The 23 Best Stocking Stuffers for the Food Lovers in Your Life

As a kid, stocking stuffers were always one of my favorite parts of Christmas morning: I loved getting bags of Lindt truffles, cute earrings from Claire’s (am I dating myself?), and one time I even got an iPod nano. It was such a treat! I admit that today I still love unpacking my stocking on Christmas morning, and also relish finding little treats to delight my friends and family. And since I test cooking gear, I can’t help but gravitate to giving little kitchen gifts. Here are a few of my favorites, along with picks from my fellow editors.

This is the perfect knife for slicing open a hot dinner roll or cutting up a small tomato for a sandwich. The handle is light and grippy, and comes in an array of fun colors to suit your giftee. 

This ice cream scoop is no ordinary scooper. It’s filled with food-safe mineral oil, which helps conduct heat and makes scooping as easy as a quick swipe. Put this in your giftee’s stocking and a pint in their freezer, and you just might win Christmas.

Every family has a coffee lover. In addition to a bag of beans, consider slipping this dainty little espresso mug into their stocking. Your giftee can sip their morning espresso in style.

I swear by this travel mug: It’s petite, leakproof, and keeps hot liquids steaming for hours. I’ve given this mug before, and the recipient always reaches out to me later to say how great it is. It’s a great gift for hikers or anyone who takes their hot beverage of choice on the go.

“King Arthur Baking Company isn’t just for flour!” says Serious Eats writer Ashlee Redger. “Its shop is an unrivaled trove full of the highest quality baking ingredients I’ve found. This Fiori di Sicilia extract is complexly flavored with bright, floral notes of citrus and rich vanilla undertones. It’s potent, too, so a little bottle goes a long way.” After Ashlee told me about this, I promptly bought a bottle as a slightly early (okay, a really early) holiday treat to myself. 

Is it gimmicky? Maybe. Do I love it and want one? Yes. Jenny Lemons sells a huge variety of hairclips shaped like foods, including this cute little grapefruit wedge. Buy a few and stuff ‘em in the stocking of someone who’s into food and fashionably quirky. 

Editor Rochelle Bilow pointed these out to me. “They’d be perfect on a cheese plate,” she says. The picks are brass and topped with a small bee figurine. The set of six comes with a marble holder that’s etched with a beehive pattern. In the words of Rochelle: “Charming!”

If your giftee is like me and loves a cocktail garnish, consider wrapping these picks up and sticking them in their stocking. I mean, c’mon, they’re shaped like olives! How adorable is that? 

I recommended this box of chocolates last year, and I’m doing it again because I am obsessed. Each bonbon is hand-formed with a delicate chocolate exterior that gently cracks when you bite down. The flavors are subtle and interesting without making you scrunch your eyebrows in perplexity. Tuck a box into anyone’s stocking and they will relish this thoughtful, beautiful, and tasty treat.

Another repeat, but this sharp, smooth Y-peeler will be a revelation to your giftee: No more peeled knuckles, only potatoes. 

I’ve “gifted” myself three of these because 1) they’re indispensable for measuring anything liquid and 2) I have a tendency to lose small items. They are awesome, with measurements in ounces, milliliters, and tablespoons, so you can be accurate no matter what you’re making. The mini measuring cup shape makes pouring smooth and neat, too. 

I bought one of these colorful, quirky little vases a few years ago for a friend, and found myself wishing I’d bought one for myself, too. So I did! I use it to hold small cooking utensils like sauce spoons, mini whisks, chopsticks, and kitchen tweezers, and it looks super cute doing it. 

Matcha is creeping up on coffee as the “it” caffeinated drink. And after reviewing matcha powders and delving into their complexity, Ashlee knows a lot about what makes a good one. She recommends this one from Rishi. “With notes of underripe peach and mild bitterness, the Everyday Matcha from Rishi Tea is a super approachable blend for all kinds of matcha drinkers,” she says. “Pair it with our fave Golde Superwhisk (which is rechargeable, by the way) for the matcha latte lover in your life.” 

The virtues of freshly ground black pepper should be sung far and wide: Fresh! Zippy! Piney! A lil spicy! This cute little pepper grinder from Kuhn Rikon was one of our winners and produces a fine powder of peppercorns with each twist. A bag of Van Van’s warm and fruity Bazan peppercorns would make a great accompanying gift. 

“What the heck is a spurtle?” you may ask. Well, this little wooden stick is a traditional Scottish utensil used to stir up perfectly creamy oatmeal. If you have a friend or family member who starts the day with a bowl of oats, introduce them to its curious shape, and they’ll be swearing by it in no time. 

This is so cool: Iwashi takes funky fish sauce and ages it for a year in Japanese whiskey barrels. It’s briny and fishy, for sure. But the time spent in a barrel also softens the taste and imparts a touch of sweetness. This would be a real treat of a gift. 

No one should be poking meat to know if it’s done, or—gasp—cutting into it. Give them the gift of certainty with our favorite budget instant-read thermometer from Thermoworks. It’s fast, accurate, and comes in pink, red, orange, blue, and a variety of other colors. 

If your giftee is into making their own pasta and gnocchi, they’ll treasure this gorgeous board and dowel. Plus, its ridged surface is also perfect for making cavatelli. 

Mini tongs are great for placing ice into glasses, turning tiny portions in a skillet, and letting guests daintily serve themselves food. Plus, they’re too dang cute! 

Sure, as a kid, I would’ve been like “ew, licorice,” but this isn’t your standard waxy, pungent licorice. The candy coating (in this case, peach flavored) adds a welcome sweet and tangy brightness to the chewy licorice interior. If your giftee is a fan of licorice, this’ll be a real treat. 

You could gift a bag of their favorite beans, but if you don't know what that is, Partners Coffee is a great place to start. With notes of dark chocolate and caramel, their espresso beans are particularly delicious, but the company makes excellent filter coffee, too.

Roll up an apron and tie some ribbon around it, and you have one heck of a stocking stuffer. This one has two front pockets and an adjustable neck.

Other oil dispensers may be prettier, but they're certainly not better. With this one, oil comes out in a thick, true stream—no spatters or sputters.

FAQs

How much should you spend on a stocking stuffer?

Stocking stuffers are little treats, so no need to break the bank. Many of the items we recommend cost between $5 and $30, with a few extra special items that are a little bit more. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats, where she’s been reviewing gear for over three years.
• She’s long-loved stocking stuffers, and many of the items listed above are things she’d give (or happily receive!).