift. The skylight calendar is a 15-inch digital touchscreen calendar you can hang on the wall. Sync it with your calendar and your family’s to see everyone’s events and any conflicts. It has features that lets you plan meals and grocery shopping and special tools to encourage you to accomplish your goals.

“It's more than just a calendar: You can also assign chores and set up routines, then assign them ‘points’ that can be cashed in when they're completed and these chores or routines can show up as reminders. I found this very helpful for my son, who was suddenly super motivated to get his ‘points’ for the day by checking off tasks — and at the end of the week, he'd cash in his points for a reward, like an afternoon at the park, a treat, or movie night,” says Scully.

“This chores-routine reminder was also helpful for my husband, who has ADHD, and for me to manage the mental load. It allowed me to remind my family to do things without having to actually nag them. After using this for about two weeks, I have to say that our family forgets less things we have to do and we're more on time to events,” she adds.

It may seem like just yesterday that your baby learned to walk, and now that they’re over 3 years old, they can start learning how to ride a bike! The Woom Go 2, designed for kids ages 3 to 4 ½, is an excellent gift for you and your child as you celebrate another big milestone.

“This would look beautiful under a Christmas tree,” says writer and editor Nicole Bonaccorso. “We got the red, which is just so nice looking and shiny. I like that this is the perfect size for my 4-year-old.” Go ahead and grab yours now.

This gift is truly amazing for the whole family. It’s perfect for kids, or even for the adult in your life who wants to nurture their inner child, and enjoy relief from stress and pain. You can use these animal plushies for heat or cooling therapy, and they are also weighted to help soothe anxiety.

“We use ours when my son got an ear infection, when I get cramps, migraines, neck pain, or a sinus infection. My husband even used it when he had some jaw pain. They’re amazing and they make great gifts,” says Scully. “Plus, they smell like lavender when you heat them up, which is awesome and helps you relax or even fall asleep, even when you're hurting.”

If you want to get your kid something they’ll enjoy without breaking the bank, this gift is perfect. The Magna-Tiles Hamster Ball Set is a magnetic tile hamster-themed building set your child will love. “Magna-Tiles has come out with a few pet sets this year, and of course, my son wants them all! But the hamster one is particularly fun because it comes with a hamster ball you can put the hamster in and then roll down a slide,” says Scully. 

“In general, I think Magna-Tiles are great gifts for kids and inspire creativity and problem-solving. This set is an affordable stocking stuffer or small gift — and it will likely inspire your kids to soon request more and build their own little villages or race tracks like mine does,” she says.

The sectioned-out OmieBox has space for different foods and comes with a built-in insulated container to keep your kid’s lunch hot and places to keep food cold. It’s also leak-proof and BPA-free. “I love that the bento box comes with a handle, a thermos food jar, and multiple compartments, making it kind of a one-stop lunchbox for my son’s lunch,” says Scully. “Pasta stays warm in the thermos, and his food stays well separated. I also like that the rubber around the edges comes off for easy cleaning. This prevents mold from growing, which is a problem on some other bento box lunchboxes I've tried.”

If your child is sensitive to the feel of certain fabrics, these soft sweatshirts, sweatpants, and T-shirts from Color Lab by Crayola could be just what they need to feel comfortable and make the experience of getting dressed easier for everyone.

Kids love running around — and running into things. If your kid loves cycling and crashing for fun, they’ll need a helmet. The Woom Ready Helmet for kids can protect them from getting hurt, so they (and you) can play in peace.

“I like how robust this helmet seems. Rather than what many helmets seem to be — thick Styrofoam with a sort of flimsy plastic over top, this is clearly a thick plastic shell and sits low onto the forehead and the back of the head to protect the whole skull,” says Bonaccorso. She also likes the clasp on the helmet: “Rather than the classic clip, it’s a magnetic clip, which won’t run the risk of pinching the chin.”

If the shoe fits, you’re doing something right. Having bunions can feel a bit like squeezing into glass slippers — painful, frustrating, and enough to make shoe shopping feel discouraging. People with bunions will tell you to not gift them shoes, though the Calla Star shoes might change their mind. These sneakers are designed specifically for wide feet and bunions. Best of all, they don’t scream “orthopedic.” They’re suede sneakers in cheerful colors like cherry red and silver.

“These are really beautiful sneakers. Mine were cherry suede, but there are other colors too so it's pretty easy to find one that matches your own personal style. But they are very pretty and that makes them versatile,” says Scully. “I wouldn't be afraid to wear these to the office, for example, as well as in my day-to-day. They are also a little wider, which is nice if you, like me, have wider feet — and they're designed to be more comfortable for people with foot conditions, like bunions. They're very comfy (and do come with a removable footbed) and they have easy, adjustable laces.”

The Rainer Weekender Backpack makes the perfect gift for your loved one who likes taking weekend getaways. This bag can safely pack clothing, and it also features a special area to store your laptop safely.

“I love this product. It’s big enough for me to pack clothes for me and my two kids for a weekend. As it’s a backpack, it’s easy to carry. It opens up wide so it’s easy to pack, too,” says Bonaccorso. “This is a great carry-on for travel, a great weekender bag, a great camping pack — great for any time you want to carry more than for just a day trip.”

“These compression socks are great. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, including wide calf, and make a great gift for men and women. I love that they have different heights, fabric weights, and are easy on/off,” says writer Tori Martinet.

If your loved one enjoys relaxing by the campfire or stepping out of their tent to watch the sunrise, they’ll appreciate this thoughtful gift. These slip-ons from Glerups offer the comfort of a house slipper, but with a rubber sole, making them suitable for outdoor wear.

“I loved this product,” says Bonaccorso. She adds that “they’re cute and they have a Scandinavian aesthetic. They’re made of wool and natural rubber.” The wool is natural and itch-free, and these shoes are designed to regulate your temperature to keep your feet warm or cool.

You can’t go wrong with this gift box if you have a loved one who relishes self-care. The EkuBox Mini Lavender Spa comes with a vanilla lavender soy candle, collagen facial treatment mask, silky paper soap, a fizzy lavender bath bomb, and champagne gummies for a celebratory finish.

“There is so much to love about this box from the moment you open it,” says Scully. “For one, my box came wrapped in a silk bow with a real sprig of lavender attached, so I was immediately greeted with this amazing floral smell. It also made the box feel very personal and unique.” She also notes that “all of the products feel expensive and carefully curated, which makes this box feel like a really, really nice gift.”

This holiday gift set from Le Prunier will impress even the most well-versed beauty product expert. It contains the Plum Beauty Oil and the Plumtox Clarifying Enzyme Mask, and it can give your loved one’s face and hair a luscious glow. They’ll appreciate the oil that goes on the face day and night, and that can also go in damp hair to prevent heat damage from blow drying. Then the face mask can be applied for 5 to 10 minutes three times a week. They’ll be simply glowing this holiday season.

“The plum oil smells amazing, like sweet almond. I absolutely loved it. These products did not bother my sensitive skin. It didn’t make me break out or activate my rosacea or eczema,” says Campbell.

“This sunscreen has an incredibly velvety texture and made my skin feel so smooth! It was amazing. It’s slightly tinted — not for any kind of foundation-like coverage, but so you don’t notice at all if there’s a spot you didn’t rub in all the way. It felt so much more like a daily moisturizer than any other face sunscreen I’ve tried,” says Campbell.

We’re happy to pay this gift some lip service. The Burt’s Bees Lip Milk will moisturize your lips without the need to reapply frequently or run the risk of them becoming more chapped, says Swanson, who tested the toasted coconut flavor. “A little goes a long way,” she says.

The sweet strawberry flavor also got rave reviews. “The formula is lightweight and moisturizing. Don’t let the milky tint scare you; it turns clear once applied to your lips,” says Tuttle. “This is a good preventative measure for your lips in winter so that they don’t get chapped and they stay hydrated,” adds Bonaccorso.

Know someone whose passport is running out of space? Chances are, their luggage has seen better days and could use an update! The July Carry On Light Expandable is the best gift for your loved one who is always traveling. This lightwight carry-on size bag comes in a variety of fun colors like blush pink, navy blue, forest green, and more, and is made of a sturdy aerospace-grade German polycarbonate shell and a water-resistant nylon lining. 

“I have gotten to be a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to finding lightweight, carryon bags. This fits that bill,” says Scully, who is the daughter of a pilot. ”The suitcase is one of the lightest I've used, it rolls very well (and allows you to move quickly if you need to sprint across the airport) and is very durable. I particularly like that the zippers and click into place so they are less likely to break. Plus, everything is vegan with this bag. It comes with handy compartments and it can expand if you need it to.”

“I have terrible allergies, and I live in an old building. I’m allergic to pretty much everything: dust, pet dander, grass, mold. This air purifier has odor and HEPA filters, plus real-time air quality monitoring,” says editor Lili Ladaga. When the air quality monitor turns red, Ladaga says she knows it’s time to close windows and take an allergy pill. “I also like that it’s compact and fun-looking (looks like a giant iPod) that doesn’t stick out in a room.”

Scented candles have a way of adding seasonal ambience to a space, and these gifts can do just that. The Bluecorn Mountain Lilac candle obviously smells of lilac, but it also has notes of wood hyacinth, mountain bluebells, and bristlecone pine.

“I am in love with it,” says Scully. “It has a realistic lilac scent that doesn’t feel artificial at all. It really does smell like you’re standing next to a lilac bush, which also happens to be one of my favorite flowers.” The candles come in a glass jar, giving them a more-classic, old-timey feel.