The holiday season is prime time for gift giving. And possibly the most difficult gift to give is during the mystery group gift exchange. Whether you call it a white elephant party, Yankee swap, or any of its many other names, buying a gift without a specific person in mind and a price range to follow can be a challenging task. If you’re unfamiliar with the game, everyone in attendance brings wrapped gifts to contribute to the pile, usually with a specific price cap. Guests are assigned a number and go in order to choose a random present from the pile without knowing what they will get. If they’re feeling mischievous, they can “steal” a previously unwrapped present from another guest, and that guest must pick a new present.
So, buying a steal-worthy gift that appeals to anyone in the group is key to the perfect white elephant present. That doesn’t mean your choice must be expensive or complicated. There are so many fun white elephant presents you can buy or even DIY using items you can pick up during your regular trip to the grocery store. Here, we break down some of our favorite ideas when you’re at a loss for what to bring to the gift exchange.
Holiday-Themed Kitchen Items
During the holiday season, many grocery stores carry a line of festive-themed mugs, cups, decorative platters, drink tumblers, airtight containers, and more. These can make great white elephant gifts, either individually, as a set, or paired with other items. For example, if you find a cute holiday mug, pair it with some tea bags and hot cocoa packets so the recipient has everything they need to make a cozy winter drink. Or, put together a set of decorative platters that your group’s host or hostess won’t be able to resist.
Potted Plants
Just because it’s wintertime doesn’t mean we have to go without a little pop of green. Brighten up your recipient’s home instantly with a fun potted plant. Head over to the floral section of the store, where you are likely to find succulents or special seasonal plants like mini Christmas trees or poinsettia plants. You can also add extras like plant food or paint to decorate the flowerpot to give it an extra special touch.
Homemade Mixes
Give the gift of tasty treats by making your own giftable dry mixes in jars. Pack mixes for muffins, quick breads, brownies, and other baking mixes into resealable jars (mason jars are ideal) and decorate them with a ribbon, gift tag, and baking instructions. For the non-bakers on your list, put together a homemade dip mix of herbs and spices. Make sure to include the dip recipe, as well as a big bag of chips.
See the inspiration: Super Chocolatey Brownie Mix
Dried Citrus Ornaments
Winter is peak citrus season, so why not celebrate it? First, pick out a variety of citrus fruits, like clementines, blood oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit (the more, the merrier!) and slice them into thin rounds. Then, you can dehydrate them at home by spraying them with cooking spray and baking them in the oven at 200°F for four hours. Once your dried citrus rounds are ready, poke holes in them with a toothpick and run some twine through. From there, you can make individual ornaments by making a loop or run a longer piece of twine through multiple pieces to make a garland.
See the inspiration: Holiday Citrus Ornaments
Cookie Decorating Kits
Cookie decorating and gingerbread house kits are another fun gift all your white elephant party guests are bound to love. Many grocery store bakery departments have great options to help you make your own cookie decorating kit easily. First, start with plain sugar cookies that you made or picked up from the bakery. Then, gather your toppings like frosting and sprinkles. Make sure all components are placed in their own zip-top bags, in a festive cookie tin, and your kit is ready for gifting!
See the Inspiration: Sugar Cookie Decorating Kits
DIY Spa Day
Bath soaks and bath bombs are both easy to make at home using Epsom salts, baking soda, coconut oil, and essential oils. If you’re making bath bombs, be sure to add cornstarch and water to help them hold their shape and citric acid to make them fizz. Silicone ice cube trays also make great bath bomb molds, and sugar scrubs are simple to make at home and add to your gift. All you need is sugar, olive oil, and an essential oil of your choice. Be sure to store your spa day creations in airtight containers so they stay fresh for gifting.
Get the inspiration: How to Make Sugar Body Scrub
Homemade sauces, jams, and more
Gift your recipient a tasty snack or dinner that’s made with love! Jarred items like marmalades and pasta sauces can be made in large batches at home and then refrigerated, frozen, or gifted for later use. Just be sure to refrigerate your jarred food up until party time and leave storing and cooking instructions with the gift. To complete the gift, include other components of the snack or meal, like a loaf of sourdough bread with the marmalade or a box of pasta with the sauce.
Get the inspiration: Bolognese
Simmer Pots
Fill your recipient’s home with the smell of holiday cheer with an easy DIY simmer pot using just a few simple ingredients in a glass jar. Whole spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger root, and rosemary are great to include along with sliced fruits like apples, lemons, or oranges. Then, add in a liquid like apple juice and seal the jar. Be sure to add instructions to combine the jar’s contents with half a pot of water and leave it simmering uncovered for three to four hours, adding water as needed when the liquid is reduced by about half.
Get the inspiration: Last-Minute Simmer Pot Jars
