Hostess Gift Ideas for Thanksgiving and Holiday Parties (By Budget)

Somewhere between Thanksgiving and New Year's, most of us end up standing on someone's front porch holding a casserole dish and wondering if we should have brought something else. A bottle of wine is always welcome, but it tends to disappear into the pile on the counter. A small, thoughtful gift for the host is the thing they remember.

We help people pick hostess gifts all season long here at our shop on North Nevada in Colorado Springs, and the best ones have a few things in common. They're easy to wrap (or come ready to give), they don't create work for the host that night, and they're something she'll use after the party is over. Here are our favorites, sorted by budget.

Jump to: Under $25 · $25 to $50 · FAQs

Quick picks

Hostess gifts under $25

This is where most hostess gifts land, and there's no reason a small gift can't feel special. Tie on a ribbon and a tag and you're set.

Geometry Holiday Tea Towels

These are the tea towels people come back to buy more of. They're made from a quick-drying fabric with recycled materials, they don't wrinkle much, and the holiday prints are just plain fun. Roll one up and tie it with twine, or wrap it around a jar of jam. If your host loves Colorado, our Colorado Woodland Critters Flour Sack Towel is a sweet alternative.

Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Jam Tree

Three little jars of jam (Wild Maine Blueberry, Raspberry Peach Champagne, and Holiday Jam) stacked in a tree-shaped package. It comes ready to give, so there's nothing to wrap. Perfect for the host who will be making breakfast for a houseful of guests.

Savannah Bee Winter White Honey

A creamy whipped honey that spreads like butter and doesn't drip. It's made from Rocky Mountain wildflower honey, which feels like a nice fit for a Colorado holiday table. Lovely on biscuits, toast, or a cheese board.

Olivelle Herb & Garlic Dipper and Seasoning

Stir it into olive oil for an instant bread dip, or shake it over roasted vegetables. It's one of those pantry gifts that gets used up and remembered. Pair it with a crusty loaf from your favorite bakery and you've brought an appetizer and a gift in one.

Mud Pie Christmas Figural Spreader + Bourbon Bacon Jam

This is one of our favorite little pairings. The spreader has a hand-painted stoneware Santa, snowman, wreath, or tree on top, and the Stonewall Kitchen Bourbon Bacon Jam is sweet, smoky, and made for a cheese board. Together they make a hostess gift that looks like you put real thought into it.

The Republic of Tea Holiday Stackable Tin

Three stacked tins with three holiday teas: Cinnamon Vanilla, Comfort and Joy, and Peppermint Bark. It's cute enough to give without wrapping, and it's a nice way for your host to put her feet up once the dishes are done.

Swedish Brass Christmas Chimes

Lots of us grew up with one of these on Grandma's table. When the candles are lit, the heat spins the little figures and they ring the bells. It's polished brass, built to last, and it holds four standard chime candles. A sweet gift for a host who loves tradition.

Rolf Glass Icy Pine Glassware

Made in the USA, with pine branches engraved and polished into each glass. Pick a single wine glass or a double old fashioned and fill it with candy canes. They look right at home on a mountain-cabin holiday table.

The Wine and Cheese Board Deck by Meg Quinn

A deck of cards where each card is a cheese board paired with a wine. Pull a card, gather the ingredients, and build it. If you're bringing a bottle anyway, tuck this in the gift bag next to it.

Hammond's Candy Canes

Not a gift on its own, but our favorite add-on. These handmade candy canes come in a bunch of flavors, and tying one onto any gift makes it feel finished.

Hostess gifts $25 to $50

For close friends, family, or the person hosting a big crowd, these feel a little more special. If someone is hosting your whole family for Thanksgiving, start here.

Stonewall Kitchen Charcuterie Board Gift Set

Six mini savory spreads, including Red Pepper Jelly, Caramelized Onion Mustard, and White Fig Spread. Your host can open it that night for the appetizer table or save it for New Year's Eve. Either way, it's a gift that gets used.

Petite Acacia Serving Board

A small acacia wood board with a little gabled edge, paired with a matching wooden spreader and tied with a ribbon. Choose natural or spruce finish. Add a wedge of cheese and the jam from above, and you've got a complete gift.

Le Creuset Signature Spoon Rest

Every host spends the night stirring something. This stoneware spoon rest keeps the counter clean, goes in the dishwasher, and comes in Le Creuset's classic colors. If you know what color her Dutch oven is, match it.

Thymes Frasier Fir Gift Set

A bar soap, a petite hand cream, and a travel tin candle in Thymes' Frasier Fir scent (fir needles, cedarwood, and sandalwood). It already looks wrapped, so all it needs is a tag. Great for the host who has every kitchen tool already.

Woodford Reserve Bitters Sample Set

Five small bottles of Woodford Reserve bitters in a gift box. For the friend who's always behind the bar at her own party. Add a bottle of Strongwater Maple Pecan Old Fashioned Syrup and she's ready for holiday cocktails.

Meridian Crystal Coupe Glasses, Set of 2

Lead-free crystal coupes with a rippled texture and a gold rim. Bring them with a bottle of bubbly and a note that says, "for the two of you, after everyone leaves." Hand wash only, so maybe mention that on the tag.

Stonewall Kitchen Blueberry Breakfast Gift Set

Pancake mix, blueberry syrup, blueberry jam, and a holiday tea towel, all in a gift box. If you're a houseguest, this is a kind way to say thank you, and it takes care of the next morning's breakfast too.

Want more ideas?

Browse our holiday hostess gifts and entertaining platters, or shop Gifts for the Entertainer Extraordinaire and Gifts Under $50. For edible gifts, our Christmas Pantry and Colorado Local collections are full of good things, and our Glow & Gather candles and holiday table linens are easy wins too.

FAQs

How much should I spend on a hostess gift?

There's no rule, but most hostess gifts fall between $15 and $50. For a casual party, something under $25 is perfect. If you're a houseguest for the weekend or someone is hosting Thanksgiving for your whole family, it's nice to spend a little more.

Is wine a good hostess gift?

Wine is always welcome, but it's even better with a little something extra, like a pretty glass, a festive tea towel wrapped around the bottle, or a deck of cheese pairing cards. Just don't expect the host to open it that night. A hostess gift is meant for her to enjoy later.

What's a good hostess gift for someone who has everything?

Go for things that get used up: a gourmet jam or spread, good honey, holiday tea, or a scented gift set. Consumables never add clutter, and they feel like a treat.

Should I bring a hostess gift to Thanksgiving?

Yes, it's a kind gesture, especially if you aren't bringing a dish. A ready-to-give jam set, a tea towel, or a small serving board are all easy to grab on your way out the door.

Where can I shop these in Colorado Springs?

Visit us at Aspen Kitchens Home + Gift, 5020 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, or call 719-264-9200. You can also shop everything online at shop.aspenkitchens.com.

Happy hosting (and happy guesting) from all of us at Aspen Kitchens!