'Tis the season for holiday hosting! Whether you're in the midst of preparing for overnight and out-of-town visitors or bookmarking recipes to prep, it's no secret that food brings us together.
From cherished family recipes to making gingerbread houses, food serves as the thing that can unite us all around the table, sharing a meal over laughter and reminiscing on holidays' past.
Chef and TODAY Contributor Elena Besser appeared on the 3rd Hour of TODAY to share food items, gear, and more that solve gifting and hosting woes alike.
So, make your list, check it twice, and add the items below to cart — no matter if you've been naughty or nice!
Stuff We Love: Food Edition
If they can't make it home for the holidays, surprise them with a gift that will be delivered right to their doorstep. This food box has everything you need to make an Italian Pasta al Pomodoro dinner in mere minutes, no matter if you're a beginner or intermediate chef.
“I cannot get enough of Bjorn Qorn,” says Besser. “They are known for their nutritional yeast solar-popped popcorn, and this holiday season, they’ve put together a fantastic gift box for the popcorn lovers.”
It includes limited-edition bags of popcorn that are only available around the holidays — so stock up now while it’s still available!
This condiment can be used in a myriad of ways, the brand suggests, including the last layer on a parfait, adding a spoonful to a gelato dish, or as the base for a "savory-sweet" glaze to spread over turkey.
Power through the holidays with a bottle of wine from As Ever, a brand created by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. For an additional cost, you can choose to have this bottle delivered in a branded wooden gift crate.
This jam trio was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things of 2025, and is described as “versatile” and “a bit tart” by the brand. It includes three flavors to spread, drizzle, and scoop on meals, including orange marmalade, raspberry, and a new addition for the holidays: strawberry.
Cleanup is a breeze thanks to this dishwasher-safe Dutch oven, which the brand says can fit up to two portions of your favorite stovetop meals.
Similarly, reviewers compliment the size, depth, and ease of cleaning of Great Jones' larger Dutch oven. Furthermore, they appreciate how it doesn't look like an eyesore if left out, thanks to its matte colorways.
These petite cakes serve as the perfect conclusion to a hearty and savory dinner. Chocolate mint trees and vanilla-flavored presents will leave guests wanting more when they inevitably run out.
For "jaw-dropping" dishes and "incredibly tasting" meals, consider gifting this four-piece set to the chef in your life. It's beginner-friendly, per the brand, so they don't need to be experienced in cooking meat or even own a grill to serve up high-quality meats.
Whether you gift these as a stocking stuffer or serve them as a precursor for a main dish, these chocolate-covered peanuts will satisfy any sweet tooth.
"They’re roasty and perfectly salted to balance the decadent chocolate coating," says Besser. "My family devours these, and you deserve to, too!"
More editor-loved foodie gifts
This bestselling chili crunch is a Shop TODAY Gift We Love — for adding just enough spice to your favorite dishes, minus the heat. So, save the glass of milk for Santa, and add this affordable condiment to your cart.
Sourced from the coast of Northern California, this artisanal flake salt is chef-created, so it has the stamp of approval from the professionals (and foodie editors!).
I [Hoeger] recently tried the paprika and parmesan alfredo sauce from this duo and quickly became obsessed. It served as the perfect sauce to pair with a chicken alfredo and peas dish, providing a creamy texture and perfectly spiced flavor. Plus, this two-pack comes with a tomato tote bag!
“My soon-to-be sister-in-law gives the most thoughtful gifts; people always rave about and remember them!” says partnerships associate editor Erica Marrison. “Recently, she got tired of just giving cash at weddings and started gifting personalized recipe books by Papier. I love that it’s an affordable way to do personalization (plus it’s something your recipient will use!). She’ll order the personalized version and, if she’s close with the recipient, she writes in a recipe with a note.”
"Brightland just launched a Pizza Night gift set in collaboration with Peanuts and every single detail is adorable — and delicious!" raves deputy managing editor, Jess Bender. "It comes with three of the brand’s signature products (the Alive Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar and Pizza Oil) with Snoopy and Woodstock illustrations on each bottle. To elevate the experience that much more, everything is packed inside of a pizza box."
"If you want to be the hostess with the mostess, treat your guests to some delicious appetizers this holiday season," says partnerships associate editor, Lauren Witonsky. "I dream of these light and airy cheese puffs, and the best part is that they’re so easy to make. They arrive frozen, so just pop them in your oven for about 25 minutes before the party starts, and I guarantee they’ll be the first from your spread to go!"
Marrison can vouch for these splurge-worthy storage containers, which are made with non-toxic materials and ensure freshness through the air-tight seals on the lids.
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 Elena Besser.
- Elena Besser is a renowned chef and TODAY contributor.
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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 lives better. Items are sold by the retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. Learn more about Shop TODAY.
