2024 Rainbow Plant Life Gift Guide

Gifting season can be a beautiful, rewarding time of year, but finding the perfect gift for every single one of your loved ones can be stressful, not to mention time-consuming!

Enter this vegan gift guide packed with fun, unique, and practical gifts that I personally love and recommend! From kitchenware and cookbooks to beauty and wellness products, there’s something for everyone in this guide.

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Table of contents:
1. Cookbooks
2. Kitchenware
3. Food and Drink
4. Home and Electronic Gifts
5. Beauty and Fashion Gifts
6. Experiential Gifts

Cookbooks

Big Vegan Flavor ($31.50)

The cookbook that I poured 3 1/2 years of my life into obviously had to make it into my holiday gift guide!

Big Vegan Flavor is the cookbook I wish I had one when I first went vegan: it’s my comprehensive approach to making vegan food highly flavorful and delicious, and contains four chapters of techniques plus nine chapters of recipes. The recipes are divided into “building block” recipes (4 chapters), which are more suited for weeknights, and the “wow worthy” recipes (5 chapters), perfect for weekends, special occasions, and all that upcoming holiday cooking!

Plus, it clocks in at over 600 pages, so it literally feels like an extra special cookbook to gift during the holidays.

Buy for: The home cook looking to take their skills to the next level.

The Elements of Baking ($32)

Now if you’re looking for a comprehensive book on baking, you’re gonna want to stop your scroll. Because the Elements of Baking is such a cool, thoughtful baking book that literally teaches you how to turn any baked good dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, entirely vegan, or even vegan and gluten-free.

It’s another weighty book that feels like a hefty, high-quality gift for the holidays.

Buy for: The avid home baker.

Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking ($31)

To round out your guide to plant-based cooking, you’ll need a copy of my friend Joe Yonan’s latest book, Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking. Another beast of a book with 500 pages and 300(!) recipes, this book has a recipe for everything you can think of, including homemade staples like cheeses, tofu, tempeh, soy milk, kimchi, and more.

Buy for: The home cook looking to take their skills to the next level.

Kitchenware

Fellow Electric Tea Kettle ($165)

There are countless kettles available, but if you want one that works well and looks smart, a Fellow kettle is the way to go. Sleek, functional, and a beautiful way to enjoy all your favorite warming beverages. For pour-over coffee lovers, get the model with the elegant gooseneck spout.

Buy for: The tea aficionado in your life / your partner who insists that pour-over coffee is the only coffee worth drinking.

Vitamix 5200 Blender ($449)

Arguably one of the best blenders on the market, this baby will take your plant-based cooking to the next level. It gets you those super smooth sauces and nut butters in just a minute or two, the motor is so powerful, and the warranty is long (because it’s a well-made product).

Buy for: Someone you really love because it’s not cheap (this can include yourself!) and who wants to take their cooking to the next level.

Vitamix Immersion Blender ($169)

I was never wowed by an immersion blender until I treated myself to this one a few years ago. It works like a regular blender in so many applications, including difficult-to-blend ingredients like Thai green curry paste. Plus, it’s convenient for blending soups directly in the pot (hello, one-pot meals!).

Buy for: The home cook who fully embraces soup season.

Zwilling Knife Set ($139)

Getting three German-engineered knives for this price is a pretty great deal. With proper care, these will last many years. I have a similar Zwilling chef’s knife that is razor sharp and super easy to handle.

Buy for: The family member whose embarrassingly dull knife collection is in dire need of replacement.

Stasher Reusable Silicone Storage Bag Set ($104)

Purchasing a set of these stasher bags has helped me cut down on single-use plastic bags. They’re sturdy, dishwasher-safe, and come in a variety of sizes.

Buy for: The eco-conscious home cook.

OXO Good Grips Handheld Mandoline ($17)

This mandoline will save you lots of time on vegetable prep AND it works just us well as a full-size mandoline but it’s a quarter of the size and price. It makes for the best stocking stuffer. Pair it with a cut-safe glove ($14) for a thoughtful gift combo.

Buy for: The avid cook who’s working with a small kitchen.

Wooden Salt Cellar ($15)

Another great stocking stuffer! The tastiest dishes are well-seasoned at various stages, and having your salt handy in an adorable container certainly helps with that. The swivel lid makes this one easy to open and close.

Buy for: Anyone who cooks. Literally!

Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor ($199)

A great food processor like this model is a game-changer for making dips like hummus or pesto, sauces, salsa, nut butters and more. I also love using the slicing and shredding discs to quickly slice or shred veggies for salads and slaws instead of slicing by hand.

Buy for: The home cook who wishes they could make everything from scratch but is a little strapped for time.

Staub Braiser Pan With Domed Glass Lid ($179)

This is possibly the most versatile piece of cookware I own. I use it to pan fry tofu and vegetables, deep fry cauliflower for Gobi Manchurian, and even make cozy stews like vegan tagine. It’s a sturdy enameled cast iron pan that comes with a lid and it will last years if not decades! Plus, it makes your kitchen look cute.

Buy for: The family member who cooks for a crowd on a regular basis.

Cuisinart Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder ($39)

A spice grinder is one of the easiest ways to level up your cooking, as whole spices add incredible depth of flavor and complexity, particularly in Indian recipes. With a few blitzes and less than 30 seconds, you can transform rock-hard whole spices into powdery form.

Buy for: The lover of Indian food (shouldn’t that be all of us?).

Instant Pot Duo Plus ($80)

The Instant Pot is a workhorse in my kitchen – I use it for soups and stews, preparing pots of lentils or beans for meal prep, or even grains like rice for dinner. A great gift combined with a copy of my first cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook!

Buy for: The home cook who wants to spend less time in the kitchen.

Food & Drink

Life-Changing Homemade Chili Crisp from Big Vegan Flavor (homemade gift!)

When forced to choose just one favorite recipe from Big Vegan Flavor, my answer is the homemade Chinese chili crisp on page 187. It’s the most delicious combination of savory, spicy, funky, tangy, sweet, garlicky, and crunchy and it will truly make even the simplest meals taste better. Store it in a jar and it’ll last for at least 6 months in the fridge.

Make for: The friend who has very little time to cook and needs an instant way of jazzing up their meals.

Food Safety Note: Make sure you and the recipient always store the chili crisp in the fridge (not at room temp).

Vegan Fudge (homemade gift!)

Want the thoughtfulness of a homemade gift but don’t have much time? Whip up a batch of my 6-ingredient vegan fudge (it requires just 20 minutes of active work). It’ll stay good at room temp for at least a week!

Make for: The DIY-loving friend with kids–the whole gang will love it.

Seed + Mill Sampler Pack ($44)

I love gifting sampler packs because they give you a little taste of what that brand has to offer. And Seed + Mill, a small woman-owned business, is one of my all-time fave brands. This sampler pack features a jar of their extremely high-quality tahini and 2 varieties of their luxurious halva. Truly a party for the tastebuds!

Buy for: The friend with really excellent taste in food.

Ghia Non-Alcoholic First Sip Gift Box ($50)

It’s 2024, which means there is no shortage of bougie, gorgeously packaged alcohol-free spirits that mimic the experience of drinking booze without the side effects. The Ghia gift box includes a 4-pack of spritzes and a bottle of their classic apéritif.

RPL community manager Kaitlin is a big fan of the canned spritzes, which feature elevated flavors like sumac & chili or yuzu & ginger. Their apéritif makes for the loveliest mocktail (mix it with soda water, tonic water, or even kombucha!). Plus, no artificial flavors, animal products, caffeine, or added sugars.

Buy for: The coworker who keeps mentioning she’s in her “sober curious” era.

The Essential Capsule by Brightland ($112)

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you already know that Brightland is my absolute favorite olive oil brand. Nothing compares to the flavor and freshness of their cold-pressed olive oils, which are made from olives grown on a family-run olive farm in California. Just a drizzle of a Brightland olive oil + Brightland vinegar is all you need to make delicious salads in no time.

Buy for: The food connoisseur in your life.

Burlap & Barrel’s Fundamental’s Collection ($53)

Again, you likely already know how much I adore the spices from Burlap and Barrel. Not only are these single-origin spices so much more flavorful than standard store-bought spices, but they’re also sustainably farmed by small farmers who are paid fair living wages. Choose from the 6-piece, 9-piece, or 12-piece sets.

Buy for: The adventurous cook (OR the person who thinks garlic powder is the only spice they need).

Diaspora Co. Build Your Own Spice Shelf ($60)

Another fabulous small spice business to support, Diaspora Co. sources high-quality spices from small, multi-generational farmers in South Asia who are paid an average 4x premium for their regeneratively farmed, single-origin spices. Pick your spices and choose from the 6-piece, 9-piece, or 12-piece sets.

Buy for: The lover of Indian food (again, shouldn’t that be all of us?).

Purdy’s Mylk Chocolate Sweet Chocolate Browns ($35)

I am a dark chocolate girlie through and through, so I almost always turn up my nose at the next vegan milk chocolate product to hit the shelves…except for these two particular products from Canadian chocolatier Purdy’s (yes, they ship to the U.S.).

RPL recipe tester & culinary wizard Hannah says “I tried these two years ago at Nisha’s house, and I still think about them—they are the best chocolate gift I think you can gift someone vegan! Their Hawaiian Black Salt Caramels are a close second, YUM!”

Buy for: The diehard chocolate lover.

Golde Matcha Kit ($58)

I’ve been a matcha aficionado for the last 3 or 4 years, so I’ve tried a wide variety, and lately, I’ve been loving the matcha from Golde. This set comes with their ceremonial-grade matcha and an excellent electric frother so you can make super frothy matcha lattes at home. Give the gift of steady, calming, non-jittery energy.

Buy for: The friend who blows her paycheck on daily $7 lattes.

Handsome Carver’s Nut Butters ($7-$15 per jar)

Nut butter may not sound like the most holiday-worthy gift, but these are no ordinary nut butters.

RPL product manager Rachael picks up a batch of these fantastic homemade, small-batch nut butters from Mr. Carver himself at her local farmer’s market in the Bay Area. She highly recommends the Vanilla Bean Cashew Butter, Pumpkin Pie Cashew Butter, and Chocolate Hazelnut Butter. Note: a few flavors contain honey, so check the ingredients before ordering.

Buy for: Your sister-in-law who makes the most boring oatmeal and desperately needs a delicious upgrade.

Home and Electronic Gifts

Apple AirTag 4 Pack ($72)

How many times have you been at the airport baggage claim and become convinced that because your suitcase wasn’t the first bag onto the carousel, it must have been left behind, stolen, or rerouted halfway around the world? Is that just me?

Even if you yourself don’t have this kind of travel anxiety, surely you know someone who does so give the gift of travel peace of mind with Apple AirTags. Add them to your suitcase (or purse, wallet, or laptop case), and your iPhone will let you know if your fears are irrational (almost always the case) or if you need to actually go track down your belongings.

Buy for: Your mom who’s always losing her purse.

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug ($111)

Another question: How many times have you made *the perfect* cup of coffee, had one sip, gotten distracted by your inbox / screaming children, only to return to the saddest cup of lukewarm coffee?

Enter the Ember Smart Mug, which keeps your coffee (or tea) at your *exact desired temperature* for hours. Plus, you can adjust the temperature right from an app, which is one step closer to feeling like you’re living in the future.

Buy for: Your partner who microwaves the same cup of coffee six times a day and insists that the coffee tastes just fine (lies!).

East Fork Pottery Bitty Bowl 4-Pack ($48)

A mission-oriented brand I’ve been using for years, East Fork makes beautiful ceramics in a wide variety of colors. The bitty bowls make the perfect fancy yet affordable gift and can be used for personal-sized sauce bowls or for salts/spices, or even to hold votive candles. If your budget is bigger, check out their Everyday Bowls.

Buy for: The avid entertainer who likes to host in style.

TheraGun Mini Massage Gun ($195)

What’s better than a deep tissue massage from a masseuse with seriously sturdy hands? Truly, nothing.

But second-best would be the TheraGun Mini. Small enough to handle so you can give yourself a daily massage and so you can pack it on your travels. I love using it on the soles of my feet after a long day in the kitchen.

Buy for: The mama who’s always on her feet.

Hooga Book Light ($12)

This rechargeable reading light geniusly clips to the back of your book. Max and I both recently picked one up, and it’s totally changed our reading and sleeping habits. It casts a soft amber glow that’s bright enough so you can read your book without emitting the harsh blue light that can interfere with your sleep (or your partner’s sleep).

Buy for: Your spouse so you can sleep better / the friend who just finished reading her 89th novel of the year.

P.F. Candle Co. Soy Wax Candle ($27)

I can’t get enough of these candles and have amassed quite a collection in the last few years (I’m a sucker for the sweet grapefruit scent). Their neutral yet classy appearance means they look great in any setting. These candles are vegan, cruelty-free, and free of parabens and phthalates.

Buy for: Anyone (who doesn’t like a nice-smelling candle?)

Apple Watch SE ($189)

There are newer, fancier models of the Apple Watch available, but even this model is great. Getting an Apple Watch has been so helpful in encouraging to me to be more active, whether it’s by pushing myself during a workout or just getting up from my desk more throughout the day.

Buy for: Yourself (you deserve it) / a parent who could use a bit more physical activity in their life.

Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock ($169)

Waking up to a cell phone ringtone repeatedly blaring in your ear is about the least peaceful way to start your day. Imagine instead being metaphorically cradled from dreamland, carried into consciousness by the soothing sounds of ocean waves and a gradual sunrise.

That’s exactly the wakeup experience you get with the Hatch alarm clock—gradual, calming, and honestly, very delightful.

Buy for: Anyone who needs better sleep (i.e., 90% of Americans).

Hyperwear Weighted Vest ($94)

Weighted vests are all the rage among women, and for good reason. Wearing a weighted vest during light exercise such as walking has been shown to help prevent bone density loss in women as we age. I just bought this version, and while it’s not cheap, it fits much better and the weight is much better distributed than the first cheap-O one I bought that gave me neck and shoulder pain.

Buy for: The lady who needs to work on her strength training but is reluctant to join a gym.

Beauty & Fashion Gifts

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil ($47 – use code NISHA10 for 10% discount)

This is the only body care product I have religiously used for the last couple years. It makes your skin feel and look so dang smooth and luxurious. The secret is to rub it on your skin immediately after showering while your skin is still super wet (I just leave the bottle in the shower). Use code NISHA10 for 10% discount.

Buy for: The new mom who needs a spa day but doesn’t have time for one.

Sunniemade Shampoo and Conditioner ($24)

Started by my friend Sarah Spliethoff, Sunniemade makes the best zero-waste, plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars as well as body bars. The mango moisturizing set linked above is my current fave, but every product I’ve tried makes you smell and feel absolutely amazing.

Buy for: Your eco-conscious friend who could use a spa day.

Hana Hana Beauty Shea Butter ($32)

Come winter, my skin gets all kinds of dry in the Southern California climate, and shea butter is the only thing that makes a noticeable difference. I love the short list of natural and healing ingredients in their shea butter (and the lemongrass scent!), plus the brand’s social impact work in both Ghana and the U.S.

Buy for: Ladies (or men) who live in a dry climate.

Bombas Gripper Slipper Bootie ($60)

Please let me introduce you to my most treasured belonging during winter: these Bombas sherpa-lined slipper booties. They truly feel like a warm hug for your feet, and every person I’ve gifted them to has also fallen in love.

Available for women’s feet, men’s feet, kids’ feet, and even cute toddler feet.

Buy for: Your friend who runs chilly / the whole family because matching slippers for holiday photos is so cute.

Cozy Earth Long Sleeve Bamboo Pajama Set ($136)

Imagine you’re getting ready for bed and you have two options you can choose to change into: (a) a ratty tee from that 5K you walk-ran during college with gym shorts OR (b) buttery smooth pajamas that feel like a hug from a baby cloud.

RPL community manager Kaitlin would definitely prefer (b) and encourages you to give the gift of baby cloud pajamas this season. They’re made from responsibly sourced high-quality viscose from bamboo textiles.

Buy for: The mom who deserves nice things but would never splurge on pajamas for herself.

Girlfriend Collective Leggings ($88)

I have been a big fan of these compressive leggings since RPL’s community manager Kaitlin introduced them to me three years ago. Perfect for tough workouts, definitely not see-through like some brands (you know which brand I’m talking about!), and they’re made from recycled water bottles!

Buy for: The well-meaning friend who talks nonstop about her workout routine.

Made Trade Waffle Robe ($98)

When I think of luxury, I immediately think of bathrobes, so give the gift of luxury this season with a high-quality (yet sustainably made) bathrobe! This organic cotton robe is unisex so all are welcome to the at-home spa party.

Buy for: The new parents in your life!

Experiential Gifts

Trip to Your Local Farm Sanctuary

Take your loved one(s) on a tour of your local animal sanctuary and meet the precious animals saved from the factory farming industry. A meaningful excursion for people of all ages!

Buy for: Your favorite vegans (and soon-to-be vegans)

Spa Finder Gift Card

Sometimes you want to give the gift of pampering but aren’t sure what day/time your loved one will be able to visit the spa. No worries—just use this website to find a highly rated spa in their area and purchase a gift card they can use at their convenience.

Note: not all spas on this last have ratings, so I recommend reading Yelp/Google reviews.

Buy for: Your partner / friend / parent / sibling who needs a little TLC (i.e., pretty much everyone you know).

Donate to a Charity On Behalf of a Loved One

A good way to get into the holiday spirit is to donate to those in need! Live Kindly has shared 9 different vegan charities you can donate to on behalf of a loved one this holiday season.

Buy for: That friend who already has everything.