Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts For Cooks

Believe it or not, it's time to start shopping for the holidays again. If you've already come up with a list of people you want to buy gifts for, then the odds are good there's at least one question mark lingering on your list. Whether it's a matter of budget, taste, or you're just stumped, there's one person on every gift-giving list that always seems to end up getting the "holiday-shopping-got-the-best-of-me-and-I-gave-up" gift card.

If that person happens to like cooking, you're in luck this year; from stocking stuffers to high-end bottles of honey, we've got unique ideas for every budget. Whether you are shopping for a culinary genius or a novice home cook we have a list of specialty items, gadgets, and food products any cook would love.

So, before you resort to purchasing yet another gift card, consider one of these gifts. Then, cue the holiday carols, pour yourself a glass of eggnog, and relax; your shopping just got that much easier.

These gift pouches are perfect for anyone who cooks; they come in a variety of combinations and include treasures like miniature jars of honey (for cooking or baking) and beeswax hand salve (perfect for hands driedout by dish-washing).
Price: $10.00 – $29.50
Click here to see all the gift pouches offered by Savannah Bee.

Even the most skilled cooks will love this compact timer; drop it in the water with your eggs as they boil and the timer will change color as the egg cooks. This handy little timer makes perfect soft-, medium-, and hard-boiled eggs every time. 
Price: $6.99
Click here to buy the Taylor Egg Timer at Amazon.

There's nothing better than a homemade cookie — except, perhaps, a really big homemade cookie. These beautiful, high-quality, stainless-steel cutters make oversized Christmas cookies easy. Each cookie cutter features intricate cut-out details so the cookies look beautiful with or without icing. If you're looking for something special to tie on a stocking or gift, this cookie cutter is the perfect addition.
Price: $10.95 – 12.95
Click here to see all the giant cookie cutters offered by Williams-Sonoma.

If you're looking for a chic and socially conscious stocking stuffer, give the gift of artisanal hibiscus sugar. Perfect for baking or cocktails, this bright pink, sweet-and-slightly-tart sugar comes in a moisture-sealed tin along with a complimentary recipe.
Price: $6.00
Click here to buy hibiscus sugar from EcoHabitude.

Say goodbye to plastic wrap. These reusable silicone food savers come in sets of four, so just about any halved piece of produce can be kept fresh. The Farberware Food Huggers come in a variety of colors and can be nested together so they take up less storage space when they're not in use. 
Price: $7.99 – $9.99
Click here for more about Farberware Food Huggers.

This versatile citrus tool is the Swiss Army Knife of the kitchen; it includes a scoring blade, a channel knife, and two stainless-steel zesting blades (the larger blade folds into the handle for convenient and safe storage). Anyone who cooks with citrus fruit needs this multi-purpose tool.
Price: $12.99
Click here to buy the Crisp 4-in-1 Zester.

Whether they're making a spicy mole sauce or chocolate ganache-topped brownies, a skilled cook knows what their chocolate tastes like. This tasting kit, which includes a 48-page booklet, a tasting notepad, informational flash cards, and a keepsake envelope for chocolate wrappers, is a great way to keep track of the flavor of different chocolate bars.
Price: $24.95
Click here for more information about Eagranie Yuh's Chocolate Tasting Kit.

We're willing to bet that whoever receives these chocolate bars from Xocolatl de David won't be able to save them long enough to actually cook with them; they're too delicious! With flavors like Bacon Caramel, Brown Butter, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, there's a bar for every dish and every taste. Our favorite: the Sourdough & Olive Oil Bar; it's crunchy and fruity with a savory finish.
Price: $9.00
Click here for more chocolates from Xocolatl de David.

This collection of finishing salts makes the perfect gift for the serious cook. Each tin contains one of three salts: truffle sea salt, Hungarian paprika salt, and smoked sea salt.  As an added bonus, the salt sampler is sold by EcoHabitude, a socially conscious marketplace.
Price: $40.00
Click here for more information about the salt sampler.

Preserving food at home is increasingly popular, and there's only one way to get crinkle-cut cucumbers for your pickles; a wavy knife. We love that this knife has an ergonomic handle and an offset blade for better control when cutting. Plus, it's dishwasher safe.
Price: $12.99
Click here to buy the Crisp Wavy Knife.

What's the hardest part of making kimchi? Finding the specialty ingredients. This kit makes homemade kimchi easy; with a quart-sized canning jar, Korean fish sauce, chili pepper flakes, and an easy-to-follow recipe, all you need to do is add your vegetables and wait.
Price: $24.00
Click here to buy Mother-In-Law Kimchi's DIY Kimchi kit from Rodale's.

Ask anyone who cooks and they'll tell you that sometimes, there's just not enough room on their range. This pretty electric tea kettle will heat water on your countertop, leaving your stovetop free for pots and pans. Whether you need tea for brine or warmed water to make a bath for baking cheesecake, this ceramic kettle is your new go-to gadget. It's available at a number of retailers like Macy's, Target, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club.
Price: $69.99
Click here for more information about the Bella Housewares' Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle.
 

The perfect meal starts with the perfect appetizers, and what could be better during the holidays than a cheese plate? If you know someone that loves to cook and entertain, they'll love this personalized cheese board. It's made from eco-friendly rubber wood and holds a secrete pullout drawer with 3 stainless steel cheese tools inside. Best of all, the box's lid doubles as a cutting board, engraved with the recipient's name.
Price: $49.99
Click here to buy Personal Creations' Cheese Board and 3 Piece Knife Set.

This rubberwood cutting board makes a wonderful gift for any cook. It can be personalized with a single initial or up to a three-line message. And, because of the natural variations in the wood and the custom design, this sturdy cutting board can easily double as a stylish serving tray.
Price: $24.99
Click here to buy Personal Creations' Wood Cutting Board.

Perfect for the person that's always baking up a storm, this sturdy, no-stick,  cast-aluminum pan makes six mini cakes in the shape of snowflakes — and each one is unique. Topped with a dusting of powdered sugar, these miniature desserts are prefect all winter long.
Price: $36.00
Click here to buy Nordic Ware's Snowflake Cakelet Pan from Williams-Sonoma.

Every serious baker knows that to make perfect desserts, you have to weigh your ingredients. This digital scale makes it easy; with a spring-loaded LCD display that can be pushed into the base for convenient storage and a dishwasher-safe weighing tray with side walls (to keep hard-to-weigh foods contained) this scale will quickly become one of the most-used items in any baker's kitchen.
Price: $29.99
Click here to buy the Salter Brushed Stainless Steel Trivet Scale

No kitchen is complete without a copy of Donna Hay: The New Classics. Divided into chapters like beef, chicken, cakes, and salads and featuring more than 300 recipes over 400 gorgeously-styled and photographed pages, this cookbook is sure to inspire any cook. Whether you know someone who wants to learn the basics or someone who is looking for a few expert tips to refine their skills, this cookbook makes the perfect gift.
Price: $44.99
Click here to buy Donna Hay: The New Classics.

This traditional Indian spice box is filled with over two pounds of natural spices. Anyone who loves to cook Indian dishes, but struggles to find key ingredients like Fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder, or green cardamom will appreciate this fragrant and well-curated collection. The set also includes a cookbook with more than 25 step-by-step recipes for everything from seafood to vegetarian fare.
Price: $59.99
Click here to buy the Kitchen Curry Master spice set.

Tailgating? Check. Impromptu picnic at the state park? Check. Grilled burgers, chicken, or asparagus from the comfort of your kitchen indoors? Check, check, and check. The possibilities are near-endless with the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill. Featuring a non-stick grilling surface that can make up to 15 servings at once, a domed lid with an adjustable steam vent and cool-touch handle, and an optional sturdy, metal stand, this grill is perfect for the cook on the go.
Price: $79.00
Click here to buy the George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Grill.

The last thing anyone wants when they're cooking in the kitchen is to spill something on their recipe, especially if that recipe is displayed on their fancy tablet. Octa's Monkey Kit is a great solution; perfect for anyone who uses a tablet in the kitchen, the Monkey Kit has a sturdy rubberized stand that can be adjusted to just about any height or shape. The original Monkey Kit features a vacuum-mount and fits any iPad, tablet, or e-reader.
Price: $69.99
Click here to buy Octa's Monkey Kit.

If you're looking for a unique gift that will make a statement, forget the bottles of wine; Savannah Bee's limited edition, special-release Gold Reserve Tupelo Honey is the gift to give this year. The bottle features a hand-printed label and a gold wax stamp and is wrapped in a Canadian Birch box along with a hand-crafted Cherry wood spoon. Both the presentation and the honey are of the highest quality. Quantities are extremely limited, so don't wait to order this exquisite honey.
Price: $112.00
Click here to buy Savannah Bee's Gold Reserve Tupelo Honey.