Do you have a home baker or cook in your life? Over the years I've slowly grown my collection of supplies and there are few that I cannot live without, like my stand mixer and pie sleeves. With the holiday season approaching, I've put together a list of items for various types of bakers and cooks, and there are a few instances where I've linked or mentioned in the caption where you can buy a more or less expensive version. Even when you think they have everything, you might find something on this list that you didn't know existed and could really make a difference in their life. Leave your own gift suggestions in the comments and I may update this post!
In this guide you will find gifts:
For the serious baker
For the (aspiring) bread baker
For the adventurous cook
For the pie baker
For the one that has everything
For the cake baker
Product names are linked to where you can buy. To my family: this is not my Christmas list ;)
For the serious baker
As someone who bakes on the regular, a stand mixer has seriously changed my life and saved so much time and energy. There are many options to choose from, this is the classic and one of the cheaper ones. If the serious baker in your family already owns a stand mixer, consider giving them one of the many attachments that it comes with. Image courtesy of Kitchenaid.com
If a stand mixer is not within your budget, a hand mixer is a great alternative. This is what I started with before getting really (really) serious into baking. There are still times where a hand mixer could come in handy, especially for smaller baking projects, but unfortunately I don't have one anymore. Plus, plenty of cute colors to choose from! Image courtesy of kitchenaid.com
When I really began getting into cooking, I can't tell you how many recipes I found that required finely chopped this or crushed that. The fact is, unless you have an amazing knife set and know how to use it, you're not going to get the chop or crush you need without a food chopper. I can honestly say I use mine 1-2 times a week and it's one of the best gifts I have received. Image courtesy of kitchenaid.com
For the (aspiring) bread baker
This kit includes 2 proofing baskets, bread lame with replacement blades, dough/bench scraper, 2 linen liners, and basting brush. As someone who has recently gotten into bread baking, I can't tell you how useful a kit like this could be! I'm using what I have on hand and while it works ok, I don't get the professional looking loaf that I'm looking for. Image courtesy of amazon.com
This is a beginner's guide to sourdough. I purchased this book earlier this year before quarantine started and I could not wait to dig in, you could say that I purchased it at the right time. Your aspiring baker will need sourdough starter if they don't already have any, otherwise they can attempt to make their own and this book explains how to do that. I've made some FANTASTIC sourdoughs - just ask some of my family in friends.
A Dutch oven is KEY to making the perfect loaf at home because it creates that crunchy crust that we all love. I swear by mine - which is a Lodge - but you can spend more and get the Le Creuset Dutch oven if you're so inclined. Honestly, I don't think there's much difference. Image courtesy of amazon.com
When it comes to bread baking, accurately measuring ingredients is key. While you can get a great loaf without a scale, your bread baker may notice an improvement. I highly recommend a digital one so you can get accurate measurements, and one that has different units (grams, ounces). Image courtesy of amazon.com
For the adventurous cook
Woks come in many shapes and sizes and price points. I've linked to one of the higher end and supposedly best woks (recommended by my Asian stepmom and the one that I have). Woks are great for a variety of cooking methods, from frying to boiling. Image courtesy of amazon.com
Pasta is so much easier than it looks to make, it just requires time and sometimes an extra set of hands. I dove into pasta making this summer and fall, and a pasta maker made all of the difference when it came to rolling out the dough. If your cook has a KitchenAid stand mixer, you can buy them the attachment, or for something a bit less manual, give the Phillips pasta maker a try. Image courtesy of amazon.com.
For the pie baker
This was a LIFE-CHANGING gift that I received from my aunt. Does the baker in your family every complain that they can't roll out a perfectly round pie crust? Buy them this and I guarantee they will thank you! Basically what you do is place a piece of dough in the center, close it up, and roll out your dough. It's amazing. Image courtesy of amazon.com
It's such a simple tool but makes a world of difference! When making dough, I used to have to cut the butter or Crisco with two knives before upgrading to a pastry cutter. Such a useful (and cheap) tool that your pie baker will love. Image courtesy of amazon.com
For the one that has everything
A staple in most Italian kitchens, a mezzaluna (halfmoon) is a knife with two handles that rocks back and forth. It's great for chopping really finely. Depending on your budget, you can find ones cheaper or more expensive than this option. Some even have a double blade or can be folded and stored. Image courtesy of amazon.com
If you're willing to splurge, I highly recommend a pizza oven by Ooni. I haven't personally used it but I know many that have and their pizza looks professionally made. The Ooni Fyra Pellet oven is their cheapest option, but they also have gas and multi-fuel models. If they already have one, you could consider an accessory. Image courtesy of crateandbarrel.com
What's better than espresso on the go? Nothing, in my opinion, anyways. I've had a Minipresso for a few years now and I can say with confidence that it is the best portable espresso maker. It does not require any batteries or electricity - all you need is ground coffee, hot water, and a strong hand (ok, not that strong). You can also check out the smaller and more expensive version, the nanopresso, which can be converted (with a separate kit) to make a double shot. Image courtesy of amazon.com
There are many reasons why I love silicone baking sheets, but the number one reasons is that it's eco-friendly! Ditch parchment paper for these and you'll still get the same quality baked goods as you would with parchment paper. Image courtesy of amazon.com
For the cake baker
A revolving cake stand makes decorating cakes a breeze! Cake decorating is no easy task, but a stand like this makes it so much easier to get the perfect coating of frosting. This particular set comes with a few extras to make your baker's life that much easier, and I'm sure they will bake you a SPECTACULAR cake as a thank you. Image courtesy of amazon.com
Great for cakes or cupcakes, a decorating set will help the baker in your life perfect their skills. Wilton is a pretty popular brand when it comes to cakes, but I have a set from Ateco. You can choose a more basic set as well. Image courtesy of amazon.com
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