I might be a little biased, but I think it’s a lot of fun to shop for the best cooking gifts (I’m always in the kitchen, after all!). There are so many great kitchen tools and accessories out there that make amazing holiday gifts, so if you’re shopping for a home cook, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite options that make the best cooking gifts to give to your food-loving friends and family.
My list includes everything from must-have cookbooks to essential appliances like blenders and stand mixers, and you’ll find options for everyone on your list, no matter your budget. I personally use and recommend many of these cooking gifts, and I wouldn’t hesitate to give them to my own loved ones during the holidays!
Here are the 30 best cooking gifts for everyone on your list this year.
The Best Cooking Gifts
1. For the One Who Needs Dinner Inspo: Skinnytaste Simple
My newest cookbook, Skinnytaste Simple, is perfect for busy cooks who want to add new meals to their repertoire. It features more than 120 recipes for every meal of the day, including breakfast and dessert, and the best part is that every recipe contains a maximum of seven ingredients! Many of the dishes in this book have become staples in my household, as they’re easy to make, budget-friendly, and big on flavor.
2. For the Tea Sipper: Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Tea Kettle
Anyone who drinks tea on a daily basis needs an electric kettle, and the Fellow Corvo EKG is my favorite one because it’s pretty and quick. This sleek, modern appliance has a matte finish that comes in several colors, and it can boil several cups of water in a matter of minutes. You can even adjust its temperature in 1-degree increments — important if you drink white or green tea, which steeps best at temperatures below boiling.
3. For the Anxious Chef: ThermoPro Meat Thermometer
Even though I’ve been cooking for years and years, there are still times when I can’t quite tell if a piece of meat is fully cooked, which is why I always keep this ThermoPro Meat Thermometer in my kitchen drawer. It provides a highly accurate reading in just a couple seconds, and the digital screen is large and easy to read from any angle. It’s a must-have stocking stuffing for home cooks who are just starting out in the kitchen.
4. For the One Who Still Doesn’t Have an Air Fryer: GoWISE USA Air Fryer
It’s no secret that I love a good air fryer recipe, and if you’re shopping for someone that still hasn’t hopped on the air fryer train, I highly recommend the GoWISE Air Fryer as one the best cooking gifts! It’s the best air fryer I’ve ever used, and I actually tested all the recipes from Skinnytaste Air Fryer Dinners in it. I love how quickly it’s able to brown meat, and it comes with a handy basket divider that allows you to cook two different foods at once. Once they start using it, they will totally understand the hype!
5. For the Leftover Lover: Souper Cubes
Souper Cubes are a game-changer when it comes to storing leftovers, and I swear by them for freezing leftover rice and soups. The silicone containers are clearly marked with measurements inside each tray, making it easy to freeze individual portions of leftover soup, chili, sauce, and more. It’s an ingenious solution for anyone who likes to meal prep for the week, and the cubes come in a variety of sizes, with a capacity ranging from two cups to two tablespoons per tray.
This blender is specifically designed for making smoothies, and it’s perfect for making recipes like my Protein PB & J Smoothie Bowl. The blender’s smoothie bowl attachment has a built-in tamper that allows it to blend ingredients with less liquid, but you can also use it to make frozen drinks, soup, and much more. The blender has definitely been a hit in my household, and thousands of reviews rave about it, too.
7. For the One Who Needs a Cookware Upgrade: A New Dutch Oven
Every home chef needs a Dutch oven, if you ask me. These heavy-duty pots are ideal for cooking soups and stews, braising meat, and even baking bread. If you’re willing to splurge on a heritage-grade piece, the StaubCast Iron Round Cocotte will truly last a lifetime and I love displaying mine during the holidays. However, there are plenty of more affordable options that will still work well, including the stylish Hearth & Hand Cast Iron Dutch Oven. Either way, your recipient will definitely be getting an upgrade in the kitchen!
Buy the Staub 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte:
Buy the Hearth & Hand 5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven:
For anyone who loves baking, the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer is an unbeatable gift that they will use for the rest of their life. Thanks to its 10 speeds and three attachments, this iconic kitchen appliance can be used to make everything from cookies to homemade bread and meringue, and it comes in 20 colors to match any decor, but I’m obsessed with this green one from the Hearth and Hand collaboration. I love using mine to make Healthy Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies. Plus, KitchenAid mixers are known to be extremely reliable and will last for many years to come.
I love cooking outdoors during the summer, and a Blackstone Griddle makes it easy to whip up things like Smash Tacos, roasted veggies, and even breakfast foods like pancakes. This one has 470 square inches of cooking space across two burners, and it has a side prep table, as well as a lower storage shelf. It even has two wheels and a handle that make it easy to move around outdoors, and I think it would makes for one fo the best cooking gifts for anyone loves grilling!
10. For the One Who Wants Cooking to Be Easy: Instant Pot Duo
An Instant Pot Duo is a thoughtful cooking gift for any cook who has a busy lifestyle. Years later, I’m still obsessed with mine and these handy appliances can be used in many ways, working as pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker and more. I have lots of pressure cooker recipes that work perfectly in an Instant Pot, and many of them cook much faster than other preparation methods, helping to get dinner on the table in less time.
11. For the One Who Can’t Give Up Fancy Coffee: SIMPLETaste Milk Frother
Your giftee will be able to instantly elevate their mid-afternoon coffee drink with this inexpensive milk frother. It’s super easy to operate with just one button, and it creates creamy milk foam in just 30 seconds. It’s perfect for anyone who loves lattes and cappuccinos, and I particularly like that it comes with a stand for the frother, so it can be stored right on the countertop.
Smash burgers are all the rage right now, and the key to these delicious patties is a burger press like this one from Cuisinart. It’s made from cast iron and has a 6-inch diameter, and it’s hefty enough to squish down even the thickest burgers. It’s a must-have for any grillmaster’s tool kit and makes a great inexpensive cooking gift.
If your loved one is always serving Old Fashioned and other fancy drinks, they can put a personalized spin on their favorite cocktails with this monogram ice cube tray. The customized silicone mold creates four square ice cubes that come out embossed with their initials, and the cubes will look great floating in any drink. It’s a fun addition to any home bar setup.
The key to amazing homemade pizza is getting a crisp crust without burning the toppings, and this pizza stone makes it easy to bake dough for my Margherita Pizza to perfection. It has a 14-inch diameter that’s big enough to feed the whole family, and its smooth glazed finish that prevents your pie from sticking. You can use it in the oven, on the grill, or even under a broiler, as the stone can resist temperatures up to 900 degrees, and it’s even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
These beautiful marble charcuterie boards are perfect for holiday hosting. The slab is 14 inches wide, and it has an inlaid antiqued brass letter in the upper corner. You can choose from any letter of the alphabet to represent the couple’s last name, and the brand also has matching cheese knives to go with it to make the perfect entertaining board.
Who says s’mores are just for the summertime? This electric s’mores maker is a super fun activity for any family with kids, and it allows you to enjoy the iconic chocolatey treats all year round. The central heater is smokeless and flameless, so it’s safe to use indoors, and the surrounding tray conveniently holds your chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows and more!. My family loves this gadget, and I think it’s something everyone will enjoy.
17. For the One Who’s Always On The Go: Ember Smart Mug 2
It’s always frustrating when you forget about your morning cup of coffee and come back to a cold drink. For busy bees, the Ember Smart Mug can help solve this problem, as it automatically keeps up to 14-ounces of drinks warm for up to 80 minutes! You can set the mug to maintain a specific temperature using your phone, and that way, your coffee (or tea) will always be perfectly warm, even if a hectic schedule gets in the way.
I love cooking with fresh, whole ingredients, and it doesn’t get fresher than produce and herbs grown in your very own garden. For those who don’t have the outdoor space to grow plants—or anyone who just wants to ease into gardening—the AeroGarden makes a wonderful gift. This hydroponic gardening system makes it easy to grow herbs, lettuce, and more, right from your kitchen counter, and it’s foolproof enough that even people with brown thumbs can use it.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is a worthwhile splurge for any kitchen, and is essentially an upgraded air fryer! The sleek appliance offers several functions, working as a countertop oven, air fryer, broiler, dehydrator, and more. The interior is large enough to accommodate a 5-quart Dutch oven or a 14-pound turkey, so it can be used as a second oven, making it a valuable tool for anyone who loves cooking and is short on counter space.
The All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker is the ultimate brunch accessory and is one of the best cooking gifts for anyone who loves making breakfast for their family. The appliance can cook four waffles at a time, wicking away moisture to create a crisp exterior, and you can choose from seven adjustable browning levels. The waffles have extra-deep pockets to hold all sorts of fillings and syrup, and they release easily thanks to the appliance’s nonstick finish. It would be great to use with my High Protein Oat Waffles.
If you just want waffles for one, I also like this Dash Mini Waffle Maker!
Brightland is known for its high-quality olive oil, made from California olives, and The Artist Capsule contains four delicious infused oils that any home chef will appreciate. The set contains 12.7-ounce bottles of chili, garlic, lemon, and basil-infused olive oil, and the containers are decorated with specially designed artwork, making them beautiful enough to display on the counter.
22. For the One Who Wants to Learn to Make Pasta: Marcato Atlas 150
Homemade pasta is so delicious, and it can easily be used in recipes like my Spaghetti Carbonara. For anyone who loves making food from scratch, the Marcato Atlas 150 is one of the best pasta machines out there. It rolls and cuts homemade pasta dough, making fettuccine, tagliolini, and lasagna noodles. Plus, the brand offers attachments for other pasta shapes, such as linguine, spaghetti, and ravioli.
23. For the One Who Loves Cooking From Scratch: Mortar and Pestle
If you’re shopping for someone who loves homemade guacamole, this Molcajete de Piedra—mortar and pestle—is a great gift. It’s made from a textured volcanic stone that helps grind down ingredients, and the bowl is more than 8 inches in diameter, allowing it to hold larger quantities of food. It’s the perfect vessel for making my famous Guacamole, but it’s also handy for grinding spices, crushing garlic, and more.
I typically make hard-boiled eggs on the stovetop, but the Dash Rapid Egg Cooker makes getting breakfast on the table even easier. It can hard boil six eggs in a matter of minutes, and the process is truly hands-off, making the appliance a must-have for anyone who tends to rush out the door in the morning. Perfect for helping make egg salad or deviled eggs, the egg cooker comes in a variety of fun colors, and it’s compact and easy to store, too.
This lovely dish soap and hand lotion set will make an attractive addition to anyone’s kitchen. The set includes a 16-ounce bottle of hand lotion, 20-ounce bottle of dish soap, and a countertop caddy to hold both products. Williams Sonoma has a Winter Forest scent with notes of pine, cedar, cinnamon, and citrus, and the woodsy aroma is perfect for use during the winter months.
If you don’t know what to get your loved one for a cooking gift, you can’t go wrong with a John Boos Cutting Boards. Made from solid wood, these boards are extremely durable and provide plenty of space for dinner prep. It can even double as a serving board! I love mine that is made from cherry wood, but the brand also has highly rated options made from maple and walnut.
A Nespresso machine is one of the easiest ways to make fresh espresso at home. It’s so much better than a Keurig, and it uses convenient pods to brew rich, tasty espresso. I have the CitiZ model, which can also make lungo, an Italian-style coffee, that I love in the morning. It heats up in less than 30 seconds, and there are dozens of pod flavors for coffee lovers to explore.
This pretty cookbook holder would be a useful cooking gift for anyone who cooks a lot—and is the perfect thing to display any of my cookbooks! The stylish design is made from real wood, and it has a spacious metal ledge that props up a cookbook and holds it open to the right page for less mess trying to hold the page down when your hands are full.
Slow cooker recipes are ideal for busy days when you don’t have time to cook, and the Beautiful 6-Quart Slow Cooker can be used to make all sorts of meals, such as my popular Chicken Taco Chili or Lasagna Soup. The brand was actually created by actress Drew Barrymore, and the appliance has a pretty matte finish and gold accents. The touchscreen control panel lets you adjust the temperature and timer, and the slow cooker even has a lid rest where you can prop the lid while stirring or serving.
The Beautiful Stand Mixer isn’t quite as powerful as a KitchenAid, but it’s a great first mixer for new homeowners or those who are just getting into baking. I think it’s super pretty and looks like a Smeg for a fraction of the price. The mixer has 12 speeds and three attachments to tackle any baking recipe. It even includes a splash shield that prevents splatter while mixing, and it’s a well-made appliance for such a reasonable price.
Prices were accurate at time of publishing.
