Heading out to celebrate the holidays this year? Don’t forget a special gift to show your thanks to the hostess with the most-est!
It’s official — the pumpkin spice is front and center, leaves are lining the sidewalks, and sweaters are coming out of storage. Yep, the holidays are finally upon us. There’s always so much to look forward to this time of year, from the delicious goodies and heartwarming traditions to the extra time we get to spend surrounded by friends and loved ones.
And of course, with every opportunity to celebrate comes the opportunity to show your gratitude for the person who made it all happen: your host or hostess. Even in today’s modern age of apps and digital communication, the tradition of not showing up empty-handed stands firm.
For those of you eyeing your events calendars and breaking a sweat, we’re here for you — don’t panic! With so many great hostess gift ideas out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and throw in the towel, so we’re sharing our top ideas for the 2020 holiday season to make it truly effortless and enjoyable.
Electric Wine Bottle Opener & Glass Markers
If your hostess is anything like me, they may tend to lose track of essential kitchen gadgets while entertaining. When you come to the party with a new electric wine bottle opener, you’re basically a savior. Add a set of fun glass markers in a magnetic tin? Party. Hero.
Mocktail Recipe Book
It’s easy for the calories to add up during the holidays, between all the sweets and libations — but it doesn’t have to be that way! This mocktail recipe book includes more than 100 non-alcoholic beverage ideas, so whether your hostess is throwing a baby shower or just in the mood for a delicious spirit-free drink, she’s covered.
Whiskey Stones
A great hostess understands the importance of a quality drink, which makes a set of whiskey stones a fantastic gift you know they’ll appreciate. This set of four polished cubes comes with a convenient velvet storage bag and gift box — totally fool-proof!
Handmade Seasonal Wreath
If you really want to help your hostess make a holiday statement, consider showing up with a gorgeous, fresh, handmade seasonal wreath. This elegant option is made from boxwood leaves, matches with everything, and comes in 16-, 20-, and 24-inch diameter options.
Marble Trivet
I love a gift that serves a dual purpose. Your hostess can use this handcrafted marble trivet to hold hot dishes, serve cheeses, or even pop it in the fridge to keep an ice cream cake nice and cold. You can’t go wrong!
Heirloom Cookie Stamps
You can’t help but think of fresh cookies when you think of the holidays, and if your hostess is the same, she needs these heirloom cookie stamps. Outfitted with wooden handles for easy use, they add design and dimension to holiday staples like sugar, gingerbread, and shortbread cookies.
Himalayan Salt Block
I don’t know about you, but I was a little surprised when I found out that you can use a salt block to not only present and season food, but also cook it. Needless to say, any hostess will love the unique presentation that can be used for hot and cold serving.
Electric Tea Kettle
It’s always nice to end an evening with guests with a round of coffees for everyone. An electric kettle makes it easy to brew with a French press or pour over tea leaves, and shuts off automatically so your hostess can spend her time enjoying company.
Coasters
A good guest always leaves the space better than they found it. Show just how much you appreciate the hospitality by gifting your hostess with a set of handmade coasters. Made from terra cotta, this set is backed with cork to keep surfaces protected and unscratched.
Tabletopics Ice Breaker Game
As the #1 best-selling ice breaker game, you can’t go wrong gifting your holiday hostess with this 10-year anniversary deck of Tabletopics conversation cards. Break the ice, learn new things about your friends, and even discover new things about yourself!
Artisanal Maple Syrup
Maple syrup might just be the most holiday-appropriate ingredient out there — and this duo of bourbon- and vanilla-infused syrups is no exception. From topping a fresh stack of flapjacks to mixing into a batch of sweet potatoes, to a splash of the sweet stuff in a holiday cocktail, it really can’t be beat.
Ice Bucket
Make room-temperature drinks a thing of the past when you gift your hostess with an ice bucket to use while entertaining. This hammered copper option doubles as a wine cooler, able to hold up to 3 quarts, and comes with a set of classic brass tongs for easy service.
Coffee Table Book
Who doesn’t have a favorite album? A coffee table book is a hostess’s equivalent of home decor: a crowd-pleasing entertainer with something for everyone. I love this book featuring 1,000 of the most memorable record covers — and I know your hostess will too.
Cookies
When in doubt, spell it out! These chocolate sandwich cookies will be a guaranteed hit for any hostess. Presented in an elegant gift box, it contains 14 dark-chocolate-covered cookies that let her know exactly how much you appreciate her hospitality.
A Few More Gifting Tips
- If you bring flowers, make sure to put them in a vase beforehand — you don’t want to make your hostess run around looking for somewhere to put a bouquet!
- Don’t know your hostess very well? Stick to non-personal items like food or cooking ingredients.
- Unless it’s a potluck or the hostess specifically asked you to, avoid bringing food to be served at the gathering — instead, let your hostess’s menu take the spotlight (and fridge space)!
- If you are asked to bring a dish, it’s not necessary to bring an additional gift for your hostess.
Now that you’ve got a gift for every hostess on your calendar, get ready to enjoy the holidays to the fullest. And if you’re entertaining this holiday season, be sure to read through our Simple and Delicious Holiday Recipes blog complete with all the essentials for impressing your guests.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The ideas are ours, but we may be compensated if you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links. Thanks for your support!
