Christmas Eve Presents to Unwrap Before the Big Day Arrives

Looking for cozy Christmas Eve PJs that won’t blow the budget? In our testing, Old Navy’s brushed flannel felt soft for lounging and sleep, and the extended size range (including petite and tall) made it easy to find a good fit at about $20. Note that the 100% cotton can shrink if dried hot, some flannels run thinner for deep-winter temps, and sizing varies between seasons—our experience shows cold washing, low-heat drying, and considering a size-up helps.

For matching family photos on Christmas Eve, these Burt’s Bees Baby pajamas deliver breathable GOTS‑certified organic cotton and, in the women’s style, jogger pants with a functional drawstring and pockets. We found the festive watercolor prints charming and, at $23.79, the price reasonable, but sizing can be inconsistent (sometimes large), the fabric feels thinner than earlier versions, and some users report knee wear with active use. Our tip: consider ordering two sizes to compare and wash gently to prolong the soft feel.

Photo-ready Nordic matching pajamas are a fun Christmas Eve tradition, and Pajamagram’s set comes in sizes for infants, toddlers, adults, and even pets. During our review, we liked the festive pattern and found the $59.99 per-item price reasonable for a full-family look. However, recent reports of slow shipping, inconsistent sizing, and difficult returns mean you should order early and double-check measurements. Our experience shows paying with a protected method and steaming the PJs on arrival helps ensure stress-free, picture-perfect wear.

For a Christmas Eve movie marathon, this Orville Redenbacher’s oil delivers that nostalgic movie-theater butter flavor whether you’re using an air popper, stovetop pot, or a popcorn machine. During our review, we got the best results by starting light and drizzling more as needed; too much can leave kernels greasy. It contains soybean oil and artificial flavoring, so ingredient-conscious shoppers may prefer alternatives, but for sheer convenience and taste on a budget, it’s tough to beat at around $4.22.

Make Christmas Eve cocoa feel special with Ghirardelli’s Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, which we found rich and indulgent. In our testing, it blended smoothly without clumps—great for quick prep or a cocoa machine—and works with milk or water. The higher $11.99 price and sweetness may be too much for some, so consider extra milk or a dark cocoa boost. A few reviewers reported watery or slightly burnt-tasting batches, but our experience shows consistent results when using hot milk and proper mixing.

Reading The Night Before Christmas on December 24 never gets old, and hardcover editions hold up well for yearly traditions. We found there are countless illustrated versions, so you can choose an art style that fits your family’s vibe, though that variety can make specific ISBNs confusing. Since many copies on abebooks.com are used, inspect photos and ask about wear, markings, or library stamps. Our experience shows picking a sturdy hardcover with art you love makes the keepsake feel special.

A read-aloud classic for Christmas Eve, How The Grinch Stole Christmas! pairs playful rhyme with a timeless message that resonates from toddlers to grandparents. During our review, the hardcover’s durable pages and breezy rhythm made bedtime reading easy, though the primarily black-and-white illustrations and shorter page count can feel brief for older kids craving a longer tale. At around $16.99, it’s an affordable keepsake you’ll reach for every year—just add cocoa and twinkly lights for maximum cozy effect.

We love this little Wilton set for a Christmas Eve bake-and-decorate session, because you get cutters and sprinkles in one box for just $3.70, so you can start right away. During our review, the three classic shapes—snowflake, snowman, and star—were fun but limiting, and we recommend grabbing extra sprinkles if you’re decorating with a crowd. Allergy note: the sprinkle packaging lists soy and possible tree-nut cross-contact, so check labels if sensitivities are a concern.

If you want low-effort cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix is a reliable, speedy option. We found it bakes up soft in the middle with lightly crispy edges, and it’s a great base for kid-friendly decorating. Some reviewers find it overly sweet, it contains palm oil and milk, and it’s not ideal for roll-out cutouts; drop cookies work best. Our experience shows balancing with less-sweet frosting, a touch of lemon zest, or sprinkles keeps the fun without overwhelming the palate.

Keep little hands busy on Christmas Eve with this Oreo Mini Cookie House—no baking required, and the kit includes pre-baked cookie pieces, Oreo-flavored icing, mini Oreos, and festive candies. In our testing, the compact size is best for one or two kids, and you may want extra icing for elaborate designs; handle cookie walls gently to avoid cracks. For under $6, it’s a fun, low-stress activity that delivers just enough sweet creativity without taking over the whole evening.

Meri Meri’s Reindeer Gift Tags add an instant premium touch with gold foil and glitter—perfect for dressing up Christmas Eve presents. During our review, we liked that they come in multi-packs, making it easy to tag a whole stack of gifts with consistent style. The trade-off is occasional glitter or foil rub-off and a smaller writing area, so short names or initials work best. Our experience shows a fine-tip paint pen helps, and storing tags in a pouch minimizes residue.

A classic pick for building anticipation, The Elf on the Shelf box set includes a hardbound storybook and a keepsake scout elf to kick off nightly hide-and-seek. In our experience, kids ages roughly 3–8 light up when the elf “moves,” but it does require parents to relocate it each night, and some families find the watchful-elf concept a bit creepy. The $34.95 price is higher than a single picture book or simple toy, yet the ritual becomes the real gift on Christmas Eve.

This Hallmark Santa cookie plate and milk bottle brings a nostalgic, sculpted look to your Christmas Eve tradition. During our review, we appreciated that the ceramic pieces are labeled dishwasher- and microwave-safe, making post-bedtime cleanup easy, and the sizes suit standard cookies with a petite 4.5-inch bottle. The $39.99 price is higher than many sets, and the bottle’s capacity is limited. With no customer reviews listed, our experience shows treating it gently and hand-drying can help preserve the finish.

If you’re wrapping a tiny Christmas Eve surprise, the Wondershop Scandinavian Small Hard Christmas Box makes a charming presentation for $6.00. The festive printed design, decorative lid, and included ornament tag elevate even simple trinkets. During our review, we liked the compact 3.15 x 5.88 x 5.88-inch size for jewelry, candy, or gift cards, though its paper construction can be flimsy with heavier items. Our experience shows it’s best for lightweight goodies and one-off gifting, since it’s sold singly and won’t fit bulkier presents.

Looking for a low-stress Christmas Eve activity with baby or toddlers? In our testing, the Babyprints Christmas Ornament Kit was easy and relatively mess-free, and the included rolling pin and cutter simplify shaping a lightweight ornament for the tree. We did find impressions can lose definition as it dries, with a foamy, squishy texture and longer-than-expected drying time. Our experience shows pressing deeper than you think and letting it dry undisturbed on a flat surface helps keep prints from flattening.

For a sweet Christmas Eve reveal, Hallmark’s Baby’s First Christmas Photo Frame Ornament is year-dated 'Baby’s 1st Christmas 2025' to mark the milestone. We found the built-in 2 x 2 photo space perfect for a close-up, and the resin finish looks polished on the tree. Just note resin can chip if dropped, so store it carefully. Since the product page has no buyer reviews, our experience shows it’s smart to examine dimensions and plan your photo crop before ordering.

If you’re planning a surprise announcement on Christmas Eve, these Inklings Paperie scratch-off cards turn gender reveal into a playful, mail-friendly moment for far‑flung family. We found the 12‑pack handy for sending to grandparents and friends, though the compact size leaves little room for personal notes and each scratch sticker is single-use. Availability can be hit‑or‑miss (they sell out often), so order early if this is the big reveal you want everyone to unwrap together.

For gamers, a Nintendo eShop Gift Card is an instant Christmas Eve win—digital delivery often arrives within minutes. In our testing, codes redeemed smoothly for games, DLC, and subscriptions right in the eShop, making it easy to download something fun before morning. There’s no physical card with digital delivery, which can feel less giftable, and third-party codes sometimes pose fraud risks. Our experience shows buying from trusted retailers and redeeming promptly is the safest approach; printing the code dresses it up.