The Best Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List

Many lucky people grew up with gumdrop trees, a seasonal treat that magically appeared in the homes of grandparents and great aunts around the holidays. This clear plastic version has spiky branches to hold gumdrops and a small dish at the base of the trunk for extras. It’s a foot tall, and it folds flat for storage. Is it a family heirloom? No. Some people do complain of it tipping when little hands harvest from one side only. Is it tremendously fun and nice to look at? Absolutely.

Marasca cherries from Croatia are soaked in Luxardo cherry syrup, and through a process of pasteurization, time, and something like magic, these deep red, flavorful, beautifully textured beauties are born. Use Luxardo cherries anywhere you would normally see neon red maraschinos: a Manhattan, a Shirley Temple, a tequila sunrise. The syrup itself can be used as a sweetener in cocktails or drizzled in fizzy water for a jolt of flavor.

Sleeker, cleaner, and safer than matches, these beautifully colored flameless lighters are just right for lighting stoves, candles, and spliffs. And they don’t blow out in a breeze. Each lighter comes with a USB cord for recharging and a safety switch to prevent accidents. Like all flameless lighters, the plasma arc emits a soft but high-pitched sound that bothers some people. For the convenience, sustainability, and vibes, our tester was unbothered.

It is universally understood that kids love forts. It’s also universally understood that they will tear apart the living room, bedroom, and linen closet in the pursuit of fort-building materials and that adults will eventually have to collect, fold, and stow it all away again. Unless, of course, the kids have their own designated fort-making kit. This one contains three 71-by-54-inch nylon blankets along with velcro straps, loops, and ties for attaching them to couches, tables, or any other suitable support. Three weighted anchor bags keep it from flapping or blowing around in the wind, and it all cleans up in a lightweight cinch bag—no folding necessary.

Cooking over an open fire is romantic, delicious, and a formidable challenge. If someone you’re shopping for loves grilling alfresco but could use a leg up, consider the stainless steel Outpost Grill. First drive the anchor pole into the ground beside the fire, then screw on the circular cooking grate. Swivel it away to build your blaze, then slide the cooking surface up and down to control the sizzle factor. (The handle stays cool unless it’s licked with fire.) The grate doesn’t bow or bend, and the stainless steel finish is easy to clean. The Outpost Grill and its included carrying case weigh over 10 pounds, so it’s not for backpacking, but it’s a revelation for a backyard fire pit or a car camping trip.

Anyone on the pickleball bandwagon might like an upgrade—or a ticket to hop on. Our pick for best pickleball paddles offers power and control, meaning it can handle the gentlest dinks and the hardest bangers. At 7.8 to 8.4 ounces (depending on the size), the Bantam EX-L paddle is easy on the wrists. The surface texture can help with accuracy and spin, and it comes with a one-year guarantee.

The Fuzzies has a lot in common with Jenga, but instead of wooden blocks, players carefully remove a single fuzzy ball from the tower using tweezers, place it atop the pile, and hope the whole thing doesn’t topple (at least it topples quietly). And instead of randomly picking a fuzzball to retrieve, players draw cards that direct them toward a color or some difficult-to-manage technique (like plucking a ball with your eyes closed). The instructions recommend players are ages 6 and up, but a dexterous 4-year-old will enjoy this game, as will most 40-year-olds.

The facts are the facts: Slippers are a classic gift that most everyone is happy to receive. But what if you gave someone the most stylish, durable, and long-lasting slipper? What if you gave someone the last pair of slippers they’ll ever need? Such is the case with these Glerups Wool Slippers, which we’ve been wearing and recommending for years; no other felted-wool slippers we’ve tried have been as durable or supportive. Their open-heel design and their leather outsoles make them ideal for padding around the house or taking a quick step outside, but their sharp silhouette also makes them cool enough for greeting a delivery person or entertaining close friends.

True popcorn lovers know there’s no wrong way to pop. But you can always improve, and this dishwasher-safe and BPA-free silicone bowl is one of our all-time favorite popping methods. Add 5 tablespoons of kernels and microwave it for two minutes for 9 cups of perfectly airy, non-chemical-tinged popcorn. Adding oil is optional. If you’re worried about giving a single-use kitchen implement to someone with a small space, keep in mind that the bowl folds flat for easy storage—and takes up less kitchen-counter real estate than a plug-in air popper.

Nothing is more romantic than a candlelit home, but nothing is scarier than the idea of that home burning down, either. The Wick is a high-tech option: an LED light fashioned after the form and function of a traditional chamberstick. The touch-sensor lamp glows warmly like a real candle, but depending on which of its four brightness settings your gift recipient activates, it can stay lit for 12 to 115 hours between charges. It even has a pulse mode to mimic the flicker of genuine candlelight.

There’s more than meets the eye with the ceramic GurglePot, although what meets the eye—glossy lacquered stoneware in 16 flashy shades, rendered as a jubilant open-mouthed fish—is pretty lovely, too. The pitcher also has something for the ears: As it pours, this 42-ounce vessel makes a soft and pleasant gurgling. Like the sounds of a seashell, the effect is charming and meditative. Wirecutter supervising editor Hannah Morrill has one and has given many, and she finds the GurglePot excellent for serving water at dinner parties or housing flowers in the spring and summer.

Sometimes it’s our readers who know best. Last year, this salt pig from Emile Henry was tucked away in our hostess gift guide, only to surprise us as one of the top-selling gifts of the year. And for very good reason: Anyone who likes to cook—or likes to eat—would appreciate a suitable place for salt. This open-mouthed ceramic piece has a wide, angled opening, so you can easily grab a pinch, unlike with a lidded box or a small pot and a tiny spoon. Since the stoneware vessel also absorbs moisture, salt doesn’t flake. And it comes with a 10-year warranty.

The Victorian-style white cotton nightgowns from Heirloom Art Co. come in 15 styles—with or without collars, buttons, pin tucks, embroidery, ruffles, and the like—but each and every one is lightweight, machine washable, and perfect for glamorously streaming Netflix after bedtime. Plus, come morning, your giftee can throw on a cardigan to make smoothies or even do school drop-off. The versatile coverups are unlined and not entirely opaque, so they’re subtly sexy, too. We also appreciate the range of sizes from XS to 1X; all the nightgowns hang loosely along the body, but it’s nice to have shoulders that fit, too.

No matter if they’re running a Fortune 500 company from an office above their garage or running an overextended household, most folks have a near-constant need to jot down notes that they’ll refer to only once. (Think conference-call numbers, activation codes, takeout orders, or quickie to-dos.) This Quartet easel is a dry-erase clipboard that can stand upright or lie horizontally at a slight angle, but more importantly, it can rid one’s life of random sticky notes and back-of-the-napkin scribbles. At the end of each day, your gift recipient will especially appreciate the zen-like calm of erasing, only to begin again with a clean slate.

Even if the person on your gift list already has coasters, these merino wool coasters from Graf Lantz would be a welcome addition. The super-absorbent felt pads are excellent for sweaty glasses and piping-hot mugs alike, and they wipe up easily should any vessel spill or drip. The style—the square or circular coasters come in vibrant sea shades, gem tones, or neutrals—is of course impeccable, suited for traditionalists, minimalists, and every -ist in between. True, the nubby surfaces readily collect dust and cat hair, but your giftee can easily revitalize them with a swift pass of a lint roller. Hannah has had hers for nearly a decade and says that they haven’t faded or fuzzed a bit after years of daily use.

The inimitable watery, grainy powder-packet hot chocolate of school bake sale and municipal ice rink fame is nostalgic, but the fond memories evaporate after sip number two, and then you’re left wishing for the real deal. Dandelion Chocolate Hot Chocolate Mix, one of our favorites from testing, is the real deal. Your lucky gift recipient just needs to combine a few scoops of the 70% single-origin cacao from Camino Verde Cacao in Ecuador with hot water or milk for a profoundly rich, creamy cup. It’s not overly thick or sweet, though, so your giftee can actually finish a mug. And it comes in a Japanese-made jar that’s special enough to leave unwrapped.

Senior editor Kalee Thompson was skeptical about this unusual-looking contraption after her son received it as a gift when he was about 4. But over several years of use, the Cyclone—which you pedal with your arms, like you would a racing wheelchair—became one of her kids’ favorite outdoor toys, and it held up well to miles of rough rolling. Her son would speed it down the sidewalks to a local park, to the surprise and delight of neighborhood kids. That novelty is part of what makes it an excellent gift: Most children are unlikely to have one—and would really like one.

Should your gift recipient have a suitable spot for it, there’s something kind of magical about this clear bird feeder that, with strong suction cups, mounts to the outside of a window and gives onlookers a close-up view of any hungry bird that stops by for a snack. It provides hours of entertainment for kids, cats, and avid birders. Add a bag of birdseed, and you have an inexpensive gift that nearly anyone—including the avian beneficiaries—will enjoy.

If your gift recipient loves whimsical kitchen gadgets, celebrates Halloween year-round, or wants to lure kids into the kitchen, this Dracula-inspired garlic crusher makes the perfect gift. Using the Gracula Garlic Crusher is easy: Just plop a few cloves into the base (his cape), pop on the top (his head), and twist at the neck for easy mincing. But make sure to remove that chopped garlic quickly—vampires can’t tolerate it for long.

The vaguely vintage, Scandinavian-style Dansk Købenstyle Butter Warmer holds 16 ounces, so it’s ideal for small tasks such as reheating a bowl of soup or making a cup of cocoa. But unlike more-utilitarian pots, it also looks attractive on the table holding hollandaise at brunch. The chubby wooden handle is handsome and easy to grab for ladling, too. It’s the kind of gift that, once received, continues to reveal new ways to be used.

We’ve been testing screwdrivers for nine years now, but none of them have worked as solidly as the Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver. If your gift recipient spends a lot of time tinkering with various repairs around the house, a great screwdriver is essential. Although most screwdrivers are fine, the Megapro screwdriver will help your giftee work faster and expend less effort. Plus, as its name suggests, it comes with a comprehensive bit selection (six double-headed driver bits, totaling 12 bits, and the 0.25-inch hex end of the stem) that’s conveniently nestled inside the handle and therefore much harder to lose.

Wirecutter staffers swear by this little stovetop kettle from Japanese enamelware maker Tsuki Usagi for several reasons. For one, this pot’s pour spout provides excellent control. And because of its slender profile, the Jirushi Slim Pot sits tidily on any shelf—and looks beautiful. Some people even water plants with it.

When you pat this little potato on its round head or chubby tummy and watch it light up, you can’t help but smile. The darling spud emits a soft glow in one of three brightness levels and operates via a USB-rechargeable battery. Offering just the right blend of whimsy and usability, it will surely be the most coveted gift at your white elephant exchange.

For something more interactive and longer-lasting than a typical bunch of flowers, consider a Lego bouquet. Present the intricate, 756-piece set fully assembled, or give your special someone the pleasure of bringing 15 stems of plastic roses, daisies, and asters to life. Once built, the bouquet stands 14 inches tall, just like a regular posy. And though it doesn’t require any water or sun, regular dusting would be welcome.

If your loved ones could use a pick-me-up or even just laugh, send them a video message from a favorite celeb or celeb-adjacent. Use Cameo’s platform to hire their favorite B- or C-level star (remember the guy who played Flavio on the Sopranos?) to record them a greeting for around $50 to $100. Or you could splurge on heartfelt words from country singer LeAnn Rimes ($333) or cheery well-wishes from Lance Bass ($299). Many Wirecutter staffers have received Cameos ranging from meaningful to absurd. They’re always a hit.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter. Dorie Chevlen contributed reporting.