We all know someone who loves to bake, and even when it seems like they have everything they need, trust me, there’s always something you can find that they will love. This list of the ultimate gifts for bakers will have you in their good graces in no time.
Whether you need a Christmas gift, birthday gift, anniversary or wedding gift, or something just because, you’ll find it here. There are a variety of price points so you can find the right gift for your favorite baker that fits your budget.
Even if you don’t bake yourself, that’s ok. This list talks about why each item makes a great gift, so you don’t have to try to figure out what it is.
And honestly? We always need another set of measuring cups. Or spoons. One or two sets are never enough when you truly love baking, especially if the new one is an upgrade.
These kitchen tools make great gifts for bakers and will show how much you appreciate those yummy treats they whip up. Even better, they can help make baking an easier process and possibly even have everything taste better.
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Cookie scoops
Every baker needs a set of cookie scoops, and yes, you want three different sizes depending on what you make. Not only do they make perfectly shaped cookies, but it’s easy to scoop chocolate for truffles, fill muffin liners for cupcakes or muffins, shape meatballs with ease, and so much more.
Always look for cookie scoops that have spring releases, which helps release whatever your favorite baker just scooped. You want a durable cookie scoop that will last and one that is comfortable to use, especially for big batches.
This cookie scoop set has the three sizes you need, plus the non-slip rubber grip means that this is comfortable to use no matter how many scoops you have to make. And yes, it's dishwasher safe.
High-quality baking sheets
Baking sheets are a kitchen staple that prove to be versatile. Look for heavy-duty rimmed sheets that won’t warp under high heat and will ensure there are no more unevenly cooked treats.
I love baking sheets that come with a wire rack. The wire rack is great not just for cooling cookies but also when you bake items wher you want air circulating all around them.
I use baking sheets with the rack inside them for chicken tenders, lemon-roasted broccoli, and bacon-roasted Brussels sprouts, just to name a few. This helps crisp them on all sides and means I don’t need to flip them partway through cooking.
I recommend having baking sheets in various sizes to tackle different recipes, whether a small batch of cookies, a big sheet cake, or even sheet-pan dinners. The right-sized sheet on hand makes life so much easier.
Baking pans
Bakers need many types of pans, depending on what they are baking. A fancy bundt pan is always an appreciated gift, but every baker needs the basic pans for cakes, pies, muffins, and bread. These are the pans that I keep in my cupboards.
- 8-inch round cake pans. I use these pans for cakes, rolls, and certain bread recipes. Buy two of these pans to make classic layer cakes.
- 9-inch pie plate. Ceramic pie plates are better for baking pies. Buy a shallow plate for cream pies and a deep dish for fruit pies.
- 9 by 5-inch bread pan. These pans are perfect for most bread recipes, whether your baker makes yeast breads or quick breads or both. I also use them to bake a meatloaf or a pound cake. Opt for high-quality metal pans for better baking.
- 13 by 9-inch baking pan. This is the classic-sized pan for cakes, bar cookies, brownies, casseroles and so much more. I love that it has a lid so you can easily transport what you make or store leftovers for another day in the same pan easily.
- 12 cup muffin pan. Bake muffins, cupcakes, and cookie cups in this pan. And it’s perfect for mini tarts, gratins, and egg cups. The list is endless. Your baker may also love mini-muffin pans or jumbo muffin pans to extend their collection.
Baking Liners
When you bake consistently, cleanup can become a challenge. Your baker knows not to use metal on a non-stick surface, but liners instead of using non-stick spray also helps extend the life of pans.
When you bake a pan and use non-stick spray, the non-stick spray will be on the metal of the pan everywhere, not just where the muffin or bread is. Where it isn’t covered by food, it bakes onto the baking pan and gets nasty over time and is incredibly hard to remove.
The fun thing is that they make precut parchment liners not just for muffin tins now but also for 9 by13-inch pans, cake pans, and more. This is a perfect complement to a new baking pan from the previous section or something to buy that you know they’ll use.
Personally, I’ve gone through well over 1,000 muffin liners in the past year for various things I’ve baked. I am always thrilled to get new ones and restock my collection.
- Standard muffin tin liners. There are so many fun options when it comes to muffin tin liners. While I sometimes use plain brown ones, these rainbow-colored ones are my favorite because I can choose a liner color to go with the item I’m making or the season.
- Mini-muffin liners. Anything mini to me is always a little extra, and these liners have the same vibe. They’re great not just for baked goods but also to hold and display truffles and other small bites.
- Jumbo muffin liners. For jumbo muffins, I love the liners that have the tulip shape. I feel like it helps the muffins bake more evenly, and they just look so much prettier.
- 9 by 13-inch pan liners. These precut liners may be the best invention in a long time. These are great not just for baking but also in an air fryer. Note that I still use traditional parchment paper when I make brownies or another dessert I need to remove from the pan to let it cool so that I can have a lip to use to pull it out.
- 9-inch cake pan liners. These are great for any cakes you make in your 9-inch cake pan. You just need to flip it out after it’s cooled and peel away the liner. These also work in pie pans, where needed.
Mixers
A stand mixer is a game-changer for any baker; it can do the work a handheld mixer can’t. My professional-style KitchenAid mixer is a powerhouse that makes whipping, kneading, and mixing ingredients a breeze, saving time and effort.
I use mine for everything from making pizza dough every week to whipping egg whites to make homemade marshmallow fluff. It’s also a great tool for shredding chicken after you cook it, among other uses.
While the 5-quart size is generally sufficient for most people, if your favorite baker tends to bake larger quantities regularly, consider upgrading to the 7-quart version. Both come in a variety of amazing colors, and there are a ton of fun accessories you can purchase to make it even more versatile.
On my personal wish list is the Ankarsrum mixer. Everyone I know who has one raves about it, but the pricetag is a little higher.
That said, it works even better than a traditional stand mixer. The major difference is that the bowl turns instead of the beaters, and it really makes a difference in the final product.
As soon as my KitchenAid mixer stops working, I will be purchasing this. So far, it’s going on 25 years of hard use in my house and still going strong.
For small tasks, a small electric hand mixer will come in handy. I will admit that I gave mine away years ago, but I have many friends who still use theirs regularly.
This mixer isn't (yet) as common or well-known as KitchenAid, but it works incredibly well. Everyone I know who has used it raves about how much better their baked goods turn out. This is an upgrade worth the cost.
Digital kitchen scale
Bakers know that using a kitchen scale allows for more accurate measurements of ingredients, and many recipes are written in pounds, ounces, and grams for this very reason.
I like how easy this digital scale is to use. You can easily zero out the weights, and it can weigh up to 22 pounds.
In addition, the wide and flat surface means that you can weigh bulkier items without worrying you can’t see the measurement. It also better allows you to place a bowl or pan to hold items like chocolate chips or flour that you don’t want to place directly on the pad.
This scale lets you transition from grams to ounces easily. Its wide surface ensures you can always see the weight, and it's accurate and easy to use.
Silicone baking mats
Silicone baking mats are a baker’s best friend. They provide a non-stick surface that eliminates the need for parchment paper in most cases and ensures even baking.
Plus, they’re eco-friendly and reusable, making them a sustainable choice. I use these mats for baking cookies and pastries and set pies on them to catch drips for an easy clean-up.
They come in a variety of sizes to fit your different baking sheets. I prefer this set because it includes the two most common sizes.
These baking mats are high quality and last. They're easy to clean and come in a set with two sizes for both your traditional baking sheet and a half size sheet.
Quality baking tools
Every baker needs high-quality baking tools to ensure the success of their recipes. I rely on these tools for most of my baking recipes and often find that I have duplicates of some items because I use them so frequently.
- Silicone spatulas stand up to high heat and are used for stirring, mixing and scraping.
- A bench scraper comes in handy for moving food, cutting cookie bars, and helping to ice cakes smooth. This may be the most used tool in my kitchen, as I use it to scrape my counters and cut everything from gnocchi to brownies. The measurements on its side also come in handy.
- Pastry brushes are a baker’s friend from brushing on an egg wash to helping grease an intricate bundt pan. I was originally reluctant to use a silicone version rather than a traditional boar bristle one, but it works just as well and I prefer it now.
- A set of measuring spoons and cups is necessary for almost all recipes to get the correct measurement of ingredients. These magnetic ones are my new favorites because they’re so much easier to keep together and not misplace, and the spoons fit inside small jars better than my old ones.
Pastry bags and piping tips
Piping bags are not just for cake decorators. They are useful to add an extra flourish to many baked goods, like a swirl of whipped cream topping on pastries for an elegant touch, or to fill pasta shells, deviled eggs, or pipe macaroons.
A piping bag and pastry tips are all a baker needs. The variety of tips are perfect to ensure that you have every option you may want for all your different needs.
Rolling pin
A sturdy rolling pin is essential for rolling out dough for pies, cookies, and pastries. There are different types, but I prefer this French rolling pin with tapered ends.
This makes it easy to grip and roll the dough, and it’s a breeze to clean. Your other option is a straight rolling pin with handles.
Some straight rolling pins come with bands that help you roll to a certain height, but they are cumbersome to use and don’t work as well as I want. I tried one years ago and went back to my French rolling pin.
This rolling pin works well for all types of doughs. It's easy to grip and cleans up well. The 15-inch size is a good general option, but if you work with larger baked goods, choose the larger size.
Oven thermometer
An oven thermometer is a small, affordable gift every baker can use to help determine the accuracy of the oven temperature. Just because the temperature on the oven says 350 F, that doesn’t mean that is the actual temperature inside.
I keep this thermometer in the oven for a reliable way to monitor and adjust the temperature. It always amazes me how many ovens are significantly off, and you know that has a large impact on the final product.
Note that you will want to use a different type of thermometer for other uses. I have a meat thermometer to check how close my meat is to being cooked to the temperature I prefer.
I also use a candy thermometer when I make toffee or caramel or other candies. I used to use an analog one in the pot, but I moved to an infrared digital version that I don’t have to worry might fall over and splash anything with hot liquid.
Additional bonus? The digital thermometer doesn’t need to be cleaned after each use. And hardened sugar is a pain to clean.
This thermometer helps to ensure you're baking at the temperature you intend to bake at. It's easy to read and accurate and can live in your oven pretty much all the time.
What are your favorite gifts for bakers?
These essential kitchen tools are perfect for the cook. If you have a friend or family member who is into baking, finding the ideal gifts for bakers that complement their baking passion can be a challenge if you aren’t into baking.
These gifts will help them create even more delicious treats and make their time in the kitchen easier because they have the right tools and shortcuts. Bakers love their gadgets, and for so many of these gifts, they will be thrilled with an upgrade or even a duplicate because it’s something they use so often.
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