Holiday Gift Ideas for Bakers and Cooks: 16 Favorite Kitchen Essentials, Most Under $25

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Affordable, Useful Gifts that Will Last for Years

These heavy commercial loaf pans are awesome (Oatmeal Bread Recipe here).

Updated 2011: It's a new holiday season, but I'm still loving, using, and recommending all the same great stuff!

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I spend a lot of time cooking and baking, and the right equipment makes all the difference. When a friend came to visit for the first time a while back, she took one look around the kitchen and said, "You could outfit a restaurant with all this stuff!" Actually, a lot of it did.

I spent several years in the restaurant business when I lived in Northern California, including running my own little bakery cafe, and I quickly came to realize that heavy duty, well made items may cost a little more at first, but in the long run they're the best deals around.

These are the kitchen tools that I love and use all the time. Whether you're buying for yourself or someone else this holiday season, they're sure to be appreciated for many years to come.

Free super saver shipping is available from Amazon.com on everything here. The Chicago Metallic loaf pans, baking sheets, 9"x9" baking pan,  and muffin pan, plus the 3-quart and 5-quart stainless steel mixing bowls, rolling pin, stackable cooling racks, magnetic knife bars, and some of the cookie scoops are all eligible (along with thousands of other items and books) for Amazon.com's 4-for-3 holiday promotion—buy any 4 eligible items and you get the lowest-priced item free. More details on the product links below.

More below. . .

Farmhouse White bread dough ready for the oven after rising nicely (recipe here)

Chicago Metallic Commercial Loaf Pans, $11.67 and $13.99

I love Chicago Metallic's commercial bakeware, and their heavy duty loaf pans (pictured above) are awesome. I've been using mine for years for both quick breads (like Lemon Coconut and Orange Yogurt) and sandwich loaves and refuse to bake with anything else.

These pans are available in two sizes, 1-pound (approximately 8"x4") and 1½-pound (approximately 9"x5"—they call it 10-inch) and come with a lifetime warranty. I fill the 1-pound size with up to 35 ounces of white or white/whole wheat bread dough to make my signature big loaves. Eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

For a fun and tasty gift, consider a Beer Bread Kit. Nestle a bag of beyond easy homemade beer bread mix, a bottle of beer, and the baking instructions in a loaf pan, and tie everything up with a bow. All the recipient has to do is stir the beer into the mix, spread it in the greased pan, and pop it in the oven. Voila! A warm crusty loaf in under an hour.

Chicago Metallic Commercial Baking Sheets, 2 for $26.18

Never burn a tray of cookies again! Once you use heavy duty, rimmed baking sheets, you'll suddenly realize that everything else is vastly inferior. They're great for baking everything from chocolate chip cookies and carrot herb rolls to roasting Brussels sprouts and are one of the best kitchen deals around. Treat them well (I usually line them with sheets of unbleached parchment paper,), and they'll last for ages. I've been using the heck out of some of mine for 20 years. Lifetime warranty. Eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Spice Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe here)

Chicago Metallic Cake and Roasting Pans, $14.99 to $16.95

I've been slowly upgrading all my bakeware to Chicago Metallic. The 9-inch cake pan ($14.99)  bakes beautifully, and now I can't imagine life without the  9 x 13 inch bake/roast pan ($16.95)  and 12-cup muffin pan ($15.59) that Santa brought me last year. No more paper muffin liners needed for my super popular 100% Whole Grain Bran Muffins—I just use natural cooking spray and the pan cleans right up! Lifetime warranty. Eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

Three Tier Stackable Cooling Racks, $12.99

Who couldn't use more kitchen counter space? I bought these stackable racks one year during a crazed Christmas cookie baking spree, and they probably saved my sanity. If I ever bake that many cookies again, I'll invest in a second set. Well worth having, even if you only use them for the holidays. Eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls, $6.38 and up

It's always nice to be obsessed with something so practical. I must have at least 15 different stainless steel mixing bowls, from itty bitty all the way up to ginormous. Not a day goes by when I don't use at least two or three. Lightweight, easy to clean, and practically indestructible, there's simply nothing like them. I've had some of mine for over 20 years. I reach for these 3-quart ($6.38) and 5-quart ($7.28) sizes all the time, and right now they're both eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

Making the graham crackers in Gifts Cooks Love: Recipes for Giving (a great book!)

Vic Firth Solid Maple French Style Rolling Pin, $15.95

I have a small collection of vintage rolling pins because I love their charm, but this one is my real workhorse. The handleless shape is great. Crafted in Maine and with a lifetime guarantee, it's a family heirloom in the making. Pass it down to the next generation, along with your favorite pie recipes. Eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

Oxo Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Scale, $44.99

I've raved about this scale before, and I no doubt will again. It weighs in both grams and ounces, and the pull-out display is awesome. It's small enough that I just stand it on end and lean it on the back of my big butcher block work table, so it's always within easy reach. I usually use it several times a day, for weighing everything from potatoes to postage.

Perfectly puréed Roasted Leek and Potato Soup with Arugula recipe here

KitchenAid Immersion Hand Blender, $41.69

Buying this KitchenAid Hand Blender several years ago was possibly the best $50 I've ever spent in the kitchen. It purées big pots of soup in seconds and is a breeze to clean. It also works great for blending up large batches of homemade pet food. You can do all kinds of other stuff with it, too. Comes with KitchenAid's 1-year, hassle-free replacement warranty.

Magnetic Knife Tool Bar ($12.61 to $27.99)

I've stored my knives on a magnetic knife bar for so long I can't remember not having one. It keeps your knives both safe and handy. You can also use them to hold small kitchen tools like peelers, or in the garage or potting shed for metal hand tools, little containers of screws, etc. They come in various sizes.

Ours is this style, 24 inches long, and full to capacity, so I'm lusting after we also now own two of this stylish stainless steel design, which is available in 15 inch ($20.99) and 20 inch widths ($27.99). Both sizes of this model are eligible for amazon's 4-for-3 promotion.

Chef's Choice Professional Knife Sharpener, $69.95
Good knives are a cook's best friend, but even the most expensive knife becomes a dangerous and annoying enemy if it's dull. We bought this professional diamond hone sharpener 9 years ago and love it. Just a couple of minutes per blade keeps your knives as sharp as new. Joe even sharpens his pocket knives with it.

Lodge 10-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, $14.97

If you only own one frying pan, make it cast iron. Cast iron skillets are one of the best buys on the planet. For fifteen bucks you get a heavy duty pan that will beautifully cook everything from bacon and eggs to steaks and cornbread, last for decades, and if treated well (no soap!) will only improve with age.

This one is pre-seasoned for immediate use, has two pouring lips and a second 'helper handle' for heavy lifting, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Cooking for a crowd? This hefty 12-inch skillet ($18.97) should do the trick.

Cast iron skillets make the best cornbread. Feed someone homemade cornbread and they'll eat well for a day. Give them a Cornbread Lover's Gift Kit and they'll eat well for life: simply tuck a bag or two of nice stone ground cornmeal ($11.26 for four 24-ounce packages) and a copy of The Cornbread Gospels by Crescent Dragonwagon ($9.83; this is such a fun book) in a cast iron skillet and tie it all up with a big red bow.

Swiss Chard Artichoke White Pizza (recipe here)

14-inch by 16-inch Pizza/Baking Stone, $55.00

The secret to making incredible pizzeria style pizza and crusty artisan breads in your regular old home oven is to use a pizza, or baking, stone. There's simply no comparison to what happens to the crust when cooked directly on that very hot surface. There are all kinds of baking/pizza stones available ($16.72 and up). Mine is 14"x16" and similar to this one. I've been using it for 16 years, and I still haven't turned it over and switched to the 'fresh' side yet.

A few years ago I started baking all of my loaf pan breads on the baking stone and love the results. I also now bake pies (in the pan) on it, too. The bottom crust comes out perfect! Always put your stone in the oven before you turn on the heat; putting a cold stone in a hot oven can cause it to crack.

Pizza/Bread Peels ($18.57 & up)

The perfect gift for a pizza or bread baker—and these Kitchen Supply wood and aluminum peels are all made in the USA. I have one wooden peel and two aluminum ones, and can't imagine baking without them. Bread and pizzas slide easily in and out of the oven, without fear of ever burning your hands.

As for size, I think the bigger the better, especially if you only have one. A longer handle can also be handy. The aluminum blade peels are thinner than the wood ones, allowing you to more easily lift baked loaves and pizzas from the oven. I use my 14"x16" aluminum peel ($25.83) all the time. To avoid the dough sticking to the peel, shape your loaves and pizzas on unbleached parchment paper, and then just slide everything right onto your hot baking stone. The parchment will darken but won't burn.

Pyrex 14-Piece Round Storage Set, $20.00

I finally found something even better than my vintage Pyrex covered dishes—new Pyrex! I bought this 14-piece set several years ago and used it so much I ordered a second one. I'm always storing dibs and dabs and leftovers in the fridge, and these save lots of plastic wrap and foil. (Usually this shelf is almost bare, but I went on a massive fridge clean out two days ago.)

And like it says on the box, you're much more likely to use something if you can see it. I can't tell you how many times I've opened the lid of a repurposed cottage cheese container to find a scary glob of mystery mold staring up at me. Glass is definitely the way to go. Pyrex makes 10-piece ($19.99) and 6-piece ($18.49) sets, too, but the round sizes in the round 14-piece set works best for me (and it's also the best deal). Oven, microwave, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher safe with nice, tight sealing lids.

Stainless Steel Pastry Scraper, $8.99

Makes a great stocking stuffer! The best way to divide up dough into loaves or rolls—and then clean the counter—is with a pastry scraper. These are also called bench scrapers or dough scrapers, because they can help you 'scrape' sticky bread dough as you work with it. I have three, and they're always in constant use. The sharp edge can be used for cutting, and the inch increments on the blade come in handy.

I stole these from the three bears.

Stainless Steel Cookie Scoops, $8.55 to $15.40

Another fun stocking stuffer. I've been using ice cream scoops to portion out cookie dough since I started baking commercially back in 1985, and have had some of mine for nearly as long. They effortlessly make perfectly shaped cookies, and are a very worthwhile investment. I have five or six different sizes. The one I used to make these 2½-inch honey peanut butter cookies is about 1½ Tablespoons and is similar to this one.

Larger scoops, like this size and this size, are great for muffin batter and giant cookies, such as my Big, Soft, and Chewy Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies. I use a small scoop to make these Baby Chocolate Chip and Toffee Shortbread Cookies, and an itty bitty scoop makes darling—though slightly time consuming—mini cookies.

Wishing you a joyful & delicious holiday season!

© FarmgirlFare.com, the made from scratch and cooked with love foodie farm blog where everything is so much more enjoyable when you have the right equipment—or a couple of smiling dogs keeping you company while you work.