The 35 Best Gifts for Bakers of 2023

Best Overall

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

4.8

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No baker’s kitchen is complete without a high-quality stand mixer, and one of the best ones out there is the KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer. The 10-speed mixer comes in a wide variety of colors and includes a flat beater, dough hook, wire whip, and pour shield. Plus, the 5-quart stainless steel mixing bowl is large enough to accommodate even the biggest batches of cookies.

Price at time of publish: $460

Capacity: 5 quarts | Power: 325 Watts | Size: 8.7 x 13.9 x 14.1 inches | What's Included: Stainless steel bowl, coated flat beater, coated dough hook, six-wire whip, pouring shield

Best Pie Pan

Emile Henry French Ceramic Ruffled Pie Dish

4.8

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Not only is this pie pan gorgeous, but it's also perfect for baking and serving almost any pie you might want. It stood up to our extensive at-home testing and emerged the best overall pick. Both a pecan pie and a a double crust wild blueberry pie baked evenly and cut cleanly. Its uses go beyond pies, too. It would work well for quiches and casseroles. This is a baking dish that your recipient will be excited to use—and perhaps even bake you a little something in return.

Price at time of publish: $55

Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 2 inches | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best Vanilla Extract

Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, 8oz

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Vanilla extract is essential to the majority of the recipes in a baker's repertoire, so it's sure to be a useful gift to anyone who loves baking, whether seriously or just for fun. Not only is this a useful gift, but it's a little bit of a treat for bakers who don't always get to stock their pantry with a top-shelf pure vanilla extract. Nielsen-Massey creates consistently high-quality vanilla extracts and is trusted by baking professionals in bakeries and restaurants everywhere.

The pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract is the gold standard for vanilla extracts and provides a beautiful warm and floral flavor in both hot and cold pastry applications. The bottle comes in a variety of sizes, from the stocking-stuffer 2-ounce size all the way up to a generous 1-gallon size fit for someone opening their first bakery. But a 4, 8, or 32-ounce bottle of the good stuff is a generous gift that all bakers will appreciate.

Price at time of publish: $35/8-ounce bottle

Bean Type: Madagascar Bourbon | Extract Type: Pure extract | Sizes Available: 2, 4, 8, 32, 128-ounce

Best Decorating Kit

Wilton 46-Piece Deluxe Cake Decorating Set

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To create beautiful cupcakes, cookies, and cakes, bakers need a decorating kit, such as the Wilton 46-Piece Deluxe Cake Decorating Set. This kit includes an assortment of round, star, petal, leaf, and specialty tips, as well as couplers, piping bags, a spatula, and carrying case. It’s an unbeatable comprehensive decorating set for up-and-coming bakers.

Price at time of publish: $42

Number of Pieces: 46  | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Everything except disposable piping bags

Best Mini Bread Machine

Zojirushi BB-HAC10 Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker

4.6

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For bakers who want to try their hand at bread making but live in a small space, look no further than the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker. This machine is compact—it can fit in most standard cabinets—but it still produces high-quality bread that can compete with that of its full-sized counterparts.

This has all the features you would need from a top-notch bread machine, including a viewing window, an LCD control panel, and a 13-hour programmable delay timer. Its settings include soft bread, French bread, bread dough, cookie dough, cake, jam, quick baking (which produces a loaf in 2 hours), and more. You can also set the crust to be regular or light.

Price at time of publish: $243

Dimensions: 8.5 x 12.25 x 11.25 inches | Power: 120 volts | Warranty: 1 year

Best Proofing Basket

WexfordTreasures Bread Proofing Basket

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If you’re shopping for a bread-baking enthusiast, you can’t go wrong getting them a beautiful handmade bread proofing basket. This 9-inch basket is made from cotton rope with a simple wooden bead as an accent, and it’s ideal for proofing round loaves of bread, as it will create a beautiful swirled pattern on the crust. Plus, you can feel good about supporting a local artist with your purchase.

Price at time of publish: $30

Size: 9 inches | Material: Cotton | Cleaning: Hand wash only

Best Kitchen Scale

Escali Primo Digital Food Scale

4.8

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“A scale is an important kitchen tool. Converting your recipes to weight measurements yields the most accurate baking results,” says Domenica Lazo, the assistant application chef at Barry Callebaut—and that's right. Some baking recipes use weight-based measurements instead of volume, which is why a kitchen food scale is a must-have for every baker’s kitchen. This option from Escali Primo is highly rated and can measure ingredient weight in ounces, pounds, and grams.

Our tester loved the lightweight, compact size of this scale; it didn’t take up much counter space during testing and was easily stored upright beside her cutting boards when finished. She also said it was very easy to use and the provided instruction guide was clearly written. While making a pecan pie, she tested multiple ingredients using the special tare function for varied items, such as sugar and flour, in the same bowl. All tests were precise and accurate.

The only minor issues are absence of milliliter measurement and the automatic shutoff does not kick in until the scale has been inactive for over four minutes.

Price at time of publish: $27

Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 1.2 inches | Weight Limit: 11 pounds | Material: Plastic

Best Rolling Pin

Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin with Removable Rings

4.2

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Instead of guessing how thin pie crusts and cookie dough should be rolled, bakers can use this adjustable rolling pin, which comes with four removable discs that serve as thickness guides. With these rings, you can easily roll dough out to 1/16, 1/6, 1/4, and 3/8 inches. In testing, those measurements came in handy when making cookies, but it was puzzling that 1/6-inch was included, but 1/8-inch was not. Still, it was easy to use a thicker measure and roll more with the rings removed. 

Price at time of publish: $15

Material: Beech Wood | Dimensions: 17.13 inches x 2.72 inches x 2.72 inches | Cleaning: Hand wash only

Best Apron

Hedley & Bennett H&B x Rifle Paper Co. - Herb Garden Apron

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Even if your baker has a few aprons already, they can always use another one — especially if it’s one as nice as this one from Hedley & Bennet. The thicker cotton and linen blend helps protect you from hot pots and liquids, and provides a better layer of protection for your clothes. The straps are also made from a thicker material, ensuring they’ll stay in place while you’re working. The neck strap can be adjusted to perfectly fit your frame, there are several front pockets and a fabric hook for either a side towel or tongs.

Hedley & Bennet is one of our favorite female-owned kitchen wear brands, and we’re especially excited about the collaboration with Rifle Paper Company. But they’ve also worked with NASA, Sesame Street, and the National Parks to create some other exciting designs that may fit your aesthetic. Aprons are available in the “Essential” style, a smaller cut for kids, and a crossback design for those who don’t like aprons that tie around the waist.

Price at time of publish: $84

Material: 80% cotton, 20% linen | Overall Size: 20 x 30 inches | Features: Adjustable neck strap, front pockets, extra-long ties, towel/tongs hook | Machine Washable: Yes

Best Bundt Pan

Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Nonstick Heritage Bundt Pan

5

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Bundt pans are an essential tool for any baker, and this Heritage Bundt Pan from Nordic Ware stands out from the rest thanks to its unique swirled design, as well as its performance, which we tested. The pan is made from cast aluminum for superior baking performance, and its nonstick interior ensures cakes always come out in one piece. Our at-home tester gave it high marks for everything from its design and durability to its nonstick properties. Plus, Nordic Ware pans are made in the U.S., and they come with a lifetime warranty.

Price at time of publish: $38

Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 10.13 x 10.13 x 3.75 inches | Dishwasher Safe: No

Best Cookie Press

Oxo Good Grips Cookie Press Set

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Bakers can quickly make a variety of fun holiday cookies with the Oxo Good Grips Cookie Press. The press comes with 12 stainless steel discs that allow you to push out cookies in the shape of daisies, snowflakes, shells, hearts, and more.

Price at time of publish: $34

Material: Plastic | Quantity: 12 cookie disk patterns | Dishwasher Safe: No | Shapes Included: Daisy, flower, sunflower, fleur-de-lis, butterfly, bear, shell, leaf, heart, snowflake, tree, wreath

Best Cooling Rack

Wilton Perfect Results 3-Tier Cooling Rack

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Anyone who bakes large batches of desserts knows it can be tricky to find space to cool dozens of cookies, cupcakes, or other creations at once. The Wilton Perfect Results 3-Tier Cooling Rack is an ideal solution for any baker who’s working with limited space, as the racks can either be used separately or stacked on top of each other. Each one measures 16 x 10 inches, and when they’re not in use, their legs fold flat for more compact storage.

Price at time of publish: $28

Materials: Steel with ceramic nonstick coating | Dimensions: 15.9 inches x 9.9 inches per tier | Oven Safe: No

Best Measuring Cups

U-Taste 12-Piece Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

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Sometimes functional gifts end up being the most highly appreciated, and while this 12-piece measuring cup and spoon set might not be glamorous, it’s sure to be a welcome addition to any baker’s kitchen. The rust-resistant stainless steel measuring utensils feature color-coded silicone handles that allow you to quickly grab the one you need, and the set includes seven measuring cups—1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup—as well as five measuring spoons—1/4, 1/2, and 1 teaspoon; and 1/2 and 1 tablespoon.

Price at time of publish: $28

Material: Stainless steel | Number of Pieces: 12 | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best Baking Cups

AmazonBasics Reusable Silicone Baking Cups, Pack of 12

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These fun, colorful reusable baking cups are perfect for any cupcake enthusiast. They’re made from food-grade silicone, and they can be used in place of regular cupcake liners, as they’ll effortlessly release cupcakes and muffins—no grease or spray needed.

Price at time of publish: $5

Material: Silicone | Number of pieces: 12

Best Cookbook

BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts

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"BraveTart" is an amazing baking-focused cookbook that belongs in every baker’s library. This bestselling cookbook is written by Stella Parks, and it took home the 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Award thanks to its wonderful recipes for classic American desserts. It includes carefully tested recipes for treats such as blueberry muffins, vanilla wafers, and one-bowl devil’s food cake. It gets glowing reviews from bakers with all experience levels. 

Price at time of publish: $35

Recipes: More than 200 | Pages: 400 | Published: August 2017

Best for Kids

Baketivity Cake Pops Baking Kit

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Looking for something fun and educational to get kids off the screen and working with their hands? Baketivity's Cake Pop Baking Kit is the solution. Sold by the individual box or as part of a subscription, each kit comes with pre-measured, individually packed, vacuum-sealed dry ingredients. All you need to add is a few wet ingredients and some imagination. The kits also come with easy-to-follow illustrated instructions and optional instructional videos.

Beyond the baking of their own cake pops, Baketivity also provides an educational mini science project with each kit. This kit includes a lesson about what a water molecule looks like and then provides instructions about labeling the cake pops with hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) to connect and make their own H2O model. Baking their own treats and engaging in some science makes for a mostly mess-free, action-packed afternoon that may inspire more adventures in the kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $29.99

Makes: 10-12 cake pops | Includes: Step-by-step recipe book, child-friendly activity book, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, vanilla sugar, chocolate frosting, cake pop sticks, dark melting chocolate, sprinkles

Best Baking Spices Set

Burlap and Barrel Baking Collection - Baker's Half Dozen

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This set of spices from Burlap and Barrel is tailored specifically to baking, and includes six essential baker's spices. Royal Cinnamon, Wild Mesquite, Morogoro Cacao, Cloud Forest Cardamom, Stone Nutmeg, and Buffalo Ginger can be used for nearly every kind of baking project, from cakes and cookies to custards, pies, ice cream, and doughs. What sets these spices apart is how fragrant and powerful they are in comparison to just about any other spice you may have experienced. Sustainably and ethically produced spices are the foundation of Burlap and Barrel's business model, so you know you're not only getting an extraordinary product, but the producers of the spices are getting fairly compensated in exchange.

If you're feeling especially generous, a larger "Baker's Dozen" set of spices is also available, which contains (you guessed it) 13 spices in total. In the larger set, you'll find gems like Desert Hibiscus, Pemba Cloves, and Sweet Allspice to help build out a complete baker's collection. It also includes a Nyanza Vanilla Extract Kit, which contains 10 grams of chopped Tanzanian vanilla bean pods. You add 100 mL of your favorite spirit to create a custom artisan-quality pure vanilla extract.

This set of spices is ideal for serious bakers and professionals who love to explore new flavors and are interested in creating the highest quality baked goods. Burlap and Barrel also offers several other spice sets tailored to a wide variety of cooking interests.

Price at time of publish: $56/half dozen spice set

Includes: 6 full-sized glass jars of baking spices: Royal Cinnamon, Wild Mesquite, Morogoro Cacao, Cloud Forest Cardamom, Stone Nutmeg, and Buffalo Ginger | Additional benefits: Free shipping over $45, replacement satisfaction guarantee | Shelf life: 1 to 2 years from manufacturing date printed on the label

Best Sourdough Bread Baker

Emile Henry French Ceramic No Knead Bread Pot

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Sourdough breadmaking at home has rapidly gained popularity over the last several years, even though most home ovens aren't equipped to bake naturally-leavened loaves quite as well as commercial deck ovens. Professional deck ovens designed with steam injection systems create that impressive signature sourdough rise, which is more difficult to achieve in a home oven. But the use of bread pots and Dutch ovens help give bakers professional sourdough results at home, one loaf at a time.

Emile Henry has an impressive line of lidded bread baking pans for different kinds of loaves, but the round no knead bread pot is our favorite for making sourdough at home. This French ceramic pot is slightly lighter than a clunky cast iron Dutch oven, and is shaped for easier dough handling. Instead of turning your dough into a deeper Dutch oven pot, the Emile Henry bread pot is designed with a slightly shallower bowl and a larger domed lid to trap steam. It's available in several traditional colors that coordinate nicely with most kitchen aesthetics, including white, navy, burgundy, linen, charcoal, and fig.

Price at time of publish: $100

Material: French ceramic | Dimensions: 9 inches diameter x 6-1/4 inches high; 10-1/2 inches wide including handles | Capacity: 2 pound loaf

Best Cookbook Stand

Williams Sonoma Stainless Steel Cookbook Stand

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You don't fully appreciate how useful a cookbook stand can be until you find one that works as hard as this one. The Williams-Sonoma Stainless Steel Cookbook Stand has several features that set it apart from some of the flimsier models that you may have tried in the past. The first thing we like about this stand is that the frame is constructed from stainless steel, with a 5-inch deep base designed to hold even your thickest cookbooks open. Instead of arms that pop out to hold pages open or a simple lip that the book pages rest open on, this stand is fitted with a tempered glass front panel that securely holds the cookbook pages open and flat while also protecting your book from splatters and unexpected puffs of cocoa powder.

The left side of the glass panel extends slightly further than the right side to accommodate a set of helpful conversion charts. It includes dry, liquid, and weight measurement conversions, so you won't have to stop and do an internet search while working on a sensitive project. And when you're ready to clean up, a quick wipe-down and this stand is ready for more. Although it's made of stainless steel and glass, it shouldn't be washed in the dishwasher to avoid damaging the conversion chart printed onto the glass.

Price at time of publish: $40

Overall Dimensions: 14 x 5 x 9.5 inches | Base Material: Stainless steel | Splatter Shield: Yes, glass

Best Sheet Pans

Great Jones Holy Sheet Pan

5

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Most bakers will tell you that you can never have too many half-sheet trays, especially when gearing up for the holiday baking season. But instead of gifting your favorite baker an old-school cookie sheet or an industrial aluminized steel sheet pan, consider splurging on an attractive and colorful half-sheet pan from Great Jones. Affectionately named the "Holy Sheet," this pan is also made with aluminized steel, so it's just as sturdy as a professional pan. But it's also coated with a colorful nonstick ceramic finish that's useful to bakers and savory cooks alike.

One of our independent testers tried the Holy Sheet pan at home and found that the size of the pan was plenty large enough for baking a sheet pan dinner or a full-sized batch of focaccia without overflowing. She also noted that the sheet pan is only oven-safe up to 450°, which is considerably lower than the 700°+ that non-coated sheet pans can withstand — but still completely reasonable for home oven use.

Great Jones has created a line of cookware and bakeware that taps into the aesthetic of Americana home cooking, with a color palette that's somehow both delightfully retro and incredibly trendy. The Holy Sheet pan is available in four cooking-themed colorways that match the other products Great Jones offers, including raspberry (a deep jammy pink), broccoli (dark leafy green), blueberry (a royal-ish blue), and mustard (the yellow kind, not Dijon).

Price at time of publish: $30

Material: Aluminized steel, ceramic nonstick coating | Dimensions: 18.5 x 13.5 x 2 inches | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended

Best Cutting Board

John Boos Chop-N-Slice Maple Wood Reversible Cutting Board

4.8

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A cutting board might not be the flashiest gift on this list, but it’s probably one of the most useful gifts on this list. And this particular one is attractive enough to be left on the counter and solid enough to last for years with proper care. John Boos is one of the leading names in professional cutting boards, making surfaces that are suitable for restaurant and home kitchens alike. Bakers need a sturdy cutting board for everything from chopping chocolate to slicing doughs and cutting cakes.

This cutting board is made from solid maple wood, which gives it enough weight to anchor it to the counter while you’re working. It’s 15 x 20 inches, giving you a substantial amount of space to work so you can tackle more without having to move everything off the board while you’re prepping. It’s also reversible, so you can use one side for pastry ingredients and the other side for savory ingredients that you might not want to overlap flavors, like garlic and onions.

Price at time of publish: $87

Dimensions: 20 x 15 x 1.25 Inches | Material: Wood, Maple | Weight: 9 Pounds

Best Zester Set

Microplane Artisan Gift Set

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If it seems like your favorite baker has it all already, there’s still a good chance that they don’t have this set of graters. Ideal for zesting citrus, shaving chocolate, filing nutmeg, and grating hard cheeses, this set can help take your baking and cooking to the next level. The set includes four graters with fine, ribbon, coarse, and extra coarse rasps. Each grating plate is made of stainless steel and fitted into a colorful plastic frame with an ergonomic rubber handle. The sets are available in several colors to coordinate with the rest of your cooking equipment, including red, green, yellow, and blue, as well as multi-color sets for more variety. The surgical-grade stainless steel graters are razor-sharp and will last for years to come.

Price at time of publish: $45

Includes: 1 fine grater, 1 coarse grater, 1 extra coarse grater, 1 ribbon grater | Available colors: blue, red, green, yellow, mixed | Dishwasher safe: Yes

Best Spatula Set

OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Silicone Spatula Set

5

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A set of silicone spatulas is essential for every baker. They make the work of scraping cake batter and frosting exponentially easier and are more sanitary than wooden spoons when working with liquid and fat-based ingredients. This set includes three spatulas, a red all-purpose spatula, a smaller light blue spatula that can squeeze into jars and small bowls, and a white spoonula, which mimics a wooden spoon and is helpful when scooping ingredients.

During testing, we found that this set was one of our absolute favorites, with the large red all-purpose spatula quickly becoming our favorite spatula for every cooking and baking project. The spatulas are uniformly covered in silicone, making it safe to rest them on the side of a pot and heat resistant from top to bottom. The heads of the spatulas are rigid enough to support scooping up heavy buttercream and stirring ingredients together, but flexible enough to scrape the inside of a bowl or pot clean.

Price at time of publish: $21 for a 3-piece set

Material: Silicone | Max Heat: 450 degrees | Sizes Included: 10 inches, 12 inches, 12.5 inches | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Best Tree Ornament

Sur La Table Strawberry Shortcake Ornament

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Choosing a piece of kitchen equipment for someone when you don’t know what they’ve already got can be challenging, but you can still get them a baking-inspired gift. Sur La Table offers food, cooking, and baking-themed Christmas tree ornaments that are delightful ways to celebrate with a personal touch. Our favorite is the strawberry shortcake ornament, but there are nearly 100 food-themed ornaments to choose from, all made with the same meticulous craftsmanship as the shortcake. For bakers, we’d also recommend the stand mixer, pop tart, chocolate-dipped strawberry, ice cream cone, apple pie slice, layer cake, gingerbread cookies, lemon bar, and chocolate sandwich cookie ornaments. Note that some of the ornaments are available in stores, but others are only available online.

Price at time of publish: $35

Material: Blown glass | Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 3 inches | Price Range: $10-50

Best Sprinkles

Fancy Sprinkles

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The custom sprinkle collections created by Fancy Sprinkles have so much more going on than your typical grocery store tub of rainbow sprinkles. Each canister has a combination of sprinkle sizes and shapes, and the color palettes are specially designed around dozens of different themes.

And if you want to gift more than a single bottle of sprinkles, Fancy Sprinkles also offers curated kits designed for specific projects, like hot chocolate bombs, cakesicles, and chocolate bark. The sprinkles are also appropriate for cocktails, doughnuts, chocolate work, milkshakes, marshmallows, and more.

Price at time of publish: $10-12 per bottle

Bottle size: 1/2 cup (4 ounces) | Ingredients: Sugar, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, dextrose, maltodextrin, reduced protein whey (milk), corn syrup, tapioca dextrin, calcium stearate, glucose, potato starch, rice flour, soy lecithin, cocoa, carob, natural & artificial flavors, corn starch, carnauba wax, HPMC, beeswax, salt, gum arabic, FD&C artificial colors, mica-based pearlescent pigments, shellac | Allergens: dairy, soy

Best Honey Set

Brightland The Couplet, honey duo

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In keeping with the theme of edible gifts for bakers, there’s just something so special about gifting a nice honey that feels especially precious. This set of two jars of honey is from Brightland, which is already making waves with its high-quality olive oils and vinegars. Named “The Couplet,” the two flavors include California Orange Blossom Honey and Kauai Wildflower Honey. According to Brightland, the honey is “made from bees that forage on wildflowers and exotic botanical sources,” which sounds fantastic for adding some beautiful sweetness to baked goods.

Each of the honeys is raw and unfiltered and comes in 9-ounce recyclable glass jars. The honey itself comes from female-operated apiaries, and Brightland is one of our favorite Asian-American-owned businesses. The honeys can be purchased individually as well as in the set and are also featured in several other Brightland gift sets that include a different variety of products.

Price at time of publish: $42

Includes: two 9-ounce jars | Origin: United States, California & Hawaii | Flavor notes: floral, citrus, tropical

Best Essential Knife Set

Material Kitchen The Trio of Knives

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There comes a time in every baker’s life when it’s worth it to invest in a good set of working knives. If your baker isn’t quite comfortable enough with choosing custom knives individually, it’s totally reasonable to opt for a set of essentials. The “Trio of Knives” from Material Kitchen has exactly what a baker needs, no more and no less. The set includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 4-inch pairing/utility knife, and a manageable 6-inch serrated knife. Each knife is made of Japanese high carbon and stainless steel, with a composite handle that’s available in four different colors.

If you want to splurge, feel free to also pick up the attractive custom knife stand, designed specifically for the Material Kitchen knives, and the knife sharpener to keep your baker slicing through fresh produce, bread, and pastries with ease.

Price at time of publish: $155

Includes: 8-inch chef's knife, 4-inch paring knife, 6-inch serrated knife | Blade Material: Japanese high carbon stainless steel | Sharpening: not included

Best Oven Thermometer

ThermoWorks ChefAlarm

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Every oven is different, and knowing if your oven runs hot or cold can make all the difference when baking. Rise, browning, and texture are all effects of your oven's temperature, so even if you're using a relatively new oven, you may still want to invest in an oven thermometer. The ChefAlarm thermometer from ThermoWorks is one of the most impressive thermometers available. The digital display of this thermometer is large and actually sits outside of your oven and a long probe is tethered to the display that reads temperatures inside the oven. The probe can either be positioned to read the ambient temperature of your oven or put in a dish that you're trying to specifically temp. You can also set the probe in a pot to gauge the temperature of custards, boiling caramel, and temperature-sensitive liquids.

Additionally, this thermometer comes with a timer and alarms that alert you when your project reaches a specific temperature. Multiple alerts can be set at a time for multi-stage projects. The thermometer is also water-resistant incase of slashes.

Price at time of publish: $65

Dimensions: 5.94 x 2.75 x .75 inches | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit | Battery Life: 5,000 hours

Best Dish Towels

Anthropologie Baker Stripe Dish Towels

4.8

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Many bakers tend to keep kitchen towels on hand that are more utilitarian than decorative. But these striped baker's towels from Anthropologie strike the perfect balance between functional and attractive. There's also a good chance that your baker has a pile of worn-out towels that could use replacing every now and then. But on the long list of kitchen tools that many bakers wish for, towels are typically very low. The simplicity of a gift of towels is really what makes them so special. The towels come in a set of four and are offered in several colors. They’re absorbent without being bulky, and look great hung on the front of nearly every oven.

Price at time of publish: $20

Material: Cotton | Dimensions: 28 x 21 inches | Machine Washable: Yes | Count: 4

Best Oven Stone

Unicook Heavy Duty Ceramic Pizza Grilling Stone

4.2

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Bakers that specialize in doughs, whether it be sourdough, pizza, or bagels, can see a dramatic difference in their baked goods when using a deck-style oven. To get a similar effect in a home oven, bakers turn to baking stones (sometimes called pizza or grilling stones) to provide even and instant heat across the surface of their baked goods. The big drawback of most baking stones is that they're often very large and heavy, and if you're only baking bread once or twice a week, it can be a pain moving the stone in and out of your oven. It's okay to leave the stone in your oven, but if you're also baking with sheet pans and pots regularly, you run the risk of getting it dirty with residue on the bottom of your pots and pans, and potentially scratching the stone.

This particular baking stone is on the smaller side and weighs just under 7 pounds, making it much easier to maneuver and store when not in use (just make sure that it's completely cool before trying to handle it). It's ideal for one or two loaves of bread at a time or smaller pizzas. Additionally, it can be used on top of a grill for more even cooking outside as well.

Price at time of publish: $32

Dimensions: 11.8 x 14.9 x 0.6 inches | Material: Cordierite | Weight: 6.6 pounds

Best Cake Turntable

Ateco 615 12-Inch Revolving Aluminum Cake Decorating Stand

5

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If cake decorating supplies are on the list of gifts this year, one of the most helpful cake decorating tools a baker can have is a cake turntable. From stacking a cake to frosting it with buttercream, smoothing out fondant, and decorating with intricate piping, a cake turntable is a necessity for making every quality cake.

This turntable from Ateco is heavier than its plastic counterparts, which helps anchor it to the table, along with the help of a rubber base cover. The plate revolves around the base with the help of stainless steel ball bearings for an ultra-smooth turning motion that makes frosting cakes infinitely easier than moving a cake board by hand. Unlike the heavier-duty cast iron model that Ateco makes, the base doesn't come apart from the plate, which can be a big benefit for many bakers. It costs a little more than some turntables on the market, but it's worth every penny.

Best Baked Gift

Blondery Anniversary Variety Box

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Sometimes, the most gracious gift you can give a baker is to let someone else do the baking. Not only is it nice to sit and enjoy an indulgent treat that you didn’t have to make yourself, but it’s a great way to expand your palette and get new ideas for your own recipes. One of the treats that we’re most excited about right now is the Anniversary Variety Box of blondies by Blondery. The bakery exclusively makes blondies, which are described as the dessert where chocolate chip cookies and brownies meet. Founded in 2016 by Auzerais Bellamy, a Bouchon Alumni, the bakery has recently laid down roots and opened up its very first brick-and-mortar store in Peekskill, New York.

The Anniversary Variety Box includes six blondie flavors, Brooklyn blackout, cinnamon sugar, pecan and salted caramel, red velvet, sweet potato, and birthday cake. There are four pieces of each flavor, for a total of 24 bite-sized blondies. Gift messaging is also available if you're planning on having the blondies shipped to your recipient.

Price at time of publish: $125

Shipping Information: Shipped via FedEx 2-Day or Overnight delivery | Shelf Life: Consume immediately or freeze for longer-term storage | Size: 1 x 1-inch pieces

Best Cake Stand

Mosser Glass Cake Stand

4.9

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If you only have space in your kitchen for one cake stand, make it this one. The Mosser glass cake stand is both iconic in design, and incredibly functional since the style of the stand works well with nearly any cake design. The jadeite green glass stand is a delightfully retro color that coordinates well with vintage kitchenware. The cool green color compliments whites and neutrals, pinks and warm tones, as well as baby blues and cool tones.

For bakers who want to play it safe, the stand is also available in white milk glass, which coordinates with absolutely everything. The stand is also available in an ocean-colored Chelsea Blue, Grey Swirl, pastel pink, and eggplant-colored purple, among others. It’s available in four sizes, starting at six inches, which is perfect for a tiny cake or cupcakes. The 9 and 10-inch cake stands are ideal sizes for home bakers who specialize in smaller cakes, and the 12-inch stand is fitting for bakers venturing into larger specialty cakes and wedding cakes.

There’s a small lip on the edge of the cake plate, which is just large enough to fit a cake board inside of so it’s securely seated. It’s also a plus when you’re using the stand for desserts that don’t have a cake board, so there’s less of a chance of anything rolling or dripping off the side of the plate. Mosser makes a clear glass dome specifically designed for this cake stand, but it’s usually sold separately, or bundled for an additional charge.

Price at time of publish: $44-$97, depending on size

Available Sizes: 6, 9, 10, 12-inch | Height: 5.5, 8, or 9.25 inches, respectively | Material: Color flint glass | Cleaning: Hand wash with warm soapy water

Best tool set for dough

Williams-Sonoma Olivewood Pastry Tools, Set of 4

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Not every baker makes cakes, and there are plenty of gorgeous tools available for people who prefer to work with dough. If your favorite baker is enthusiastic about pies, cookies, and even laminated dough, this 4-piece set of olivewood pastry tools from Williams Sonoma will be a luxurious upgrade to their baking tools collection. The kit comes equipped with a bench scraper, pastry brush, small offset spatula, and fluted pastry cutting wheel. Each of the tools is outfitted with matching sustainably-sourced Mediterranean olivewood handles and stainless steel components. 

The pastry brush is made with traditional boar bristles for efficient flour dusting when used dry, maximum absorption when saturated with syrups, and smooth application of egg washes. The bench scraper is six inches long with a tapered edge to help slice through doughs and scrape wooden tabletops. It also has convenient ½-inch increment markers for portioning and measuring dough without an additional ruler. To preserve the integrity of the wood, it’s best to wash these tools by hand, and occasionally oil the olivewood if it begins to dry out with use.

Price at time of publish: $70

Includes: 4-inch offset spatula, 1-inch pastry brush, fluted pastry cutting wheel, bench scraper | Materials: Sustainably-sourced Mediterranean olivewood, stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: No