Snack Chats #3: The Stocking Stuffer Edition!
Let's fill those stockings with practical, affordable gifts.
Welcome to Snack Chats, where we pull a few stools up to the kitchen counter and have a chat about whatever is on our mind.
and today, what’s on our mind is… stocking stuffers!
What’s the best stocking stuffer you’ve ever received? We would love to hear your stocking tales and tips in the comments!
My ideal stocking stuffer is affordable and practical, but a little special too. I love finding things people will actually use, but that they might not have bought for themselves.
I really enjoy the challenge of hunting for gifts that fit the restrictions of both space and budget, but it’s also way too easy to slip down the rabbit hole of Target’s dollar spot and end up with a cart full of stuff that will likely get thrown in a thrift store box before the tree comes down.
We hope this list gives you some fun ideas.
Sandwich Spreader- This humble spreader might look unremarkable, but it is the most used tool in our kitchen. If you’re a slinger of sandwiches, spreader of cream cheese, or even slicer of bananas, this tool will be a game changer for you. And it comes in a four pack for easy gifting! (Although, honestly, I have three and they’re in heavy rotation, so you might not want to share.)
Sandwich Sprinkle- If you’re lucky enough to live near a Penzey’s Spices, you’ve got to visit just for the SMELLS. They have loads of spice blends and cocoa mixes, most of which come in small jars perfect for stockings. This sandwich sprinkle is our favorite blend, and yes, I promise this list isn’t just about sandwiches.
Milk Frother- The gift of homemade lattes for under $10? Yes, please.
Under Eye Patches- Who couldn’t use a little under eye refresh during the holiday season? These feel great after a rough night of sleep or an ugly cry, particularly if you refrigerate them first.
Smoked Salts- If you have a griller in your family, these are a MUST. I use the Applewood Smoked for my Mexican Chicken Marinade and pretty much any time I make a steak. If you’re in Columbus, you can find it locally at these stores. For online orders, use this contact form!
Kitchen towels- We’ve all got some ratty kitchen towels that could probably stand to be replaced. Costco usually has really nice multipacks at a great price, but I also really like these sturdy dual-sided towels from All Clad.
Rechargeable electric lighter- This is great for lighting candles and sparklers, and I love that it’s rechargeable!
The best spatula- This spatula is the perfect blend of sturdy and bendy, PLUS you never have to worry about the spatula detaching from the handle because it’s all one piece.
My favorite pen - These compact pens are a little chunky to hold, write really nice, and have a sturdy clip. They come in tons of fun colors and have a satisfying click (for when you need a desk fidget).
A handy pocketknife - For $12-$20 a piece, Opinel makes simple, classic wooden handle knives that come in all sizes and make great stocking suffers for the adventurers/outdoorsy folks or just for an everyday carry item. We’re always reaching for this itty-bitty one to open packages and have used the big ones in a few of our steak and burger recipe photo shoots.
Kid’s Knives- I know that seems like an oxymoron, but these knives really are fantastic for kids. Mine have been using this set since they were about 3 years old. It’s great for fruits like melon and pineapple and softer veggies like peppers.
Magnetic People- I’m not sure what it is about these sticky, bendy, twisty little guys, but any kids we have in the house always love them. Throwing them at our dishwasher door has provided countless hours of indoor entertainment.
Tape Dispenser- If I had to recommend just ONE thing from this list, it would be getting each of your kids their own tape dispenser in their stocking. I was so tired of them stealing my tape, and this solved the problem! We used a label maker to put each of our names on a dispenser, and now all of us are much happier.
Kid’s Tongs- Another way to get the kids in the kitchen. These tongs are easy to use and great for getting toast out of the toaster or chicken nuggets out of the air fryer.
Fun bandaids- I wouldn’t normally splurge on bandaids, but for a Christmas gift? Oh yeah! We love these Welly Glow in the Dark bandaids for kids, but I promise there is an offbeat bandaid for every person on your list. (See these ramen bandaids, pizza bandaids, weiner dog bandaids, and silly faces bandaids.
Tiny (Finger) Hands- This would’ve gone under the plastic junk category were it not for the ridiculous amount of giggles they caused. Get one for everyone in the family. Challenge yourselves to pick things up with them! Wear them while you open gifts. The humor makes itself. (It’s incredibly frustrating that there isn’t a non-white skin tone multipack on Amazon, but you can find a darker skin tone option here).
Washi tape- Yes, tape is on here twice. This colorful washi tape will keep my kids busy for longer than a new toy, so long as I let them string it from chair to countertop to couch in a frenzy. This is a GREAT boredom buster for Christmas break.
Sashibo fidget cube - Like a 3D kaleidoscope that you can touch! At ~$25 a piece these fidget cubes are pricier than we’d usually spend on stocking items, BUT… if your holiday morning includes multiple kids, watching them try to mimic shapes, and especially combining them into one hypnotic structure is a blast. You can score a discount on a multi-pack or a freebie promo deal directly from the manufacturer.
Robot charger- You’ve got devices that need charged, and UGREEN is a legit company that has you covered. Their cute little Uno USB chargers have an animated robot face that displays your charging status. For the kids, or for the Tamagotchi generation.
A GOOD football- These Franklin Playbook footballs are small enough for young hands, have a nice soft/grippy texture, and are great for indoor or outdoor play. Those cheap hard rubber footballs hurt, and foam footballs decompose almost immediately. This is the perfect middle-ground.
and just one more thing…
As our thanks to you for being a faithful subscriber, we’re giving you the largest discount we can on our cookbook! Use the promo code “SUBS30” at checkout. This beautiful and colorful book is packed with helpful holiday recipes, and makes a good gift for the foodie in your life. We think you’re gonna love it.