15 White Elephant Exchange Gifts Sure to Please This Holiday 2021

Our correspondent Jillian Tangen has curated a list of 15 of the best gift ideas for a white elephant exchange sure to please this holiday 2021 season. 

15 of the best gift ideas for a white elephant exchange this season

White elephant gift exchanges, or Yankee swaps, as they’re known to some, are a classic holiday party livener.

And if you agreed to participate in one this year and are not sure what you have gotten yourself into, here’s a quick overview: Each guest is asked to bring a gift with a certain price range (usually $25-$30). At some point numbers are drawn and each player takes a turn, choosing to either select a gift from the pile or steal a fellow player’s. As you can imagine, hilarious (and at times, competitive) antics ensue, especially if you’re exchanging gifts amongst close friends and family.

Because there are countless types of gifts you could bring to this type of festivity, you might be wondering where to start. Do you go with something functional and nice? Or for something more quirky? Dare we say even a little naughty? That can be tricky, but not impossible.

To help you find the perfect gift for your next holiday party, we’ve rounded up 15 of our favorite presents under $40. From truffle infused pasta sauces to a playful, but practical polish for their behinds, here are our favorite gifts for your upcoming white elephant exchange. They’re guaranteed to cause a commotion – in a good way, of course!

15 of the best gift ideas for a white elephant exchange this season

1. truff pasta sauce

Is there anything better than the gift of truffles? Gift a set of Truff’s truffle infused Black Truffle Pomodoro and Arrabiata Pasta sauces ($30).

BUY NOW – $30

2. molton brown fruity & floral christmas crackers

Who wouldn’t love receiving some Molton Brown Fruity & Floral Christmas Crackers 4-Piece Set ($25) filled with fresh shower gels?

BUY NOW – $25

3. uncommon goods what do you meme game

There’s a pretty good chance everyone will want to start playing this What Do You Meme Game ($30) from Uncommon Goods immediately after the swap is over.

BUY NOW – $30

4. birdcanfox santa claus mug

Spread some serious holiday cheer with this Santa Claus Mug ($18) from BirdCanFox.

BUY NOW – $18

5. wine condoms

Help them keep their half-finished wine bottles protected from sitting out overnight. These Wine Condoms ($15) are good for a laugh and functional too.

BUY NOW – $15

6. miss patisserie shower steamer set

Men and women alike will enjoy this therapeutic Shower Steamer Set ($30) from Miss Patisserie.

BUY NOW – $30

7. corkcicle cigar glass

Part rocks glass part cigar rest, this Corkcicle Cigar Glass ($25) will let them hold both their drink and cigar at the same time.

BUY NOW – $25

8. illuminidol dolly parton prayer candle

Bless them with a fun Dolly Parton Prayer Candle ($15) from Illuminidol. Not a Dolly disciple? Choose from a wide variety of actors, musicians, sports figures and even politicians like AOC, rapper A$AP Rocky and comedian Adam Sandler to name a few.

BUY NOW – $15

9. uncommon goods bathtime essentials wine holder

This Uncommon Goods Bathtime Essentials Wine Holder ($38) may be funny at first glance, but it could actually come in handy when you are relaxing in the tub after a long day enjoying a glass of pinot.

BUY NOW – $38

10. areaware gradient puzzle

Everyone’s gonna want this elegant looking (and challenging!) Gradient Puzzle ($25) from Areaware.

BUY NOW – $25

11. the cocktail box co. old fashion

This tiny tin box from The Cocktail Box Co comes with all the goods to make 6 Old Fashioneds ($23): small-batch aromatic bitters, cane sugar, bar spoon, muddler and even a linen coaster.

BUY NOW – $23

12. truly buns of glowry tighten & glow smoothing butt polish

If you want a gift that’s equal parts practical and playful, this Buns Of Glowry Tighten & Glow Smoothing Butt Polish ($28) by Truly is it.

BUY NOW – $28

13. uncommon goods cold beer coats

These cozy Cold Beer Coats ($13) from Uncommon Goods are ridiculously cute, so don’t be surprised when everyone at the party tries to get their hands on them.

BUY NOW – $13

14. from crook to cook by snoop dog

Offering everything from baked mac & cheese to fried bologna sandwiches and the perfect gin and juice, From Crook to Cook ($13) by Snoop Dog makes for a fun cookbook.

BUY NOW – $13

15. death wish coffee

Who wouldn’t love to try some of the world’s strongest coffee from Death Wish Coffee ($20)?

BUY NOW – $20

15 of the best gift ideas for a white elephant exchange this season

So, what to get? Something funny or something actually useful? Or maybe a bit of both. That’s up to you, but hopefully we’ve inspired you with a few ideas. Have fun!

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This article contains affiliate links to products independently selected by our editors. As an Amazon Associate, Dandelion Chandelier receives a commission for qualifying purchases made through these links. 

Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier and a former Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in New York and is married with three young children. She loves cross-country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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