The Week's 2023 holiday gift guide
You'll want to check this list twice
When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.
Whether they've been naughty, nice or somewhere in between, we've got you covered with gift ideas for everyone on your list. Here are 12 presents they'll be excited to unwrap:
Artisan Hot Sauce Making Kit
Who is this a good present for? The flavor seeker
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This one brings the heat. The Grow and Make Artisan Hot Sauce Kit is a DIY way to create the condiment at home, complete with easy to follow directions and all of the ingredients necessary to make three bottles. The instructions go into detail about how spicy the included dried peppers are, so the hot sauce can be customized to their exact liking. It's a fun, fiery way to get down in the kitchen.
$39.95, Amazon
Xplorer Maps canvas tote
Who is this a good present for? The globe-trotter
Hand-drawn by artist Chris Robitaille, Xplorer Maps show more than just city names and borders. These original ink and watercolor illustrations tell a story, with animals, trees and landmarks included. There are detailed Xplorer Maps for several U.S. and international cities, states and national parks, all available on puzzles, blankets and canvas tote bags. These totes are a beautiful gift for the traveler who wants to be reminded of their favorite destination or take their hometown with them wherever they go.
$20, Amazon
Mushroom Cottage Air Fort
Who is this a good present for? The kid with the big imagination
Turn any room into a magical forest with this adorable inflatable fort. Just attach a box fan (not included) and the mushroom cottage is up and ready to use in 30 seconds. When inflated, the fort is 6.5 feet in diameter and more than 4 feet tall, so there's room for everyone to play inside. The fort also comes with a carrying case, making it easy to take along to grandma's house.
$59.95, Amazon
ZoomBroom
Who is this a good present for? Your tidiest friend
Everyone knows a person who could put Mr. Clean to shame, and this is the newest tool to add to their arsenal. The ZoomBroom is a quiet, lightweight cordless stick blower used to clean outdoor spaces like decks, sidewalks and driveways. It works through all seasons, clearing grass clipping and leaves and light snow, and has two speeds so it can take on simple and more heavy-duty jobs.
$169, Amazon
Animalist customized poster
Who is this a good present for? The proud pet parent
Deck the halls and their walls with an elegant poster from Animalist. These fine art prints turn dogs and cats into masterpieces, and are a customizable way to pay homage to a furry friend. To start, select the breed (there are more than 200 available) and then pick the design, color, size and optional text. The designs are all inspired by Scandinavian minimalism, and the newest option, Abstract, provides a modernist take.
Starting at $71, Animalist
Handmade cutting board
Who is this a good present for? The beachcomber
The ocean is never far away when this handmade cutting board is in the kitchen. The solid maple wood board has a hand-painted resin design that blends together blues, greens and white to form a seascape. It's food safe and could also be used to present charcuterie. Each board is made at a small studio in Oregon, and just like shells, no two are the same.
$84.99, Amazon
Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy
Who is this a good present for? Your funny cousin, or the person who really does have everything
Guarantee they won't be expecting this. The Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy is just like the one we've all seen outside of car dealerships, except small enough (it's only 18 inches) for a desk or shelf. A fan in the base blows it up, and it's easy to spend a good chunk of the day watching the tube guy wiggle around. There's also a mini-book that shares his origin story, so this gift is fun and educational.
$8.58, Amazon
Norman Love Confections signature gift box
Who is this a good present for? Your pal with a sweet tooth
These aren't just chocolates — they're also delicious works of art. Each handcrafted confection has its own distinct design, so when the gift box is opened, it's a beautiful mix of chocolates that look like treasures. You could give the cute candy cane-shaped gift box filled with holiday flavors like gingerbread and spiced hot cocoa, or a larger box filled with a mix of signature flavors ranging from peanut butter and jelly to sea salt caramel truffle to Sicilian pistachio.
Starting at $29, Norman Love Confections
Crock-Pot Lunch Crock food warmer
Who is this a good present for? The leftovers obsessive
This handy device helps answer the dreaded daily question, "What's for lunch?" The 20-ounce container can be filled with everything from last night's leftovers to soup to oatmeal, and once they're ready to eat, all they have to do is plug the Crock-Pot in. It's a great way to get around having to wait for the office microwave to open up and offers a true grab-and-go meal.
$29.99, Amazon
A basket of goodies for entertaining
Who is this a good present for? The host with the most
For the consummate home entertainer, you can't go wrong with giving them a basket filled with goodies they can share at future dinners and parties. Start with a substantial container and then build it out with a bottle or two of bubbly, like the perfectly balanced Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and vibrant Chandon By The Bay. (If they don't drink, go with a bottle of Martinelli's sparkling apple cider.) For flavor, add Fang Kitchen's exquisite hot sauce pack — it's impossible not to want to put the delectable Crunchy Nutty Chili Garlic Crisps sauce on everything — and for fun, include Season and Stir's cute Parisiennes pasta, shaped like the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. As a final touch, select a few items that give back, like Prospector Popcorn, made by workers with disabilities, and raw coconut oil from Dignity Coconuts, which fights poverty and copra slavery in the Philippines.
Unistellar Equinox 2 smart telescope
Who is this a good present for? The stargazer
This smart telescope is changing the way the heavens are explored. The Equinox 2 is a user-friendly device, and a good choice for those new to astronomy or the well-versed. It provides clean images in light-heavy urban areas and is operated through a smartphone app that also connects users to other members of the Unistellar community. Because of its compact size, they can pack it up and use it to stargaze in different locations.
$2,099, Amazon
Book of the Month Club subscription
Who is this a good present for? The relative whose nose is always in a book
Here's a novel idea: With the Book of the Month club, they can choose from a curated selection of new hardcovers and audiobooks, many written by up-and-coming authors everyone will be buzzing about soon. Through the BOTM app, they can also access additional content and start reading challenges. Gift options include a 3-book, 6-book or 12-book membership, and if they're not feeling a month's selections, they can easily skip and save that credit for later.
Starting at $59.99, Book of the Month Club
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Five top new women's watches
The Week Recommends From dancing diamonds to reconfigured classics, these models were recently revealed at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
Social Security, Medicare gain years before benefit cuts
Speed Read The programs have a little longer than previously forecast before they run out of money — about a decade
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 7, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - electoral hyperbole, remote graduation, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Five top new women's watches
The Week Recommends From dancing diamonds to reconfigured classics, these models were recently revealed at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2024
By Alexandra Zagalsky Published
-
Best beach cafes around the UK
The Week Recommends Enjoy freshly cooked food within sight of the sea – whatever the weather
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
My Arbor: a unique treetop retreat in the Dolomite mountains
The Week Recommends Detox like a true European in the South Tyrol region of northernmmost Italy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Movies to watch in May, from 'Furiosa' to 'The Fall Guy'
The Week Recommends A low-fi A24 horror, a May-December romance inspired by Harry Styles and more
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
TV to watch in May, from 'Bridgerton' to 'Black Twitter: A People's History'
The Week Recommends The return of an HBO staple, a new series from the filmmaker behind 'Tiger King,' and more
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Recipe: almond marmalade cake
The Week Recommends This syrupy cake can be toasted for brunch
By The Week UK Published
-
Our growing taste for bubble tea
The Week Recommends The trend for boba-based beverages shows no sign of ending
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
7 magnificent hotels to visit before the summer crowds descend
The Week Recommends Have beach time in the Dominican Republic or a spa day in Saint-Tropez
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published