12 holiday presents for everyone on your list

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 9 December 2023

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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:

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.