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2022 Holiday Gift Guide For Cooks & Bakers

Tested & Perfected Recipes

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It’s that time of year! If you’re wondering what to get for the cooks, bakers, and foodies in your life, I’ve rounded up my favorite cooking gifts, from stocking stuffers to cookbooks to must-have small kitchen appliances. Whether you’re shopping for someone who loves to cook or making a wish list of your own, this holiday gift guide has you covered.

Marco Atlas Pasta Maker + Pasta Cookbook

Making pasta during the holiday season (or any season!) is a fun tradition. The Atlas pasta machine is affordable, easy to use, and doesn’t take up much space. Make the gift complete with a good pasta cookbook, like  Mastering Pasta: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto by Marc Vetri. Buy on Amazon ($89.99) 

 

Digital Subscription to America’s Test Kitchen

Red rectangle with text \"America\'s Test Kitchen.\"America’s Test Kitchen is a trusted resource for well-tested, delicious recipes and expert product reviews. A membership makes a lovely gift for the serious cooks in your life. Send a gift subscription through America’s Test Kitchen (1 year/$45)

Signed & Personalized Once Upon a Chef Cookbook

Cookbooks make wonderful holiday gifts, and if you order one of mine, I’ll send you a personalized bookplate, or sticker you can place inside the book, to make it even more special. To request a bookplate, fill out this form by December 7th, and I’ll get it to you before the holidays. Buy on Amazon ($23.95)

 

 

 

More Cookbooks!

There are so many wonderful new cookbooks out this year, but my favorite might be The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family (27.99) by Bill, Judy, Sarah and Kaitlin Leung of the Woks of Life blog. I met a few members of this lovely family; their story is heartwarming and their recipes are fantastic. Other sure-to-please new releases include Ina Garten’s Go-To Dinners ($20.98), Melissa Clark’s Dinner in One ($24.99) and Rose Levy Beranbaum’s The Cookie Bible ($29.99).

 

 

Classic Le Creuset Dutch Oven

Made from enameled cast iron, Dutch ovens conduct heat beautifully, are ideal for slow-cooking, and can go from stove to oven to table. They come in a variety of vibrant colors that add a little personality to your kitchen—and they last forever, so you can pass them down to the next generation. Buy on Amazon ($399.99)

 

Nordic Ware Heirloom Cookie Stamps

These heavy cast keepsake stamps with wooden handles are used to create beautiful designs in cookies and pastries. Simply press the pattern onto dough balls to make professional-looking baked goods. They come in lots of patterns, from snowflakes to emojis to festive holiday designs. Buy on Amazon ($27.95)

 

 

 

Linzer Cookie Cutters

Bake beautiful Linzer cookies with this cookie cutter set, which includes four holiday-themed interchangeable center cutouts: a tree, a star, a bell and a snowflake. Perfect for gifting or baking cookies for holiday parties. Buy on Amazon ($16.00)

 

 

 

Electric Knife Sharpener

Sharp knives make life in the kitchen so much easier and safer. (Believe it or not, most knife accidents are the result of dull knives that “slip.”) A good electric knife sharpener is the easiest way to keep your knives in tip-top shape. Buy on Amazon ($183.51)

 

 

 

Dinnertime Conversation Cards

Dinner is the perfect time to connect with your family, but it’s not always easy to find something the whole family can talk about together. These fun conversation starters turn dinnertime into family bonding time. Teenagers may roll their eyes when you break these out (at least mine do), but once they get over the hump and answer the first question, they’ll see it’s fun. Buy on Amazon ($20.00)

 

 

Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine

This is the machine I use to make my coffee every morning, and I love it so much that I sometimes take it on vacation with me. It makes barista-grade coffee and espresso at the touch of a button. Buy on Amazon ($153.50)

 

 

 

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

For the serious baker, a professional stand mixer is a coveted kitchen appliance. A good quality mixer is pricey, but it should last forever, so you can consider it an investment. For years I used the 5-quart Artisan model ($349.95), which is plenty big for most home bakers, but I recently upgraded to the bigger 7-quart pro-line model. Buy on Amazon ($599)

 

 

French Crepe Pan

Making traditional French crepes is a fun breakfast activity, and the lucky recipient will feel très français using a traditional de Buyer blue steel crepe pan. It’s as beautiful as it is functional. Buy on Amazon ($34.95)

 

 

 

Bannetone Bread Proofing Basket + Bread Cookbook

A bannetone bread proofing basket, or brotform, is the secret to making beautiful loaves of bread. It helps the loaves maintain their shape and structure as they rise, and the ring pattern leaves a gorgeous imprint on the crust. Pair the basket with a bread cookbook, like The New Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day by by Jeff Hertzberg M.D. and Zoë François. Buy on Amazon ($14.95)

Cuisinart Ice Cream Machine + Ice Cream Cookbook

Another great gift for making fun family memories in the kitchen, this ice cream machine whips up creamy, dreamy ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet in 20 minutes and doesn’t take up too much space. Make it extra special by pairing it with a fun ice cream cookbook, like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer. Buy on Amazon ($55.95)

 

 

 

 

Cuisinart Mini Spatula Set

Sometimes you need a mini spatula, and these adorable mini spatulas from Cuisinart get the job done. Buy on Amazon ($12.86)

 

 

 

 

Le Maison Du Chocolate Gourmet Chocolate

For chocolate lovers, this artisanal chocolate collection includes milk and dark chocolate ganache as well as plain and flavored pralinés. It’s perfect for the foodie who has everything, and it also makes a lovely hostess gift when you need something fancy. Buy on Amazon ($94.99)

 

 

 

Digital Meat Thermometer with Remote Probe

A digital meat thermometer with a remote probe is a game changer when it comes to cooking large cuts of meat with confidence. You can tell when the meat is perfectly cooked without ever opening your oven, grill or smoker. (You might also add the instant-read version for smaller cuts of meat.) Buy on Amazon ($15.19)

 

 

 

Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender

A professional-grade blender like Vitamix is a luxury kitchen item, and right now you can get one for a pretty good price. Whether you’re mixing smoothies or soups, this blender creates an incredibly smooth and velvety texture and eliminates the need for straining seeds and fibers—a big time saver in the kitchen. Buy on Amazon ($299.95)

 

 

 

Garlic Press

You can mince garlic with a knife, but a good garlic press makes the job so much easier—and your hands won’t smell like garlic all day long. I’m not really into gadgets, but I can’t live without this one. Buy on Amazon ($36.70)

 

 

 

 

 

Vinebox’s 12 Nights of Wine

Box of wine from Vinebox.I’ve saved the best for last. Vinebox’s 12 Nights of Wine advent calendar contains a curated selection of 12 wines in glass-sized portions, giving the lucky recipient (or you) the chance to try a new varietal each night. Whether you’re buying for yourself or for the wine lovers in your life, hurry up because this set has sold out 6 years in a row. Buy from Vinebox ($96.75)

 
 

 

 

Happy shopping and happy holidays to all!

xo Jenn

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Comments

  • Can’t thank you enough Jenn, this is super helpful! I dread shopping……just ordered the Wok cookbook for my niece’s boyfriend, who just bought and is loving his Wok. I think I’ll buy the 12 nights of wine for myself 🙂

    • — Jill Bradford on December 9, 2022
    • Reply
    • So glad you found it helpful!!

      • — Jenn on December 12, 2022
      • Reply
  • Woks of Life blog is awesome, and I have yet to try a recipe of theirs that has not been incredible!

    • — Mark on December 8, 2022
    • Reply
    • I agree!

      • — Jenn on December 8, 2022
      • Reply
  • This is great! Do you have an immersion blender you recommend? I saw you used one in your lentil soup recipe.
    p.s. every recipe I’ve ever made of your turned out excellent. Thank you!

    • — Jackie on December 2, 2022
    • Reply
    • So glad you like the recipes! I like both the Braun and the Cuisinart.

      • — Jenn on December 3, 2022
      • Reply
  • Thanks for including our book, Jenn! ^_^

    • — Kaitlin | The Woks of Life on November 30, 2022
    • Reply
    • My pleasure — I love the book!

      • — Jenn on November 30, 2022
      • Reply
  • Now I know what to ask Santa for..

    • — Connie Hoffman on November 30, 2022
    • Reply
    • 🙂

      • — Jenn on November 30, 2022
      • Reply
  • what a terrific list, and so well-thought out!

    • — Lori on November 28, 2022
    • Reply
  • Thank you, Jenn! Ice cream maker and cookie stamps ordered! Next step is to bookmark all your ice cream recipes 🙂

    • — Sam on November 28, 2022
    • Reply
  • Super suggestions! Thank you!

    • — Joan on November 28, 2022
    • Reply
  • Fresh, fun recommendations! Thank you. I have lots of kitchen tools – but almost everything on this list is a winner for myself or someone I know.

    • — Sarah on November 28, 2022
    • Reply
  • Dear Jen, thank you for your generous offer to send a personalized bookplate for your books! I had just bought a copy of your “Weeknight, Weekend” cookbook for my daughter in law and this will make it even more special.
    Love your recipes and your blog/newsletter! Happy holidays to you and your family.
    Elizabeth L., Lake Oswego, OR

    • — Elizabeth L on November 28, 2022
    • Reply
    • My pleasure Elizabeth! Just email me with the name you’d like on the bookplate and the address that I should send it to. 🙂

      • — Jenn on November 28, 2022
      • Reply
  • Thanks, Jenn,
    Our family has followed Woks of Life on line for quite a while – have shopped in the local Chinese restaurant using their product suggestions (with very helpful pictures!), and have loved their recipes. I did not know about their book until I read through your holiday gift suggestions. I have ordered it as a Christmas present for my wife and know it will be a hit!! Good job on those suggestions – they were all helpful!

    • — Laula Ashley on November 28, 2022
    • Reply
    • Hi Jenn –
      Thanks for your blog, cookbooks. Always my go-to recipes.
      I need a new full-size Cuisinart. What size and model do you recommend?
      Happy holidays!

      • — Carol Berl on December 10, 2022
      • Reply
      • So glad you like the recipes! 🙂
        For a food processor, I highly recommend this one. It has a 14-cup capacity, which I think is ideal, but you could get away with an 11-cup bowl if need be (I wouldn’t go any smaller).

        • — Jenn on December 12, 2022
        • Reply
  • These are great suggestions, thank you!

    • — Anne on November 28, 2022
    • Reply

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