Holiday Hostess Gifts and Ideas

Christmas hostess gifts and holiday gift ideas for every dinner party, cocktail party and Christmas Eve on your calendar.

The invitations are starting to arrive, and before long it will be time to eat, drink and be merry. If your calendar is filling up, it helps to have a few Christmas hostess gifts tucked away in the hall closet, ready to grab on your way out the door. A small gift goes a long way in thanking your host and hostess for all the work behind a gathering that looks effortless. (It never is. Ask anyone who has ironed forty napkins.)

Holiday hostess gifts are perfect for the neighbors’ Christmas party, your best friend’s cocktail party, a last-minute dinner party invitation, Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas at your in-laws’. Thoughtful gifts for your host and hostess do not need to be a challenge. They can be as simple as a bottle of wine, good olive oil, an arrangement of flowers or something a little more personal. Here are my favorite hostess gift ideas, some easy to make and some easy to keep on hand, for any occasion this time of year.

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For the Mixologist and Cocktail Lover

A cocktail kit, a set of glasses for the bar cart, cocktail napkins or a favorite spirit for happy hour are all great options. For the host who loves a good book as much as a good drink, Tequila Mockingbird is a cocktail book with a literary twist, and it is very hard not to read the recipe names out loud. If you have time, you could even make a bottle of cranberry cordial or Irish cream.

If your host enjoys wine or champagne, bring a bottle of one or the other with a pair of champagne coupes. Why not head to your favorite consignment store or thrift store and find something vintage? A bottle of wine is the classic hostess gift for a reason, and a handwritten tag that says “for you, not for tonight” means she can save it for a quiet evening after the party.

​For the Home Cook

Home cooks might enjoy a collection of spices, or condiments like hot sauce, artisanal vinegar, finishing salts and hot honey. A bottle of good olive oil or real maple syrup is a lovely thing to receive, because it is the kind of everyday luxury most of us rarely buy for ourselves. A wooden cutting board or cheese board would make a beautiful pair with any of them.

Or wrap up a cookbook, it is a lovely way to share some of your favorite recipes!

Pretty Hand towels wrapped with a bar of hand soap are a great option as well. Or perhaps a set of cloth napkins or a table runner to complement her decor? A set of appetizer plates or napkins and rings would be welcome too.

Puzzles & Games

Give your favorite card game, board game or a beautiful puzzle. They are perfect for game nights or a quiet night at home over the coming cold, dark winter days. They are also a great gift if you are spending a long weekend or holiday with friends and family. It is an entertaining way to while away the day, and a keepsake to leave behind.

Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate

A set of coffee mugs and your favorite coffee beans, a tin of good tea, or hot chocolate (my favorites are TCHO and Williams Sonoma) with homemade marshmallows are all gifts she can enjoy long after the party. For more ideas, see my gifts for hot chocolate lovers.

Chocolate

You can never go wrong with chocolates. A big box or a few bars are always appreciated. Why not bring something special from a local chocolatier? Or make your famous truffles or chocolate almond bark.

​Cozy Hostess Gifts

One of my favorite things to give is a cozy plaid throw, a beautiful candle with a snuffer and a book.

A seasonal pillow to add to their decor is a fun and whimsical idea.

Bath salts, bubble bath and decorative soap are easy gifts, and they can be combined with small guest towels or shower mitts. A pretty bar of guest soap for the powder room is a small gift that gets noticed by every guest at her next party.

Homemade Christmas Hostess Gifts 

Chocolate chip cookies are a perennial favorite. You could give your hostess either a platter of baked cookies or a tupperware filled with your cookie dough and instructions to bake later.

If you like you can even gift a vintage or antique platter, this is a great way to save recycle and save these from landfills. Not to mention that a vintage silver tray or platter can be used by the host for his or her own holiday gatherings.

Speaking of cookies, you can never go wrong with a plate or tin of cookies made with your family recipes.

A gift basket filled with their favorite ice cream and topping is a fun gift too. You could add an ice cream scoop, a pint or two of ice cream and some homemade hot fudge and caramel sauces too. Add all of them to a small wicker basket and write them a note which includes the recipes for the sauces and the ice cream.

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Make a batch of caramel corn or caramels to gift to the hostess. Both are easy to make, and they are sweet holiday treats that people don’t often make for themselves. For more ideas, see my homemade food gifts.

Last-Minute Hostess Gifts

We have all been there: the invitation was on the calendar for weeks, and suddenly it is tonight. A quick stop at the grocery store can still produce a perfect gift. Pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers and a simple glass vase, and arrange them in the car if you have to. Flowers that arrive already in water mean your hostess doesn’t have to abandon her guests to hunt for a vase. A box of good chocolates, a jar of local honey or a bottle of wine all work beautifully too. And if you know the couple well, a gift card to their favorite restaurant gives them a night off once the holiday season is over.

The best gift is one that says you noticed. A small, thoughtful hostess gift is a lovely way to thank family and friends for all they did to make your night, or your whole weekend, so special.

That’s All for Now

Have a wonderful day, friends, and thank you for spending part of your day with me.

Tell me: what is the best hostess gift anyone has ever brought to your door? And what is your go-to when you are the guest?

You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. And last but not least, if you like Pinecones & Acorns share it with a friend!

You Might Also Enjoy:

Homemade Food Gifts

Gifts for Hot Chocolate Lovers 

Christmas Gifts for Women Over 50

This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

On My Radar~Holiday Hostess Gifts

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