It’s the season of giving — and the Shop TODAY team has everything you need to get ready for the holiday season. Whether you're gearing up for entertaining guests or knocking out your nice list, our team has tried the latest and greatest to make the upcoming season feel a little less chaotic.
For the latest instalment of our Shop TODAY Hot List, NewBeauty Senior Editor-at-Large and TODAY contributor Sarah Eggenberger has curated gifting options and Thanksgiving cooking hacks to help you prep for family dinners. From hosting must-haves to a game for stress-free conversations, you'll be set up for holiday success.
Ready to start checking off your wish list? Keep reading to discover expert-loved finds you’ll want for cooking, gifting and beyond.
Hot List holiday must-haves seen on TODAY
Meater SE Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer
Use code TODAY to score this gadget for under $50 through Nov. 14, and apply it to the options linked below.
“This first find will change the game for holiday hosting; No more cutting into your meat to see if it’s done or constantly opening the oven to check,” says Eggenberger. “This is a completely wireless smart thermometer. You can monitor your food right from your phone while you’re entertaining guests, setting the table or getting the sides ready!”
Like a normal thermometer, you stick the probe into your meat, and it connects to an app. Then you can select the cook level and monitor the estimated cooking time.
Eggenberger calls this another “hosting hack you need,” explaining that this warming station is a savior for keeping dishes warm while you’re prepping the table, waiting for other food to finish, and during more hectic serving moments. According to the brand, the warming mat has five temperatures to keep your casseroles, roasts, dips and more warm without overcooking.
Plus, it rolls up for easy storage or while bringing to someone else’s home.
Whether you’re hosting, tasked with bringing the appetizer, or looking for a hostess gift, this Italian food set includes six snacks to make the perfect grazing board. It includes sharp pecorino romano cheese, soppressata, green olives, sun-dried tomato paste, and snacks for dipping.
“It’s the perfect starter for the holidays as your guests arrive that requires no effort or dishes! Invite friends over, set this out with a bottle of wine, and you’ve created an easy evening of entertaining without cooking a thing,” says Eggenberger.
This Holiday Gift Box set from Courtney Cox’s brand, Homecourt, allows you to build a trio of luxury home essentials that are effective and aesthetically pleasing. You can choose from 14 options, including a hand soap, surface cleaner, dish soap, candle, body butter and more, all coordinated in matching bottles you’ll want to display. Plus, it includes a complimentary signature gift box valued at $20.
Eggenbeger says the set makes a great hostess gift while cleaning and washing up, or to unwind after a night of entertaining — and it smells amazing.
The holidays bring family and a variety of personalities together; that’s why Eggenberger loves these conversation cards to keep people talking and conversations positive and fun. Each box includes up to 135 questions and the company offers several editions, including options that are kid- and family-friendly.
“If you’ve ever spent late nights surrounded by wrapping paper, searching for the scissors, losing the tape and trying to cut an impossible straight line, this little gadget is about to make your life a whole lot easier!” says Eggenberger. “It’s a two-in-one gift-wrapping tool that helps take the frustration out of wrapping presents.”
The tool fits most rolls of wrapping paper and features a built-in blade for smooth cutting, as well as a tape dispenser — everything you need in the palm of your hand!
More holiday must-haves to shop
Even though Bag Balm has been around since 1889, it’s recently gone viral, says Shop TODAY contributor Chassie Post. The multipurpose balm contains petrolatum and lanolin to help protect the skin from winter dryness. Post says she loves using it for dry hands during this season, especially when hosting with all the constant dishwashing. However, the brand says you can also use the balm on lips, heels, eyes and even on pets’ paws.
Kitchen chaos can lead to accidents; that’s why Eggenberger loves this handy tool. The silicone gadget helps you easily maneuver in the oven, helping you push and pull out pans to check on the cooking progress.
This compact eyeshadow palette makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the makeup fiend. For $16, you'll get six stunning, cool-toned shades offered in matte, shimmer and metallic finishes.
You don't have to worry about running out of matches for your favorite seasonal candles with this gadget. This flameless USB lighter is rechargeable to put in their stocking. It also has a useful auto-off feature and a wind- and splash-proof design for added safety.
As part of Shop TODAY's Gifts We Love, this mini Le Creuset cocotte is perfect for the host or foodie. It allows you to whip up your favorite single-serve recipes and makes for an aesthetically pleasing dip dish.
If you forgot to thaw the meat, this defrosting tray works effectively and safely to unfreeze steaks, chicken and more —without the microwave. According to the brand, it’s made of “highly-conductive aluminum” that pulls out the cold and draws in “ambient warmth.”
This glass simmer pot is a pro hosting tip from Post. It acts as an old-fashioned way to fill your home with amazing scents using ingredients you already have. Post recommends adding a festive mix of orange slices, cranberries and cinnamon sticks to boiling water to make your home smell like the holiday season.
You can also use it for normal dishes or mulled wine, too.
Help enhance their tea time with these adorable and mess-free honey spoons. Coming in a holiday set of 12, the honey spoons are single-serve and gradually melt into your favorite warm beverages.
If you or they love a bit of sparkle, Post recommends opting for these dazzling Kate Spade earrings. For the studs, “choose between aquamarine or pink in gold-plated brass or the clear CZ stones in gold, rose-gold or silver-plated brass,” says Post.
Another Gifts We Love winner, this TikTok-loved camera makes for a fun way to capture memories, and since it's compact in size, it's a perfect gift for kids and teens. The gadget takes clear images and allows you to instantly print (and stick!) your photos.
Meet the expert
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team, along with Sarah Eggenberger and Chassie Post.
- Sarah Eggenberger is a TODAY contributor and the Senior Editor-at-Large at NewBeauty Magazine.
- Chassie Post is a Shop TODAY contributor, TV host and lifestyle editor. Whether she’s talking fashion and beauty or home and entertaining, Post is known nationwide for covering the latest trends with her keen eye.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
