While some get a certain thrill from last-minute holiday shopping, this is not the year to procrastinate. Given the expected holiday shipping delays, it’s essential to shop early—unless you prefer to host your gift exchange in February.
Thankfully, this guide has something for everyone on your list, no matter how difficult that person is to shop for, and you can do it all from the cozy comfort of your home. With convenient online shopping, there are no pushy holiday crowds or parking nightmares to endure. You may even get some inspiration and add a few more items to your personal wish list as you leisurely scroll and click “add to cart.” From kitchen tools to creative DIY projects, here are 23 fun, practical, and totally unique gifts to give this year.
Table of Contents
Gifts for the kitchen
1 Knives
A sharp knife is a safe knife. As counterintuitive as this may seem, any professional chef will vouch for us. A set of good knives can turn the chore of chopping into a far less laborious experience, and they can also help prevent accidents in the kitchen. An eight- to 10-inch chef’s knife, serrated bread knife, and a four-and-one-half-inch paring knife are all you need to perform most kitchen functions. Gift a full set, or if you know your friend is still trying to hack through their homemade loaves of sourdough with a non-serrated knife, just go for the very crucial bread knife.
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Subminimalist
2 NanoFoamer
Espresso machines are expensive, but with the right tool, you can get close to that blissfully good microfoam that tops your neighborhood café’s soy milk latte. The NanoFoamer is superior to any other basic milk frother we’ve used. For the coffee snobs who are forever trying to perfect their homemade espresso beverages, this is the gift to get.
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Blue Bottle
3 Blue Bottle pour-over kit
Pour-over kits are available through most third-wave coffee roasters, but we’re siding with Blue Bottle for its recent decision to make oat milk the default milk option in all of its Southern California locations. The package includes a dripper, carafe, 30 filters, and an essential pour-over guide. Gift this bundle to someone who’s ready to retire their $20 coffee maker for something more sophisticated.
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Rouxbe
4 Rouxbe cooking class
You don’t need to enroll at Le Cordon Bleu to hone professional-level culinary skills. Rouxbe is an online culinary institution with courses ranging from plant-based pro to 90-day intensives for the homecook who wants to know more. The Essential Vegan Desserts or Celebrate Plant-Based modules would make perfect gifts.
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Hera the Dog
5 Hera the Dog Cocktail Kit
Give everything you need to make an excellent cocktail with one of these holiday mixology kits. From the booze to the garnish to the shaker, these comprehensive vegan boxes have it all. Bonus: 100 percent of proceeds go toward animal rescue organizations.
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Global Grub
6 Global Grub DIY culinary kits
Some cooking projects—like Instagram-worthy focaccia art or perfectly rolled sushi—can be intimidating to start. These packages offer up the confidence homecooks need to take on these dishes by way of essential tools and helpful step-by-step instructions. For example, the sushi kit includes a bamboo rolling mat, sushi rice, nori, rice vinegar powder, and wasabi powder plus filling ideas. Other vegan options include the Mochi Ice Cream Kit, Focaccia Art Kit, and Ravioli Kit.
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Vegan food gifts
Frankie & Jo’s
7 Ice Cream Pints
Shipping ice cream to yourself feels extravagant, which makes it the perfect gift—it’s something most people would never purchase for themselves and yet we can guarantee it will be used (more like devoured). Vegan-friendly brands such as Frankie & Jo’s, Dear Bella Creamery, and Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery all ship ice cream nationwide. With tantalizing options such as Miyoko’s Butter Toffee & Chocolate and Vegan Triple Berry Crumpet, we can guarantee you won’t find these non-dairy flavors in your local freezer aisle.
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Lagustas Luscious
8 Gourmet vegan chocolates
Vegan chocolate can be found anywhere, but when it’s being given as a gift, it must be fancy. We’re talking ornate wrappings, delicate chocolate art, and decadent fillings. There are several luxury vegan chocolatiers out there, but to start, try Laderach, Nhiar Chocolates, or Lagusta’s Luscious. Forget candy canes—vegan truffles really bring out the jolliness of the season.
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SriMu
9 Vegan cheese subscription
Ever since vegan cheese evolved from the rubbery substance of yester-year to the divine food it is today, there have been vegan cheese addicts. Many locally owned vegan cheese shops offer subscriptions, but there are also some cheesemongers that ship nationwide. Check out brands such as SriMu, Rebel Cheese, and The Herbivorous Butcher.
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Sticky Fingers Bakery
10 Vegan baked goods
Nothing lights us up like an unexpected package. When that package happens to contain a plethora of vegan sweets, our entire day is made. Imagine your friend or family member’s delight when they unbox an entire vegan cake or a medley of giant seasonal cookies. Karma Baker, Giselle’s Vegan Kitchen, Foxship Bakery, and Sticky Fingers Bakery are just a few of our go-to bakeries that ship their sweets nationwide.
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Native Foods
11 Restaurant gift cards (that give more)
A gift card to a favorite vegan or vegan-friendly restaurant is always appreciated, but when those certifications stretch your dollar even farther, it’s a win-win for everyone. Chains like Hip City Veg and Native Foods are adding value in different ways—Native Foods is offering a complimentary $10 gift card for every $50 certificate purchased; Hip City Veg is giving $5 and $15 off purchases of $30 and $65 gift cards, respectively.
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Lettuce Grow
12 Lettuce Grow
This urban farmstand is a perfect compromise for people who want to try their hand at gardening but don’t have the time, space, or interest to deal with planting. Available in a short 12-plant stand to a colossal 36-plant tower, the compact vertical hydroponic system does most of the work for you, but the resulting kale and bok choy taste just as fresh as if you planted the seeds yourself. Note: with the additional purchase of the ring lights, the Lettuce Grow also works indoors!
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Beauty and fashion gifts
Immaculate Vegan
13 Clothing and accessories from Immaculate Vegan
Think of this virtual vegan and cruelty-free shop as a digital department store. It has everything you need to browse for eternity, and while some may find that anxiety-provoking, others love to look until they land on the perfect gift. Immaculate Vegan houses gifts for both men and women—from functional and fashionable handbags to candles, shoes, and consciously made apparel.
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Goodr
14 Goodr sunglasses
Everyone needs a pair of sunglasses that make them feel strong and confident, and Goodr lenses definitely make a statement. The athletic wear sunnies come in a range of styles, lens shades, and frame colors with whimsical names such as the Flamingos on a Booze Cruise and Iced by Yetis. Meant for those literally on the run (or on the bike), all shades are polarized, lightweight, and non-slip. Did we mention they’re only $25? Buy a pair for a friend and another for yourself.
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Hurraw!
15 Hurraw! lip balm
Remember Lip Smackers? Hurraw! balm is a vegan and eco-friendly version of your favorite childhood lip treatment (except it actually hydrates). While the brand does offer unscented and more muted flavors we love the playful varieties like Wintermint, Vanilla Bean, and classic Black Cherry. There are plenty of tinted and untinted options to choose from, making this a great add-on gift for everyone on your list.
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Matt and Nat
16 Vegan handbag
That burnt-orange summer bag just won’t do for winter—fashion mavens need functional accessories to match the tones of their seasonal wardrobe. Vegan accessory designers such as Matt and Nat and Gunas make gorgeous handbags that are both practical and stylish, and thanks to top-quality manufacturing, these bags put up with a lot of wear and tear. For a smaller present, check out the wallets, vegan leather belts, or matching hats and scarves collections.
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Cozy gifts
The Elephant Project
17 The Elephant Project stuffed animals
For the little ones on your list, gift a snuggly elephant that gives back. One hundred percent of the proceeds from these adorable stuffed animals go toward organizations that combat the poaching crisis or care for injured and abused elephants.
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UnhHide
18 UnHide blanket
Give the gift of cozy with a luxurious, velvety soft, oversized UnHide blanket. Made with plant-based textiles, these fuzzy throws add instant hygge to any living space.
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Conscious Step
19 Conscious Step socks
Socks are still a bit of a joke gift for White Elephant exchanges and office Secret Santas, but when your purchase also goes to a nonprofit, this gift carries a bit more weight. All sock options are sustainably and ethically made and feature subtle yet fun prints like mini forest trees, cat ears, and turtles.
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Self-care and crafty gifts
Earthlove
20 Earthlove Subscription
Send a little self-care every season with a subscription to the Earthlove box. Each curated vegan and cruelty-free package contains 10 eco-friendly items to enhance one’s day and make sustainable living a bit easier. For example, the Winter Box includes a luxurious body butter, an all-natural candle, a plush pillow, and more. The site also offers a holiday gift guide for single purchase items.
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Pottery with a Purpose
21 Pottery with a Purpose kit
Fuel your loved one’s crafty personality with a DIY at-home pottery kit. The holiday bundles are particularly fun—think create-your-own candle holder and make-your-own mug (the latter comes with a hot chocolate bomb!). There are options for air-dry, so no fancy kiln required, just some creativity and hands-on work.
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VegNews gifts
VegNews
22 The VegNews Guide to Being a Fabulous Vegan
Part recipe cookbook and part how-to, this comprehensive, friendly guide can help anyone become a fabulous vegan (or the most fabulous of their already-vegan selves). It’s the perfect way to yell, “Go Vegan!” at someone, but to do it with a smile and the promise of a vegan doughnut.
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Jessica Cruz
23 VegNews Magazine subscription
This gift is timeless. Spread the vegan joy by purchasing an annual subscription for a friend, family member, or co-workers. Print subscriptions are available for just $20.
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For more vegan holiday fun, read:
Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
