Gift guide · 12 ideas
Hostess gifts
Something to hand over at the door that the host will still be using long after the leftovers are gone.
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Somebody is cooking for twelve this year, and they’ve been at it since Wednesday. A bottle of wine at the door is the usual thank-you, but it tends to disappear into the rack with the four others that arrived the same evening. These ideas last longer: a small thing for the table on the day, something for the morning after, and, for the host who has the whole family over every single year, something bigger to go in on together.
Each idea comes with our pick from one of our top lists, chosen with the person doing the hosting in mind rather than the guests. The small ones are easy to carry in alongside a pie; the bigger ones are better dropped off a week or two early, so they’re there for the day itself.
A scented candle
Cinnamon, clove and ginger for the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year. It keeps the house smelling of the season long after the last guest has driven home.
Yankee Candle Kitchen Spice Large Jar Candle (22 oz)
$10–$20
The big 22 oz jar holds up to 150 hours of burning, enough for weeks of evenings, and Kitchen Spice is a warm mix of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and clove with a little sweet orange. Yankee began in 1969, when 16-year-old Mike Kittredge melted crayons to make a candle for his mother.
What owners say: Owners like that the spice smells warm rather than sickly sweet, and say one jar keeps the house smelling cozy for a long time, though a few found it burned unevenly.
A closer look: Trim the wick before every lighting, as Yankee asks, and on the first burn let the wax melt right out to the glass so it doesn’t tunnel down the middle. At almost 7 in tall, it belongs on a kitchen counter or a mantel rather than a narrow shelf.
- Burns up to 150 hours
- Ginger, cinnamon, clove and orange
- Made in the USA
A French press
Coffee for the whole table with the pie, made in one go instead of a cup at a time from the pod machine. It sits on the table and gets passed around with the cream.
Secura Stainless Steel French Press (34 oz)
$20–$30
Double-walled 18/8 stainless steel inside and out, so it won’t crack like glass and the coffee stays hot while you drink the first cup. A three-layer steel filter, plus two spare screens, keeps the sludge out.
What owners say: Owners call it heavy-duty and next to unbreakable, with no seams in the steel, and say it keeps coffee hot well after brewing. It comes apart easily for cleaning and makes a strong cup.
A closer look: Stack a spare screen onto the filter for a cleaner cup when the grind is on the fine side, as Secura suggests. Swirling a splash of hot water around the pot first warms the steel, so the coffee holds its heat longer once it’s brewed.
- Holds 34 oz
- Double-walled stainless steel
- Won’t crack like glass
A cocktail making kit
Instead of another bottle for the rack, the tools to mix drinks for the guests next time. Made for the one who always ends up behind the bar anyway.
MixMate 15-Piece Bartender Kit with Stand (silver)
$20–$30
Brushed stainless steel tools in a dark wood stand, with a shaker, jigger, muddler, strainer and bar spoon among the 15 pieces, plus a 16-recipe cocktail book. It all packs into a presentation box and comes with MixMate’s two-year guarantee.
What owners say: The dark wood stand and the finish win the most compliments, and owners like that nothing else needs buying. Most find it sturdy, though a few had a cracked piece of wood or a rusty bottle opener out of the box.
A closer look: Give the tools a wash in warm, soapy water before the first drinks, and dry them off before they go back in the stand. The recipe book starts with the classics, so a margarita or a mojito is a good first try, and the card in the box links to a further set of recipes online.
- 15-piece bar kit with stand
- Martini shaker and recipes
- Comes in a gift box
A wireless meat thermometer
For whoever’s been up since dawn with the turkey and spends the meal jumping up to check it. Next year, a beep from the receiver tells them when it’s ready.
TempPro TempSync Wireless Meat Thermometer (TP20)
$30–$50
Leave the probes in a brisket or a roast and walk away: the receiver shows both temperatures and beeps when the meat reaches your target, from up to 500 ft on TempPro’s figure. There’s no app to install and nothing to pair.
What owners say: Two probes at once suits a full grill, owners say, and it works right out of the box; a few found readings drifted or a probe failed within months.
A closer look: Run one probe into the meat and clip the other to the grate to watch the smoker’s own temperature, then take the receiver indoors. Pick the meat and doneness, or set your own number, and it flashes and beeps when the meat gets there.
- Wireless, with 2 probes
- Alarm when meat is done
- Range up to 500 ft
Heads up: TempPro says to wipe the receiver, transmitter and probes clean, so keep them out of the sink.
View on Amazon See our top 5 meat thermometers →A reed diffuser
For the guest bathroom that sees more traffic on Thanksgiving than the rest of the month put together. Warm vanilla scents the room without a match being struck.
Airkeep Cashmere Vanilla Reed Diffuser Set (3.38 fl oz)
$10–$20
Eight fiber reeds and a small bottle of warm, cozy vanilla, sized for a powder room, a bathroom shelf or the top of a dresser. Add or take out reeds to set the strength.
What owners say: Small enough for a vanity or the back of the toilet, owners say, and good at keeping a little bathroom fresh. Some find the scent stronger than expected, and opinions on the price are split.
A closer look: Give the fiber reeds a day or two to soak up the oil before judging the scent, as Airkeep notes. Vanilla is warm and sweet rather than fresh, so it sits better in a guest bath or a bedroom than in a kitchen.
- Cashmere vanilla scent
- 3.38 fl oz, 8 reeds
- Add reeds for more scent
A rechargeable milk frother
A small thank-you that still gets used every morning: foamy coffee for the adults and hot chocolate for the kids staying over.
CIRCLE JOY Rechargeable Milk Frother with Stand (black)
Under $10
A slim rechargeable wand with a 13,000 rpm motor and a double-ring whisk that turns warm milk into dense foam in seconds, with hardly any splashing. It stands upright on its own steel stand by the coffee maker, so it’s always to hand.
What owners say: It’s strong enough for real foam and stirs powdered creamer in quickly, owners find, and it feels sturdy and rinses clean in seconds. Most say a charge lasts for weeks.
A closer look: For the thickest foam, tilt the cup a little and keep the whisk near the top of warm milk. To clean it, dip the whisk in warm water and run it for a couple of seconds, then stand it back up to dry. The USB cable is in the box but the plug isn’t, so charge it from a phone charger.
- USB rechargeable, handheld
- Steel stand included
- Hardly any splashing
Electric salt and pepper grinders
A pair for the table, so nobody has to send the salt down from the far end with the gravy. They’ll be out at every dinner the host gives after this one.
ThermoMaven Rechargeable Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set (3.7 fl oz)
$30–$50
Big mills in stainless steel: each holds about 3.7 fl oz, so refills come around less often, and ThermoMaven says one USB-C charge lasts around a month of everyday use. Salt and pepper grind at different speeds to suit each, through six coarseness settings.
What owners say: A charge lasts three to four months for some owners, and they like the look of the steel, the range of coarseness and the light over the plate. The button is easy to press, sometimes too easy: a few set it off by accident.
A closer look: Being stainless steel and tall, they look at home on the dinner table rather than tucked by the stove. The parts that touch the seasoning can be washed and a cleaning brush comes in the box; stand them upright so nothing leans on the button between meals.
- Rechargeable with USB-C cables
- 6 grind settings
- 3.7 fl oz per mill
An immersion blender
Smooth gravy straight in the roasting pan and squash soup blended in the pot. It keeps earning its drawer space on ordinary weeknights too.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Hand Blender with Beaker and Whisk (MQ505)
$30–$50
Braun’s bell-shaped blade guard draws food in toward the blades and keeps splashes inside it, so soup can be blended right in the pot without spattering the stove. Two speeds, a whisk and a 20 oz beaker cover most of what a stick blender gets asked to do.
What owners say: Owners reach for it most for soups and smoothies, say it comes apart in seconds to wash and mention making mayonnaise in moments; the build feels solid in the hand.
A closer look: Get the bell under the surface before pressing the button, and save the turbo setting for a final burst on thicker mixtures. The whisk clicks onto the same motor for eggs or a quick dressing, and the shaft clicks off so the motor body only needs a wipe.
- 350W motor
- Whisk and 20 oz beaker
- Bell guard stops splashes
A mini waffle maker
For the host whose house fills up with overnight guests. Four small waffles at a time feeds the morning-after crowd without anyone standing at the counter for an hour.
Dash Multi Mini Waffle Maker, 4 at Once (Graphite)
$30–$50
Four 4-inch mini waffles at once, so a family breakfast or a batch for the freezer doesn’t mean standing over a one-waffle maker. Channels around the sides catch overflow and turn it into crispy waffle sticks.
What owners say: Four waffles in about four minutes is what owners like most, especially for chaffles; some find it quick to wipe clean, others finicky.
A closer look: Fill each well to just short of the edge; anything extra runs into the side channels rather than onto the counter. Make a double batch on Sunday, cool the waffles on a rack and freeze them flat, then reheat them in the toaster on busy mornings.
- Four 4 in mini waffles
- Ready light, no settings
- Overflow channels make waffle sticks
A stovetop popcorn popper
The movie after the big meal is the host’s first chance to sit down all day. This time someone else can make the popcorn and bring it to them.
Wabash Valley Farms Original Whirley Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper
$30–$50
A stovetop popper with a crank in the lid that turns a stirring arm, so the kernels keep moving over the heat and pop rather than scorch, and 6 quarts are ready in about three minutes. There’s no motor to wear out, and it makes the buttery or sweet kettle-style popcorn a hot-air machine can’t.
What owners say: Owners say nearly every kernel pops, a huge bowl is ready in about three minutes and children love helping. The plastic gears are the weak spot over the years, and some think it’s pricey for a pot.
A closer look: Warm a little oil with three kernels in, and once they pop, add the rest and turn the handle steadily until the popping slows. Tip it straight into a bowl, then wipe the pot out with a paper towel while it’s still warm rather than scrubbing it.
- Hand-crank stovetop popper
- 6 qt per batch
- Ready in about 3 minutes
A casserole slow cooker
For the friend who hosts Friendsgiving and gets invited to every potluck after it. The side dish they’re known for can travel in the pot it cooked in.
Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Casserole Slow Cooker
$50–$75
A slow cooker that doubles as the serving dish: the casserole-shaped stoneware lifts out and goes to the table, and the Cook & Carry lid locks down for the drive to a potluck. At 2.5 quarts it suits two or three, or a side dish for a crowd.
What owners say: Owners call it just right for two or three and pretty enough to leave out on an open shelf, and they rely on the locking lid for potlucks. The outside gets hot while it works, which some didn’t expect.
A closer look: The long, shallow dish suits a pork loin, enchiladas or a baked pasta, and the stoneware can go in the oven to brown the top before serving. Wrap the cord around the base for the trip, and on Warm it keeps a side dish at serving temperature through the meal.
- 2.5-quart pot
- Locking lid for travel
- Goes from cooker to table
A stand mixer
The big one, for the host who has had everyone over every year and bakes every pie. Easiest split between the siblings, and it’ll still be making cookies in twenty years.
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (K45SS, Onyx Black)
$200–$300
KitchenAid’s simplest tilt-head mixer has the same metal build, 10 speeds and attachment hub as the brand’s bigger tilt-head mixers, with a 4.5-quart bowl that takes up to 8 dozen cookies in one batch. The head tilts back for adding ingredients and locks in place while it mixes.
What owners say: Owners describe it as built like a tank and say it gets through stiff dough and big batches of pizza dough without straining; whether it feels light or heavy depends on what they had before.
A closer look: Start each mix on the stir speed so the flour stays in the bowl, then work up; KitchenAid suggests speed 8 for whipping cream. The bowl suits cakes, cookie dough and pizza dough, and at just under 14 inches tall the mixer sits under most wall cabinets.
- 4.5-quart bowl
- 10 speeds
- Hub for optional attachments
Tips for hostess gifts
- Say it’s for them, not for tonight, as you hand it over, so nobody feels they have to open it, light it or serve it in the middle of the meal.
- Charge anything rechargeable before you wrap it, so the frother or the thermometer works the first time it’s tried.
- Bigger gifts are easiest split between siblings or the regular guests, and worth a quiet check first: an avid baker may already own a stand mixer.
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