Gifts for Bakers

Baking rewards precision more than any other kind of cooking. That is why serious bakers care about scales, heavy pans and real vanilla more than gadgets. They also bake for other people. So a gift that helps them do that well tends to come back to you as cookies.

Under $25 7 ideas

  1. Escali Primo Digital Kitchen Scale

    Weighs in grams and ounces with a tare button, which makes recipes repeatable and means fewer dirty measuring cups. A simple, durable scale bakers have trusted for years.

    Escali

    See it on Amazon

  2. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Multi-Purpose Scraper & Chopper

    A bench scraper divides dough, lifts sticky bread off the counter and cleans up flour in one sweep. The ruler on the edge helps with rolling out to size.

    OXOStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  3. Wilton Angled Spatula, 9 Inch

    An offset spatula keeps knuckles out of the frosting and gives cakes a smooth finish. Once bakers start using one, it goes on every job from brownies to lifting cookies.

    WiltonStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  4. Silpat Premium Non-Stick Silicone Baking Mat, Half Sheet

    The original French silicone mat: nothing sticks, cookies spread evenly, and it replaces endless rolls of parchment. Fits a standard half sheet pan.

    Silpat

    See it on Amazon

  5. Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, 4 oz

    Vanilla is the ingredient that costs enough that bakers ration it. A good bottle makes sugar cookies and custard taste noticeably better.

    Nielsen-MasseyGets used upStocking stuffer

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  6. USA Pan Bakeware Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan, 1 lb

    A heavy, ridged pan that releases banana bread and sandwich loaves cleanly and browns them evenly. Made in Pennsylvania and built to last.

    USA Pan

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  7. Fat Daddio's Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan, 8 x 2 Inch

    Straight, tall sides and light aluminum give level cake layers that do not dome or brown too fast. Buy two so they can bake a layer cake in one go.

    Fat Daddio's

    See it on Amazon

Under $50 10 ideas

  1. Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet, 2 Pack

    The heavy-gauge pans that do not warp in a hot oven and bake cookies evenly. Ask any baker and they will have a story about a pan that buckled.

    Nordic Ware

    See it on Amazon

  2. Nordic Ware Heritage Bundt Pan

    A cast aluminum bundt pan with a swirled design that turns a plain pound cake into a centerpiece. Nordic Ware invented the bundt pan, and their castings release cleanly.

    Nordic WareFor display

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  3. J.K. Adams Maple French Rolling Pin

    A tapered, handle-free pin gives better control over pie crust and cookie dough than the old style with handles. Made of solid maple in Vermont.

    J.K. Adams

    See it on Amazon

  4. Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker

    A deep pot with a skillet lid. Turned upside down, it traps steam for crusty sourdough at home, which is why bread bakers recommend it.

    Lodge

    See it on Amazon

  5. Emile Henry Modern Classics Pie Dish

    French ceramic that bakes an evenly browned bottom crust and looks good enough to serve from. It handles the oven, the freezer and the dishwasher.

    Emile HenryFor display

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  6. OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set

    Nesting bowls with non-slip bases that do not slide when they are whisking with one hand. Light enough to hold while folding batter.

    OXO

    See it on Amazon

  7. Valrhona Pure Cocoa Powder

    Dutch-processed cocoa from a French chocolate house. It gives brownies and chocolate cake a deeper color and flavor than supermarket cocoa.

    ValrhonaGets used up

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  8. Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz

    Recipes ranked by difficulty and time, with clear explanations of what can go wrong. Popular with home bakers who know her from her videos.

    Clarkson PotterBook

    See it on Amazon

  9. BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts by Stella Parks

    Careful, tested recipes for homemade versions of Oreos, Twinkies and classic layer cakes, plus their history. A favorite of bakers who like getting things exactly right.

    W. W. NortonBook

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  10. Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish

    The book that taught a generation of home bakers to make artisan bread and pizza dough. Pairs naturally with the Lodge Combo Cooker.

    Ten Speed PressBook

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Under $100 1 idea

  1. KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Power Hand Mixer KHM512

    For bakers without the counter space for a stand mixer, or a second mixer for small jobs like whipped cream and frosting. Light and easy to clean.

    KitchenAid

    See it on Amazon

$100 and up 2 ideas

  1. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

    The stand mixer home bakers dream of: it kneads bread dough and creams butter while their hands are free, and accepts attachments for pasta and more. It lasts decades.

    KitchenAidFor display

    See it on Amazon

  2. Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor

    Makes pie crust and shortbread in under a minute by cutting cold butter into flour, and handles nuts, breadcrumbs and pastry fillings too. A simple, durable design.

    Cuisinart

    See it on Amazon