Baking, like gift-giving, is an easy way to tell someone how much you care about them without using words. But the person in your life who’s always testing out new recipes and getting creative in the kitchen (all while probably being swept up in a cloud of flour), can be hard to shop for, especially if they already have the latest and greatest baking tools on the market.
That’s why we turned to experts in the field — bakers themselves — to discover the baking tools and accessories that are the bread and butter in their kitchen. From the best whisks according to a pastry chef to the CEO of Magnolia Bakery’s “Bible for baking,” these gifts are sure to have the baker in your life whipping up something tasty.
Baking supplies | Bakeware | Cookbooks | Unique baking gifts | Gift cards | Meet the experts
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Baking supplies to gift
GoodCook Pro Balloon Whisk
Every baker needs a good whisk. This option from GoodCook is a great one to gift to a baker because it's sturdy and affordable.
Pyrex Prepware Measuring Cup
When you’re baking with butter, Janie Deegan, the founder of Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods, recommends using heat-proof measuring cups to melt it. She loves Pyrex measuring cups because they are “heavy and solid.”
Taylor 2.5-Inch Oven Thermometer
In addition to recommending that every home baker use a scale to measure their ingredients, Magnolia Bakery CEO Bobbie Lloyd says that they should also use an oven thermometer. Bakers can stick this stainless steel thermometer in their oven to ensure its cooking at the correct temperature.
“I know from experience, especially being an apartment renter, that in New York City where a lot of people have gas ovens and old buildings, [ovens are] very uneven,” Lloyd says. “You go through all that work to make a recipe and then it burns on the bottom or burns on the top and that’s so disappointing. But if you have a thermometer, then you’re very clear.”
Hotpop Reusable Silicone Macaron Baking Mats
Silicone mats are a great gift for those who like to make everything from French macarons to candy. This set of four mats — two half and two quarter sheets — has a template for piping out macaron batter so each cookie is the same size, though the mats can be used for baking almost anything on them and having an easy cleanup.
Gibot Butane Torch
Who doesn’t love a crispy crème brûlée, roasted marshmallow or meringue? Give the baker in your life the gift of crisp with this butane torch that can reach up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Operation is simple: press the button to light the torch and watch the goodies turn golden brown.
OXO Good Grips 2-Cup Squeeze & Pour Silicone Measuring Cup
A liquid measuring cup is a necessity for baking. This OXO option with a near-perfect average from over 13,000 verified Amazon shoppers is made from silicone so everything from honey to pancake batter will come out easily. It’s also flexible enough to pour by collapsing the sides and making the liquid stream more precise.
SmarTake Parchment Paper Baking Sheets
A baker will sure appreciate this one. SmarTake's parchment paper comes in a back of 200, giving them a good long-term supply of baking sheets to make the perfect baked good.
OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop
Cookie scoops are always a good tool to have around. Not only are they great for dishing out cookies that are equal in size, but they make dishing batter into muffin tins and bundt pans easier, too!
Lodge Scrubbing Pad
If they like to bake in a cast iron, they'll want to make sure all their supplies are nice and clean. This scrubbing pad makes the post-baking cleanup process much easier.
LuminCasa Sourdough Starter Kit
Baking sourdough bread can me a tough task, but this has everything you need to do it. This kit includes a jar, a Danish whisk, scrapers and a manual.
Cook with Color Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoon Set
Measuring cups and spoons are essential baking tools. These copper-handled cups and spoons nest for easy storage. There are multiple color combinations to choose from including copper with black, mint or navy to match the rest of their bakeware.
Silpat Nonstick Silicone Microwave Mat
If the baker you’re shopping for lives sustainably, they likely want to cut down on their use of parchment paper and paper towels. With this nonstick silicone microwave mat, they will simply need to place their day-old treat on the mat, turn on the microwave and enjoy. The mat even conducts heat for optimal cooking, according to the brand.
King Arthur Baking Bench Knife
Silver Moon Bakery co-owner Judith Norrell uses bench knives to scrape off surfaces, cut dough and more. She recommends this bench knife from King Arthur Baking, which features a stainless steel blade and walnut handle.
Matfer Bourgeat Piano Whisk
“The best tools for any sort of even semi-serious home baker to have are things that are sturdy and going to last instead of necessarily the showpiece models of everything,” Galus says.
She recommends buying baking tools from the brand Matfer because it’s a professional-grade brand that home bakers can score from major retailers. Plus, she says, its tools “will last forever.”
Made In Rolling Pin
There’s nothing like a quality rolling pin. This French-style option has tapered ends so they can roll out everything from buttery pie dough to bread with ease, without the fear of eventual rusting from nails and screws like American rolling pins have. Its 100% beechwood material is also effective when it comes to moisture absorption, according to the brand.
ThermoWorks DOT Simple Alarm Thermometer
Digital thermometers are an easy way to tell if a baked good is actually done (and way more precise than inserting a toothpick into cakes and brownies). This easy-to-use probe option allows them to set a target temperature and the thermometer will beep when it hits its doneness. If they're a dedicated bread baker, several shoppers noted how it's helped elevate their carb game over time.
OXO Kitchen Scale
Almost every professional we chatted with had one tip for home bakers: Always weigh your ingredients. Galus says every professional kitchen she has worked in has used this 11-pound kitchen scale that is “indestructible and lasts forever.”
Glass Mixing Bowl 10-Piece Set
If you’re shopping for someone who loves to make chocolate, chocolatier Isabella Knack recommends using glass bowls. “I always recommend glass bowls because then you can put it in the microwave and the glass also adapts to the heat a little bit more,” she says. This set includes 10 bowls, so the baker in your life can use them for every step of the recipe.
KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer
The first investment Deegan made when she started baking was in a KitchenAid hand mixer. With five speeds and a small size, the hand mixer is perfect for home bakers who are just learning their way around the kitchen.
Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia KitchenAid Artisan 10-Speed Stand Mixer
When Deegan received a stand mixer from a friend whose wife had passed from cancer, she says, “It was life-changing for me.” The stand mixer has 11 distinct speeds and is compatible with more than 10 attachments for various baking adventures.
“They’re just the best thing on the planet,” Lloyd says. “Because you can cook hands-free, you can mix hands-free, so that you’re also able to manage timing things and then get other ingredients moving.”
Best bakeware to gift
GoodCook 2-Piece Medium Bread Loaf Pans
We all love a good homemade loaf of bread. With this set, you can bake two! The affordable set includes two steel nonstick bread load pans to make that bread baking process two-times quicker.
Edge Lover’s Brownie Pan
Anyone who has cut into a brownie knows that people have piece preferences — and strong ones. This brownie pan exists for those who love the edge pieces (and only the edge pieces). No one will need to worry about delicious treats sticking to the pan as the exterior features nonstick carbon steel.
Fat Daddio’s Round Cake Pan
Bakeware is one of the most important parts of perfecting your favorite recipe. For baking cakes, Lloyd recommends Fat Daddio’s bakeware because “they’re heavy duty enough that they hold the temperature properly.”
Sweet Heritage Breadwinner Loaf Pan
Baking and breaking bread just got so much easier thanks to this new pan that has a lift on the bottom so you can easily get the bread out. Shop TODAY associate editor Kamari Stewart raves, "This is my favorite bread loaf pan. It cleans so easily and is the perfect size!"
Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers
Since bakers are always cooking those delicious goodies in batches, it’s important to have airtight food storage containers, so everyone can enjoy them for days (or until they’re all gone). Knack loves using airtight containers for her chocolates and says she places them in the fridge or freezer depending on how long she wants to store her confections. They're the perfect practical gift!
Nordic Ware 75th Anniversary Braided Loaf Pan
Nordic Ware is known for its bundt pans and loaf pans that feature intricate designs. This loaf pan has a beautiful braided design that will definitely level up their next banana bread.
Lodge 5-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven
“Baking bread is honestly such a low equipment hobby,” bread expert Reva Castillenti says. “If you have someone who likes baking bread and they don’t have a Dutch oven yet, that’s an excellent gift.”
Her mom gave her a Lodge Dutch oven 20 years ago, and Castillenti still uses it today.
Le Creuset Bread Oven
Le Creuset is a leader in bakeware, and its bread oven is perfect for those who make their own loaves every week. The domed lid allows steam to be trapped for a maximum rise, while the base allows the bread to brown evenly without burning.
Cookbooks to gift
"The Great British Baking Show: A Bake for All Seasons" by Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and the Bakers
If they can’t stop dreaming about getting a Paul Hollywood handshake, then they will appreciate this cookbook with recipes from the judges and bakers from "The Great British Baking Show." The recipes range for all seasons and use seasonal ingredients, so they will always have inspiration for their next showstopper.
“The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook: Recipes and Wisdom from an Obsessive Home Cook,” by Deb Perelman
Lloyd loves home cook Deb Perelman’s cookbooks because her recipes are “written so that you can follow them as a home cook.” She recommends her cookbooks for college students and new cooks and bakers who are looking to learn the basics. This cookbook includes a range of recipes, such as mushroom bourguignon and chocolate hazelnut crepe cake.
“All About Cookies: A Milk Bar Baking Book," by Christina Tosi
Christina Tosi, the mastermind behind Momofuku’s Milk Bar, has a slew of cookbooks, but this one's perfect for the cookie connoisseur in your life. It features recipes for innovative goodies such as marbled chocolate s’more cookies and blueberry-and-corn bars.
“Crazy for Cookies, Brownies, and Bars: Super-Fast, Made-from-Scratch Sweets, Treats, and Desserts” by Dorothy Kern
For a novice baker who wants to get better at making easy desserts, this cookbook by food blogger Dorothy Kern is ideal. It has over 85 “tested-to-perfection” recipes that are broken down into manageable steps that anyone can do, no matter their skill level.
"Desserts Illustrated: The Ultimate Guide to All Things Sweet"
With over 500 recipes to choose from, this new release from Cook's Illustrated has something for every level of baker. One unique thing about this book is that it can teach them how to manipulate different ingredients in a recipe to have a completely different outcome for a recipe, like chewy versus crispy cookies.
"Savory Baking: Recipes for Breakfast, Dinner, and Everything in Between," by Erin Jeanne McDowell
Not all bakes have to cater to a sweet tooth. This published work from food stylist and recipe developer Erin Jeanne McDowell tackles the savory side of baking, tackling everything from pancakes with an Italian twist and jalapeño poppers wrapped in puff pastry to a touching tribute to America’s indigenous tribes in the form of frybread.
“Mother Grains: Recipes for the Grain Revolution,” by Roxana Jullapat
If you’re shopping for a home bread baker who wants to learn more about different types of grains, this book is for them. It’s about “heritage and ancient grains, and how to use them in your everyday kitchen,” Castillenti says. According to her, “The best way to improve the flavor of bread is to actually change the flour you’re putting in it.” (At the moment, she’s loving a wheat variety called Redeemer that’s grown in Pennsylvania.)
"Bread: A Baker’s Book of Techniques and Recipes," by Jeffrey Hamelman
Castillenti also recommends this book for “anyone who wants to learn more about bread.” She equates the cookbook to a “technical manual,” which aligns with its contents — 130 step-by-step recipes to variations of bread.
Unique baking gifts
Baked Goods? I Make Baked Greats! Oven Mitt
Norrell received this oven mitt, but says she doesn’t use it “because it’s so beautiful.” Whether the home baker you’re shopping for wants to admire this oven mitt or use it as they bake, it’ll earn a laugh when they receive it.
Smartake Unbleached Parchment Paper Baking Sheets
Pre-cut parchment paper sheets are a huge time saver for bakers. These round sheets — available in eight sizes — are ideal for cake pans or springform pans where they don’t want anything to stick to the bottom of a pan and can handle temperatures up to 450°F, according to the brand.
Pyrex Kitchen Conversion Chart
For a cute and handy kitchen accessory, consider this conversion chart, which will help them make easy conversions from volume to weight measurements without having to grab their phone to look it up.
Cottage Egg Crate
Egg quality is of utmost importance when it comes to crafting baked goods. This exposed crate will give any home baker the opportunity to show off their speckled, multicolored eggs to anyone peeking in their fridge. As an added bonus, the crate is dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Wood Cookbook Stand
A home cook will love this recipe book stand that helps them stay on track with their recipes and look beautiful on your counter too. Associate editor, Sierra Hoeger loves this stand, " I made my first loaf of bread -and placed the cookbook in this holder that came in handy when looking at next steps and my hands were covered with dough! Plus, it doubles as beautiful decor too, so you can leave it out and display a favorite recipe when it's not in use!"
Heilala Vanilla Bean Paste
Every baker needs a high-quality vanilla in their cupboard and senior editor Jess Bender raves about this one: "Heilala's vanilla bean paste has been a staple in my pantry for a long time due to the concentrated flavor it delivers to any recipe you're adding it to. A little goes a long way as well — one teaspoon equates to about one full vanilla bean!"
Afun Chef Apron
Every baker needs a good apron to keep their clothes flour-free. This one has adjustable back straps, three pockets fitted for cooking tools, portable phones, spices and measuring spoons.
Bread Warming Blanket
If they like making and serving fresh bread, this warming blanket allows them to always have warm loaves and rolls on hand. The blanket has a removable pouch that’s microwave-safe that they heat up, then insert it back into the blanket before wrapping the bread and bringing it to the table.
Juvale Two-Tier Cupcake Carrier
If they are constantly baking for friends birthdays and celebrations, they know the struggle of trying to transport their treats. This carrier will keep everything snug, safe and easy to carry. It holds up to 16 cupcakes and is easy to clean. Editorial assistant Erica Marrison has a similar one and notes, "It’s perfect for carrying cupcakes to birthdays, celebrations, any events with a crowd!"
Burlap & Barrel Baking Collection
Premium spices are a major component of having flavorful goodies. With this set of a "baker's half dozen" jarred spices like royal cinnamon sourced from Vietnam and robust cardamom pods from Guatemala, they will have just about everything they may need for tasty treats all year long.
Best gift cards for bakers
Sur La Table Gift Card
Struggling to find the perfect gift for the home baker you’re shopping for? With this Sur La Table gift card, they can choose from a variety of cooking classes, cookware, baking kits and more.
Williams Sonoma Gift Card
Bakeware gets expensive quickly. When you gift the baker in your life a Williams Sonoma gift card, they can afford the bakeware they have been eying for months.
Le Creuset Gift Card
Everyone loves Le Creuset bakeware, but fears the cost. With a Le Creuset gift card, your favorite baker can finally afford the Le Creuset bakeware they have been eying.
King Arthur Baking Gift Card
Galus recommends a King Arthur Baking gift card for serious home bakers. The brand sells ingredients, including a wide variety of flours. Plus, the brand sells tools that are “a little bit nicer and more specific to a bread baker,” she says.
Our Place Gift Card
Our Place has captured the hearts of home cooks with their Always Pan and Perfect Pot. However, they have recently released a variety of ovenware for home bakers. This gift card is the perfect gift for any baker who loves control over their kitchen.
Meet the experts
- Reva Castillenti is the head baker at JM Bakery in New York City. She specializes in bread baking and teaches a bagel-making class in New York City.
- Janie Deegan is the founder of Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods, a bakery based in New York City. She began baking professionally after becoming sober, using it as a “meditative act of self-care.” Today, her pie-crust cookies are beloved across the city.
- Meg Galus is the executive pastry chef at Good Ambler, a bakery and chocolatier based in Chicago. She has been in the industry for 20 years and fuses her French training and Midwestern background to make sweets that are “approachable and delicious.”
- Isabella Knack is the owner and chocolatier of Dallmann Confections, a family-owned chocolate company based in San Diego. She learned her basic chocolate-making skills from her father who owned a bakery in Austria. After she learned about the potential to create with chocolate, she said it was “love at first sight.”
- Bobbie Lloyd is the CEO and CBO (Chief Baking Officer) of Magnolia Bakery. Other than experimenting with recipes and planning six months ahead, Lloyd is the author of the cookbook, “The Magnolia Bakery Handbook: A Complete Guide for the Home Baker.”
- Judith Norrell is the co-owner of Silver Moon Bakery in New York City. She believes that all bakers should enjoy the moment, and “feel the knife in your hand and feel the peel or the core in your hand.”
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list including the grillmaster, movie lover, music lover, foodie and more.
