10 Clever Gifts for Bakers

Baking is a pastime with tasty results, and the right tools make it easier and more fun. These gifts suit a first-time cookie baker or someone who already keeps a sourdough starter on the counter.

1. King Arthur Apron

Flour ends up everywhere, so a good apron is a gift that gets used. This apron from King Arthur has adjustable cross-back straps, which take the weight off the neck during a long baking day. It also has roomy pockets for a phone or a printed recipe, and it comes in grey or cream.

2. French Rolling Pin

A tapered pin without handles lets a baker feel the dough as they roll. This French rolling pin is made from Vermont hardwood and has no finish, so it picks up a little flour over time and sticks less. It is good for pie crusts, cookies, and anything else that needs to be rolled flat.

3. Dish Towels

Bakers wipe their hands and counters all day. This set of 10 dish towels means there is always a clean one nearby. The neutral look fits most kitchens.

4. Digital Scale

Weighing flour is more accurate than scooping it, and it means fewer dishes. The Essential Digital Scale has a tare button, so a baker can set a bowl on it and add ingredients one after another. It weighs up to 11 pounds and shuts itself off after a few minutes. Two buttons is all there is to learn.

5. Proofing Basket

For the baker who makes bread, this 9-inch banneton basket gives shaped dough a place to rest and hold its round shape before it goes in the oven. It is a small step up for homemade loaves.

6. Baker’s Dough Whisk

Heavy dough clogs a regular whisk and a wooden spoon is slow. The Baker’s Dough Whisk has a single loop and a beechwood handle, and it mixes dough, batter, and starter without overworking them. It is a nice find for anyone who feeds a sourdough starter.

7. Dough Scraper

This heavy duty dough scraper divides dough, clears sticky bits off the counter, and cuts brownies without scratching the pan. It is a small, inexpensive extra to tuck into a bigger gift.

8. Silicone Mat

Parchment paper goes in the trash after one batch. These silicone baking mats are non-stick and reusable, so cookies slide off and the pan stays clean.

9. Vanilla Extract

Pure vanilla extract goes into cakes, cookies, puddings, and icing, and a baker will use up a bottle faster than they expect. It is an easy gift that never goes to waste.

10. Assorted Flours

Flowers are a classic gift, but a serious baker would rather have flours. Send a few bags of different types, such as rye, whole wheat, or bread flour. Newer bakers will enjoy trying something they have not baked with before.

Pick one or two of these and add a bag of flour. Your baker will be happy to get them.