These gifts will bring a smile, and will make the holiday sweeter for the baker on your list!
Seasons Greetings, friends! It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving 2020 is now a memory. I hope you all were able to celebrate or at least dine accordingly. Ours was quieter than usual with just two people and three little dogs begging under the table, but it was meaningful all the same.
December is almost here, and I’m so ready for all things Christmas! In the spirit of the giving season, I decided to put together a gift guide of some of my favorite things. There’s a mix of practical items, tools, and some fun things, too! Or, if you’re more into making homemade gifts this year, be sure to check out my Holiday Flipbook embedded at the end of this post. It has lots of my holiday recipes from seasons past all in one place (with clickable links!)
Please note that this post is not sponsored, but contains affiliate links. I only recommend products and services that I’ve had the chance to use personally, or that I think will be beneficial to the readers of Sprinkle Bakes. Now – on to the shopping!
Practical and Heirloom-Worthy Gifts
These useful gifts will be a kitchen ally for years to come.
1. Mixing Bowls: There’s a reason why big-name baking brands such as Food52 and King Arthur Baking love Mason Cash bowls. They’re sturdy but not too heavy, easy to grip thanks to the signature pattern on the outside of the bowl, and have a wide opening like the mixing bowls from days of yore. That is to say, your biscuit-making grandmother would love this bowl. I have the 11.75-inch in turquoise, but white goes with everything.
Mason Cash Mixing Bowl Mason Cash Mixing Bowl Original White
2. Bundt Pans: I have so many of these, but there’s always room for one more! Nordic Ware pans are sturdy, durable, and have a nonstick finish that promotes clean removal. There are so many artful designs to choose from, but this year I’d love to add Brilliance to my own collection, and you can never go wrong with the classic Anniversary Bundt ® pan.
Nordic Ware Brilliance Bundt Pan
Nordic Ware Anniversary Bundt ® Pan
3. Cast Iron Skillet: The cast iron skillet I use for everything –cornbread, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, home fries, hash, and skillet cookies, to name a few – is a 10-inch Lodge for under $25 at most retailers (and less than $15 at the following link!). Don’t be fooled by fancy brands with big price tags. I’ve tried them and I speak from some considerable experience as a cast iron user and southerner, this one is hard-working and, in my opinion, the gold standard for cast iron cooking.
Lodge 10.25-inch Preseasoned Cast Iron Skillet
4. Pie Dish: Every studied pie maker can instantly recognize the beautiful ruffled profile of an Emile Henry pie dish. It’s made from Burgundian clay which heats evenly for uniform baking and browning. It’s crafted in France, and the design hasn’t changed since the early 1900’s. The ruffled edge makes it easy for beginner bakers to get a pretty ruffled pie edge with very little work. These dishes have a real heirloom quality and with a little care, could possibly be handed down for generations.
Emile Henry Pie Dish
5. Stand Mixer: This is the gift for the baker who doesn’t have everything. It’s an investment, but it’s a total workhorse and the most important tool I have in the kitchen (aside from my own hands). If I didn’t already have a red KitchenAid mixer, I’d get this limited edition Queen Of Hearts version. It is beautiful, oh-so-shiny, and currently a very good deal.
100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts 5 qt. KitchenAid Stand Mixer
6. Rolling pin: Sturdy rolling pins cut and turned from a single piece of wood tend to be a favorite of mine. The beauty is in the simplicity, and this olive wood pin with tapered handles is polished to a fine shine. It’s easy to control, a pleasure to use and a beauty to display.
Olivewood Tapered Rolling Pin
At Your Service! Gifts
If you’re ever stumped for a gift, remember that a serving tray is one-size-fits-all.
1. Bake boxes: These sweet-looking pine boxes are perfect for transporting pies, cookies – and more! They’re such a useful gifts, and even better when paired with a pretty spatula or tea towel.
Anthropologie Bake and Take Boxes
2. Serving tray: This is a handy gift for anyone, but the cake baker in your life will LOVE the cute graphic of an elephant balancing a tiered chocolate cake on its tusks.
Misha Blaise Chocolate Fondant Wooden Tray
3. Large platter: Platters give cookies a place to call home, and this one is sizeable! The sentiment struck me most, and I love the cheerful lettering.
The Best Things In Life Are Shared Platter
4. Cutting Board: This dual-sided cutting board is a kitchen tool on one side, and a work of art on the other. You’ll want to hang it on your wall when it’s not in use!
Burcu Kokmazyurek Botanical Garden Rectangular Cutting Board
5. Acrylic Rectangular Tray: This is a good-sized handled tray that just calls out for cake service! It’s adorably printed pink with a rainbow sprinkle motif.
Pink With a Chance of Sprinkles Tray
6. Compote: Compote dishes are the unsung heroes of dessert service. They’re multipurpose and can hold much more than their namesake. Fill this one with whipped cream, or pile it high with colorful macarons. This white footed dish goes with everything and looks so chic.
La Patisserie Compote Dish
7. Cake Stand: I can’t say it any better than the seller’s description: “Gorgeous honed white marble floats effortlessly on a sculptural gilded base creating elegant stacked serving for parties, brunch and definitely holidays. Amazing housewarming/host gifts, too.” I will add that I love its modern yet classic look, and it will seat a 9-inch cake.
Essex Small Marble Server
Cute and Fun Finds!
I’ll have one of each, please.
1. Shower Gel: Philosophy consistently puts out the most enticing sweet-smelling scents, and I want to try them all! This is more than just shower gel. It’s a three-in-one shampoo, bubble bath, and shower gel combined!
Philosophy Chocolate Macaroon Three-in-One Shower Gel, 32 oz.
2. Baker’s tee: This adorable shirt leaves nothing more to say. I yam what I yam.
Bakers Gonna Bake T-Shirt
3. Recipe box: This is a gift that delights and endures. It’s small enough to not crowd your cupboards, but too pretty to keep hidden! Start the recipient off right with a hand-written recipe of your own, which will add sentimental value to the gift.
Jot and Mark Recipe Tin for Cards
Floral Recipe Cards
4. Dessert-themed cosmetics: With eyeshadow color names like cereal milk, red hots, and cinnamon-sugar, how can you resist? All the colors are sweet-smelling or fragranced with cinnamon.
Too Faced Cinnamon Bear Makeup Set5. Cute mug: This is a sweet gift to let your favorite baker know how much you care. Consider filling it with a bag of rainbow sprinkles for good measure (wink).
You Take the Cake Mug
6. Oven mitt set: You can never go wrong giving a baker a set of oven mitts – bonus points if it’s SUPER cute like this Kate Spade trio.
Kate Spade Christmas Kiss Oven Mitt, Towel, and Potholder Set
7. Lunch tote: This cool carrier has a subtly lettered message of great importance. Even though I work from home, this carrier is the perfect size for packing snacks for two for a Sunday drive.
Kate Spade Save Room For Dessert Lunch Tote
Honorable mention – this SUPER sweet sugar molecule necklace!
Molecular Motifs Sugar Molecule Necklace
Small Gifts and Stocking Stuffers
Evergreen favorites for year-round use!
1. Bench scraper: I don’t think I’ve published a gift round-up that was without this tool. I use it for so many tasks – cutting dough, transferring cakes to cake stands, smoothing buttercream – I find new uses for it all the time! It may not look exciting, but your favorite baker will thank you.
Stainless Steel Pastry Scraper
2. Cookie Stamps: These are so much fun! I’ve used them for a couple of years now (see THIS recipe!). They make the most uniform stamped ‘thumbprint’ cookies I’ve ever seen! They are plastic, but firm and sturdy and will last a long time with proper care.
Williams-Sonoma Thumbprint Cookie Stamps, Set of 3
3. Cookie Scoop: I’ve linked this cookie scoop so many times in previous blog posts, I’ve lost count. It’s my go-to for scooping cookie dough, but I also use it to make big, beautiful chocolate truffles (and bourbon balls!).
Wilton Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop, Silver
4. Food Color: Giving a baker a box of pretty food colors is like giving an artist a new set of paints. I love these vibrant Chefmaster colors, and have a supply of my own. If your baker is a purist, then they also make a set of natural food colors.
Chefmaster Fade Resistant Food Coloring, Set of 12
5. Kitchen soaps: I once was an avid fan of Williams-Sonoma HUGE bars of kitchen soap back in the 90’s. I was young and without a decent kitchen then, but I still loved the scent of their Kitchen Lemon bar. It made my dismal apartment kitchen feel fancy. This Meyer Lemon scented set is a recent favorite that reminds me so much of that beloved bar. Lasts as long time!
Williams Sonoma Meyer Lemon Hand Soap and Dish Soap, Classic 3 Piece Set
6. Dish towels: I’m fairly certain that no one needs any help picking out pretty dish towels. They are at every home goods store in plentiful supply. But I’m linking this one because I’m obsessed with Meyer lemons and this makes a nice pairing with the previously linked Meyer lemon soap caddy.
Meyer Lemon Towels, Set of 2
7. Pie edge molds: Okay, this is a fun one. This tool instantly transforms ordinary pie dough into beautifully sculpted edging for your pies. I have a set very similar to this one, and I find myself using it for all my pies!
Silicone Perfect Pie Crust Mold
8. Pastry brush: Where would bakers be without the humble pastry brush? I’ll tell you where – standing in front of some sad, pale pastries! Ha! Look for natural boar’s hair bristle brushes like this one, when you’re buying. The bristles are soft enough to glide over cakes and pastries without tearing or pocking their surfaces.
Williams-Sonoma Pastry Brush
I’ve always said homemade gifts are the best gifts (it’s true) so I’ve compiled a flipbook of my favorite holiday recipes! Who doesn’t love getting a batch of cookies? I mean, it’s Santa’s favorite gift, which is really saying something.
Have a look! (Click fullscreen in the center for easiest viewing.) And if you see something you like, click the link symbol on the picture to go to the recipe. Enjoy! -xo, h
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link Gifts For The Baker On Your List! By Heather Baird Published: Sunday, November 29, 2020Sunday, November 29, 2020Gifts for the Baker on Your List! LEGGI TUTTO