The 53 best white elephant gifts — all under $50

When I researched what souvenirs were worth bringing home from Italy, these espresso-filled candies were on every list. Having tried them in Rome, now I see why. The hard chocolate exterior is ordinary enough, but the real espresso filling? Weird ... but in a good way. Since most Americans have never heard of them, they make a unique and exciting white elephant gift.

Whoever ends up with Goshi's exfoliating shower towel or this newly released sponge will thank you for changing the way they shower. Thanks to their textured, exfoliating weaves, both products scrub away grime and leave behind soft, spotless skin. Trust us, we're speaking from experience.

Fermented in large barrels without oxygen, anaerobic coffees like this one carry some really fruity (and frankly weird) flavors. If they're used to buying store-bought coffee, these single-origin Ethiopian beans will knock their socks off.

Any home cooks at your gift exchange will appreciate a tub (or box) of this flaky salt. It's just the right size and shape to add some crunchiness and saltiness to any dish.

The only way a Le Creuset Dutch oven can make it into an under $50 gift guide is if we pick one of the brand's most petite offerings: the mini round cocotte. Though it's far too small for a full meal, you can get creative and make bite-sized frittatas, cobblers and cinnamon rolls. Personally, I use mine to hold flaky salt.

Having tried and loved Laneige's fan-favorite lip sleeping mask, we're confident the Dream Team Trio will be a hit at your gift exchange. It includes the aforementioned mask alongside two additional overnight treatments for hydrated, healthy skin.

People will go wild for this mineral lip color — and not just because it's from the popular Supergoop! brand. After all, who wouldn't want stunning lips and sun protection in one?

My grandma has always carried this in her bag as an all-purpose utility knife, using it to peel fruit, cut loose threads and open packages. Equal parts random and practical, it's the perfect white elephant gift.

This cookbook delivers on its promise. While each recipe is fit for a dinner party, most are also accessible enough to pull off on a weeknight. My personal favorite is the chorizo and broccoli rabe pasta, but really, any of these mouthwatering recipes will make this a popular white elephant gift with foodies and entertainers.

This hectic game from the makers of Exploding Kittens is a pinball-esque competition that will have you catapulting balls at each other for hours.

We know someone in your group will get a kick out of these notepads, which come printed with funny, if not slightly dark phrases, like, "I have no idea what I'm doing."

If you're an Underscored reader, you've probably seen enough of this safety cutter. But our editors (and readers) simply love this affordable, life-changing cutter, which slices open packages, wrapping paper and more. And since it's so cheap, it's an excellent option for sub-$10 white elephant exchanges.

This time of year, everyone's skin can use a little extra TLC. Complete with resveratrol and hyaluronic acid for hydrated skin, these festive face masks will leave them looking and feeling fresh.

Any bookworm who prefers paperbacks to e-readers will appreciate this reading light, which is an Underscored reader favorite. Our favorite part is that it's rechargeable.

There are few things more practical during cold and flu season than a bottle of hand sanitizer. This one has the added benefit of smelling amazing with mandarin rind and rosemary leaf.

This surprisingly useful and efficient egg cooker can make soft-, medium- and hard-boiled eggs in minutes, saving them time (and water) when they need a snack.

This gift is a win-win. You won't have to smell your friend's smelly feet anymore, and they'll have fresh, deodorized shoes.

Whiskey lovers will enjoy this compact cocktail kit, which makes mixing a well-balanced, old-fashioned as easy as opening this tin, dropping in a few ingredients and adding whiskey.

Whether your white elephant pool is made up of nostalgic Boomers or curious Zoomers, someone will find joy in this pack of fun coasters.

Wine lovers are definitely going to want to steal this contraption, which sticks to your bathroom wall so you can enjoy that bubble bath with a glass of pinot.

After trying out multiple notebooks for journalling, Moleskine's Classic Notebook is still one of my favorites. It's well-made, looks great and comes with thoughtful features like storage folders. While it's far from a gag gift, it's practical enough that it'll be a fitting contribution to your white elephant pool.

If you can’t help yourself and want to get a funny gift, at least get something the recipient can put on their desk as decoration, like this hilarious Bob Ross Chia Pet.

This stand is a chic and functional way to store your favorite frames — whether they’re sunglasses or your trusty prescription lenses.

Fun, zany and practical, these banana hats are a classic white elephant gift. They're perfect for a daily smoothie drinker who wants to keep their bananas yellow for longer.

We all love a sweet treat, but many of us can do without the sugar high and incoming headache. Enter SmartSweets, which makes a highly giftable variety pack of crave-worthy candies in nostalgic varieties from peach rings to sour gummy bears.

Light, easy to use and packed with features, this box grater will have other players scrambling to steal. We especially like that it comes with volume measurements etched on its side.

If anyone at your white elephant gift exchange works in a perpetually chilly office like ours, they're going to scramble to steal this mini space heater. At just 6 inches tall, it's perfect for desks, bedside tables and small spaces.

Is there a puzzle enthusiast in your group? If so, why not gift one of these beautiful puzzles from Jiggy that can double as a framed art piece when completed?

Germaphobes will rejoice when they unwrap this set of four refillable hand sanitizers, which come in four scents.

Truff makes the blandest of dishes turn into chef-approved works of art, so be sure to allow your giftee to dress up their meals on the go with this mini white truffle hot sauce set. 

After having tried and loved the company's expert-recommended olive oil duo, editors at Underscored have become big Brightland fans. Throw the Instagram-famous brand's vinegar pair into the white elephant mix, and the competition will be fierce.

Rocking this ultra-popular and editor-favorite waterproof belt bag is the best way to go hands-free while toting around more belongings than you thought possible, thanks to its large 2-liter capacity and several compartments.

This cheese board and knife set will make entertaining so much more efficient, and it’s sophisticated enough to display on a kitchen countertop or bar cart when not in use. 

The person always drinking coffee will love this insulated mug that keeps their drink hotter for longer.

This luxurious fruit- and floral-scented wash can follow them from the bathroom sink to the shower, leaving skin feeling soft, supple and smelling beyond incredible.

Is there a more perfect white elephant gift than this? This candle carries all the best scents of the holidays, with notes of candied orange, cardamom, gingerbread cookie, clove and Champagne. Basically, it’ll smell like a holiday gift exchange every time they light it.

Any latte enthusiast at your exchange will love this little milk foamer, which helps them quickly and easily add a little frothy luxury to their morning brew.