Happy holidays everyone! One look at my TikTok or Instagram could tell you I am already very into the holiday spirit over here. My Christmas tree has admittedly been up since early November, and I’ve already got a small gift pile underneath. You may be in a similar boat, or maybe you’re having some trouble finding the perfect gift. If you have someone who likes to cook or bake in your life, I have plenty of gift options at varying price points to give you some ideas for this holiday season.

Gifts for cooks & bakers over $50:

Cooking or baking classes: Experience gifts like cooking or baking classes are the best gifts for the person that has everything. There’s been an influx of virtual cooking classes, too, so if your gift recipient is still uncomfortable with in-person gatherings, you have that virtual option in your pocket. If you’re local to the Seattle area, my favorite places for cooking classes are Book Larder & The Pantry!
Subscription boxes: If you want to give someone a gift that keeps on giving, consider a food-related subscription box. If they offer them locally in your recipient’s area, consider a CSA box to support your local farmers. Other great options include this monthly tea subscription box, a gourmet cheese club box, or even this fun Jeni’s ice cream pint club subscription! Something to think about: if you recipient is someone who frequently travels and is away from home a lot, I’d avoid a subscription box.
Enamel dutch oven: Dutch ovens are one of the most handy, versatile cookware items for a baker or cook. Safe for both oven and stovetop, a good dutch oven can be helpful for making soups, stews, breads, and tons more. We use our Le Creuset dutch oven (4.5 qt) the most for soups & stews, bread baking, and braising meat. Many cooks that swear by the Staub and Lodge brands, too, with Lodge being the least expensive of the three. Unsure of what color to choose? Think about your recipient’s favorite color or their kitchen color palette. If you’re still unsure, neutral colors are always a safe bet.

Gifts for cooks & bakers under $50:

Cookbook: You can rarely go wrong with a cookbook. If you know your recipient is into a specific type of cooking - French pastry or Ethiopian cuisine, perhaps? - there will always be a cookbook for them. If your recipient has a favorite celebrity chef, you may even be able to make it extra special by scoring a signed copy of a cookbook. Check out Book Larder’s signed books or even Barnes & Noble.
Recipe cutting boards or tea towels: These can be so special & offer a lovely personal touch for a friend or loved one. I was gifted two of these for my birthday one year - one with my mother’s manicotti recipe & the other with a my grandmother’s Easter bread, and both in their own handwriting. It’s a lovely way to honor a loved one that’s passed on, or maybe to share your own well-loved family recipe with a child or grandchild in your life. I recommend going to Etsy to find an artisan seller that has the style of board or towel you’d like.
“Make your own” dish/dessert kits: Uncommon Goods has a ton of options for cooking and baking kits that come with the tools and supplies you needs to make something delicious. A few of my favorites are the mushroom ravioli kit, the homemade molten chocolate cake kit, and a French Madeleine baking kit. You could also DIY something like this if you’re crafty enough, but for those of us short on creativity & time, these pre-made kits are the way to go.

Cooking & baking stocking stuffers for $15 or less:

Food Huggers: Food Huggers are silicone and keep your food fresh longer with a tight seal and are a great alternative to plastic wrap. When I only need half an onion, lemon, or cucumber for a recipe, I usually place the other half cut-side down into my Food Hugger and stick it in my fridge until I’m ready to use it. I’ve had my set for 8+ years now, and they’re still going strong. They come in a variety of colors, but I’m currently loving this blue 5-pack.
Bars of chocolate: It feels like a missed opportunity if a Christmas stocking doesn’t have chocolate or candy inside. Every year, I include at least one bar of chocolate in my stocking stuffers for everyone. I am partial to Theo, since they are local to Seattle, but some of my other favorites are Tony’s Chocolonely, and Endangered Species. Both Tony’s & Endangered Species support great causes, too.
Unique spices or specialty salts: It’s always a must to season your food, so why not help out your aspiring cook friend by up-leveling their spice and salt game? For this, I love Burlap & Barrel. They have a lot of variety & spices I’d never be able to find at American grocery stores. Check out this Iru to help your home cook explore umami flavors, or this Nyanza Vanilla Extract Kit for your favorite home baker.
Kitchen timer: Most people use Alexa or Siri to set timers for them, but where’s the fun in that? If you want to include something kitschy in their stocking, opt for one of these cute, fun, and practical kitchen timers. I am obsessed with this stand mixer timer, but there are other cute options like this digital timer in a variety of fun colors, and this adorable fox.

Bonus content: Cooking & baking gifts I avoid

Alcohol: Unless a host asked me to bring wine or alcohol for a dinner I was attending, I tend to avoid buying alcohol for others now. You never know if someone is silently sober, struggling with addiction, or pregnant. Because it tends to be an exclusionary gift, I stay on the safe side & take it off my shopping list.
Diet-focused cookbooks: I love and collect cookbooks, but you won’t find diet-focused cookbooks on my shelves. Disordered eating is a lot more common than people realize, and for me (and many others in the world), food restriction is a huge trigger. Avoid cookbooks rooted in diet industry nonsense like Whole 30, Weight Watchers, & Keto. They’re all (quite frankly) bullshit & could really insult or trigger your gift recipient. I do not consider cookbooks that cater to lifestyles/practices like halal, kosher, and vegetarianism or to food allergies (e.g. gluten or dairy) in the “diet-focused” category. I think getting someone a cookbook that is specifically designed for these things in mind is actually a very thoughtful and practical gift.
Uni-taskers: Uni-taskers are kitchen gadgets that are designed for one very specific thing. They often just take up space and valuable storage. I like to let people decide what uni-taskers they want in their kitchen, instead of just bestowing upon them something cumbersome like this electric quesadilla maker… seriously, why does this even exist?

I hope this gift guide has helped you. If you have any other recommendations for great gifts (or even gifts to avoid), let me know in the comments. Happy shopping!