Bakers are, by nature, very giving. After all, what’s the fun in eating an entire pie by yourself? If someone you love loves to bake, you have surely benefited from their appreciation of all things flour-, butter-, and sugar-based. So this holiday season, return the favor and give them a gift they will truly appreciate, whether it’s a bread lamp made from real bread, a retro zine dedicated to grains, or the KitchenAid mixer that has been sitting in their shopping cart for months. Ahead, the best gifts for the bakers in your life.
For the baker who always makes a mess
Though Hedley & Bennett has become well known for its beautiful line of masks in recent months, the kitchenwear brand is still making the gorgeous, utilitarian aprons that made it famous (and that any baker will cherish).
For the baker who always whips cream by hand
This highly rated whisk will save your favorite baker the trouble of taking out their hand mixer. Writes one reviewer, “This is the handiest whisk for mixing eggs, combining them with cream, or any other small task.”
For the baker with a million things to do
This modernist timer gets the job done and looks good doing it.
For the baker who’s against racism
For politically active bakers, there’s this attractive shirt from the grassroots organization Bakers Against Racism. Proceeds from the tee are donated to the Innocence Project, which helps people who have been wrongly convicted.
For the baker with a sense of humor
These lamps — which come in roll, croissant, and bâtard form — are made of real bread that has been covered in resin.
For the baker who likes to put their cakes on display
What’s a beautiful cake without a beautiful cake stand? This maple-wood version is attractive but won’t take away from the main attraction: the cake itself.
For the baker who likes to clean as they go
Baking involves a lot of wiping up (so much flour, so little time). That’s why every baker needs a good kitchen towel. This one’s durable, absorbent, and very nice looking.
For the baker who loves the ’90s
Zines forever! Every issue of this print publication from Philly-based Lost Bread Co. deals with a different grain and all the ways you can use it at home.
For the baker who loves the environment
If you know a baker who makes a killer olive-oil cake and cares a lot about climate change, give them this limited-edition olive oil from Brightland. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the nonprofit Slow Factory Foundation in its mission to educate the world about climate change.
For the baker who likes to use the good stuff
Nothing beats baking with real vanilla — but bakers often opt for imitation because the authentic stuff can be pretty pricey. That’s why the gift of vanilla pods is perfect for any baker (as the 3,000+ Amazon reviews can attest).
For the baker who always posts on Instagram
Take a page from the food-stylist playbook and gift a plate that’s practically begging to be piled high with fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies (or cake or pie or muffins).
For the baker who likes to stay organized
These eight airtight containers provide convenient, easy-to-access storage for all the flour, sugar, old-fashioned oats, powdered sugar, and other foundational ingredients every baker needs to keep in stock.
For the baker who wants to own their own bakery
Pastry chef Melissa Weller is something of a celebrity in the New York restaurant scene due to her stints at some of the city’s best, including Per Se, Sadelle’s, and High Street on Hudson. Next month, she’ll share all her secrets in her debut cookbook, A Good Bake.
For the baker who loves crème brûlée
Sure, a baker can get that crackly sugar topping under a broiler, but nothing will give them control and consistency like a professional-grade butane torch.
For the baker who makes pies from scratch
Even a beginning baker should ditch the handled rolling pins for one like this. The tapered ends allow for much more control. Plus, this stone one will stay cool if that first rollout doesn’t go according to plan.
For the baker with a sense of style
Black-owned bakery Justice of the Pies isn’t just about quiches and tarts. It also has a social mission to battle food insecurity in Chicago. Purchasing these very fun earrings helps support that cause.
For the baker who’s a perfectionist
For the baker who’s obsessed with precision, there’s this gorgeous wooden board with embossed rulers for measuring rolled-out dough. A nice lip on the bottom keeps the board from sliding away as you put more elbow grease into it.
For the baker still using plastic measuring cups
There’s nothing wrong with plastic measuring cups per se, but any baker would welcome an upgrade to these gorgeous copper measuring cups with golden handles.
For the baker who doesn’t have it all
Life as a baker almost always begins with a KitchenAid. It’s an investment, to be sure, but also (at least according to this baker) a necessity — which makes it an ideal gift.
For the baker with a flair for the dramatic
Consider gifting a ceramic pie dish from iconic brand Emile Henry, which makes bakeware worthy of your favorite baker’s culinary masterpieces.
For the baker who’s still obsessed with sourdough
For anyone who was into sourdough long before it became a pandemic craze (or for anyone who plans on sticking with their bread-baking obsession post-quarantine), nothing beats this best-selling blade made for etching intricate designs into dough.
For the baker on the go
Few things are as stressful as transporting a pie from point A to point B, but the Piebox does exactly that (in a notably attractive package, no less).
For the baker who always forgets to bring their butter to room temp
A butter keeper means they’ll never have to worry about having room-temperature butter on hand again.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
