2025 Gift Guide

Shit to buy that you really want for yourself

Are you already done with your holiday shopping? I am not.

In fact, not only am I behind on my shopping, I’m behind on posting this gift guide AND future holiday videos of recipes I have in the hopper that I hope I can get edited in time for this year’s Christmas-tide.

Ugh, the pressure.

Anyway, here’s some cool shit I’ve used this year that I think would make great gifts. Some are affiliate links, some are not.

FIRST, I would be a huge dum dum if I didn’t promote my own business that has wonderful gifts for the foodies in your life…or hostess gifts for all those ugly sweater parties you’re attending…

We’re doing a BOGO25 discount over at the Eat Happy Kitchen off of our variety packs of products. Buy one variety pack, get the second for 25% off—and you can mix and match variety packs. Offer ends 12/11.

Check out the above video to see how the spices arrive—especially note the shout-out to the Lifesaver’s book of candies.

This yogurt maker.

I. Am. Ob. Sessed.

I have a video coming out with how to use it to make your own Greek yogurt. You will never buy store-bought yogurt again. To make a perfect gift for the home cook: use the quart containers and you MUST get this strainer if you’re going Greek with it. Add on this culture starter and you will not stop making yogurt.

Do you remember what you got last year for Christmas? I don’t either, with the exception of this Owala water bottle my daughter gave me last year. It is the perfect water bottle, and I use it all day every day. I ordered this little cleaning kit to go with it.

One day, I’ll write an air fryer cookbook. Until then, I have a bunch of air fryer recipes on this Substack page and in my upcoming cookbook Cocktail Hour. This Cosori air fryer is the only one I’ve ever used, and I’m still just as in love with it as the day I got it back in January of 2023. You will be too.

Kodak Photo Printer - I went to a party where all the guests had to bring a photo of themselves from the 80s, and if you didn’t have one, you could print a photo with this little printer, and I was delighted. How fun to celebrate in the moment, have party favors to give out, and get to actually hold a picture again.

This is a bit pricey for a stocking stuffer, but I’m such a fan of Laneige Lip Sleeping Balm that I have one in every room in my house, plus my purse, my travel kit, and my backpack. I don’t do a single VO session without using it. I’ve never found a lip balm that doesn’t dry out my lips after a few minutes of wearing it. This one is magic, and if you try to take it away from me, I will tell you to rawt in hell.

I’ve never had a proper pepper grinder, so this Le Creuset Beechwood Pepper Mill is on my Christmas wish list this year.

My latest writing obsessions are these fountain pens from Ellington. I’ve always said that journaling is magic, and pens are the magic wands to create what you want into existence. Gather your thoughts with these gorgeous pens and make your 2026 dreams come true! This calligraphy set is also on my wishlist for this year. I used to do calligraphy when I was younger, and I’m ready to revisit it again (especially since I can’t draw for shit, calligraphy feels like a creative expression I can dig into).

I’ll wrap up this gift guide up with three cookbook recommendations:

The Talisman of Happiness, by the legend Ali Boni. This book is the must have Italian food history book for the ages, finally translated properly and published in English. It’s on my Christmas list, and I hope Santa is good to me.

Anthony Bourdain’s 20th Anniversary Les Halles Cookbook, written by my hero…another iconic book that I’m shocked is not already in my library.

And of course, Eat Happy Italian, by yours truly, is an absolutely delight and my mostest favoritest cookbook I’ve ever written as it’s the one that’s the most personal to me and my heritage.

Love you mean it, my sweet meatballs.

Anna Claus