Novelty plates add personality to holidays, parties, keepsakes, and everyday meals. Whether you want a whimsical Halloween tray, a travel-friendly kids’ plate, a personalized DIY gift, or a festive Santa set, the right novelty plate balances design, durability, and purpose. These picks come from hands-on testing, product spec review, customer feedback, and expert comparisons.
How we tested and what we looked for
We evaluated candidates using a mix of hands-on testing, product-spec analysis, and real-world feedback from buyers and experts. Our process focused on:
- Durability & materials: Ceramic glaze, food-grade silicone, and wood finishes; how they hold up to everyday use and cleaning.
- Function & purpose: Is it decorative only, or food-safe and dishwasher/microwave-friendly? Does it include lids or accessories? Is it travel-ready?
- Design & novelty value: Visual appeal, seasonal or thematic relevance, and uniqueness for gifting or display.
- Price vs. utility: Cost for what you get (extras, build quality, or sentimental value).
- Consumer feedback: Common praise and complaints from purchasers, including fit for intended use.
We weighted real-world usage (ease of cleaning, stability, and safety) higher than purely aesthetic considerations, and we prioritized products that matched their intended use (e.g., keepsakes labeled “display only” were evaluated as décor rather than dinnerware).
Ghost Trinket Plate
A cute, budget-friendly ceramic ghost tray that doubles as a snack plate or jewelry dish. Lightweight, glazed ceramic with a whimsical silhouette — great for seasonal décor, party treats, or bedside catchall without breaking the bank.
Overview
The ceramic ghost tray is the best inexpensive novelty option if you want seasonal charm without the price tag. It’s a glazed ceramic plate shaped like a friendly ghost, with classic black-eye details that make it a delightful accent for Halloween-themed tables, vanities, or entryway catchalls.
Standout features & analysis
- Durable glazed ceramic with a smooth, easy-to-wipe surface. Good for candy, small appetizers, or jewelry.
- Multi-functional: markets itself as both a décor piece and a small serving tray — ideal for hosts who want a quick seasonal touch.
- Limitations: smaller capacity than standard dinner plates and not a replacement for everyday dinnerware. Not specifically stated as microwave-safe, so treat as decorative/serving-only for hot foods.
For anyone planning a single-season purchase or looking for a budget-friendly gift or accent piece, this tray delivers strong novelty value at a low price.
Mud Pie Santa Set
A premium, hand-painted stoneware milk jug and scalloped cookie plate set designed for the Santa tradition. Durable, decorative, and gift-ready, it elevates holiday rituals with a classic, collectible feel.
Overview
The Mud Pie Cookies & Milk set is our premium pick for holiday novelty tableware. It pairs a hand-painted scallop-edged cookie plate with a coordinating milk jug, crafted from durable stoneware and finished with careful glazing and painting.
Standout features & analysis
- High-quality stoneware construction gives both pieces heft and an upscale look; durable for seasonal family use and display.
- Hand-painted details and scalloped edge add visual charm and make the set feel collectible — an elegant seasonal gift.
- Practicality: sturdy enough to serve cookies and milk to kids, but intended primarily as a festive, display-worthy set rather than heavy daily use.
This set is a strong choice if you want a high-end, long-lasting seasonal tradition piece and are willing to pay a premium for finish and brand polish.
Foldable Silicone Plate
A travel-friendly, food-grade silicone foldable plate with mini fork and spoon—microwave and dishwasher safe. Ideal for families on the go and toddlers learning to self-feed, offering durable convenience and portion-control design.
Overview
This foldable silicone plate is a standout for practical novelty: it’s colorful, compact, and purpose-built for busy families and travel. The kit includes a foldable plate plus a mini fork and spoon — small but useful extras that increase real-world value.
Standout features & analysis
- Food-grade silicone: safe for kids, flexible for storage, and rated microwave & dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning and reheating simple.
- Unique folding design: two-dish layout with the smaller dish nesting inside the larger one to save space — also useful for portion control and toddler self-feeding.
- Suction/stay-put design works well with highchairs and booster seats, reducing mess and plate movement.
- Limitations: silicone can hold odors over long-term use if not properly cleaned; bright colors may show stains over time.
Between price, portability, and kid-focused features, this plate offers the best overall blend of novelty and utility for everyday family use.
DIY Grill Keepsake Plate
A personalized DIY ceramic grilling plate kit designed as a sentimental Father's Day or birthday gift. Comes with paints, brushes, and display stand — intended as a decorative keepsake rather than functional dinnerware.
Overview
This DIY grilling-themed plate kit stands out for sentimental novelty and creative gifting. It arrives with a pre-printed ceramic plate, washable acrylic paints, brushes, and a wooden display stand so families can create a handprint or footprint keepsake.
Standout features & analysis
- Complete kit: includes two paints, brushes, a mixing palette, and a display stand — everything needed to craft a personalized keepsake.
- Thoughtful design: the grill graphic and inscription create a targeted, humorous theme for grill-loving dads or stepdads.
- Important constraint: this item is explicitly for display only and not food-safe, so it’s a keepsake rather than usable dinnerware.
- Durability & presentation: glazed ceramic surface plus included stand make for a clean display piece; paint requires 24-hour drying per instructions.
This kit wins our Editor’s Choice for novelty impact and emotional value. It’s ideal for gift-givers who want a memorable, handmade present rather than a functional plate.
Comparison & Quick Overview
How these four stack up:
- Ghost Trinket Plate (Best Budget Pick) — Cheapest, cute seasonal accent; best for décor or small servings; not a full-size dinner plate.
- Mud Pie Santa Set (Premium Choice) — High-quality stoneware, hand-painted finish; best for collectors and those who want an upscale holiday tradition.
- Foldable Silicone Plate (Best Value for Money) — Most versatile: food-safe silicone, microwave/dishwasher safe, travel-ready with utensils; excellent everyday novelty for families.
- DIY Grill Keepsake Plate (Editors Choice) — Best for personalized gifting and keepsakes; decorative-only, not food-safe.
Best overall: the Foldable Silicone Plate. It combines safety, practicality, portability, and a novelty aesthetic at a very reasonable price.
Alternatives that excel in specific areas:
- Choose the Mud Pie set if you want premium holiday presentation.
- Pick the DIY Grill Keepsake if your priority is a personalized, sentimental present.
- Choose the Ghost Tray for a low-cost seasonal accent or party favor.
Final recommendation
All four picks are strong within their purposes, but if you want a single recommendation that balances novelty with everyday usefulness, go with the Foldable Silicone Plate. It’s food-safe, compact, and designed for real-world family use while still delivering playful color and novelty.
If your priorities are different:
- For seasonal style and tight budgets: the Ghost Trinket Plate is an easy, inexpensive win.
- For a high-end holiday heirloom: the Mud Pie Santa Set offers the best finish and presentation.
- For a memorable, handcrafted gift: the DIY Grill Keepsake Plate provides a one-of-a-kind sentimental item.
This review reflects hands-on testing, product-spec verification, and aggregated buyer feedback to ensure the recommendations suit practical needs as well as novelty value. Pick based on your use case — display, daily use, gifting, or travel — and you’ll get the most satisfying result.