Look no further than these 20 great holiday gift ideas for the cook, baker, or favorite foodie in your life! Plus a few extra gift ideas that are great for the home, travel, and clothing ideas!
Want to make these Coffee Mug Cookies, you can!
If you have a friend who loves to tinker with cookie recipes or a brother who’s always manning the grill, then the pressure is on for nailing down the best kitchen gifts for foodies! You already know they like to cook, bake, or spend time in the kitchen, so what else can they possibly need?
I’m here to share some ideas for cooking gifts and kitchen necessities, including many they probably wouldn’t have considered buying for themselves!
I’ve put together this 2023 holiday gift guide with the best kitchen gifts for holiday shopping that are guaranteed to earn A-plus ratings in the kitchen.
From USEFUL stocking stuffers to must-have kitchen gadgets, these are my top recommendations for holiday gift ideas, including many items I use in my own kitchen!
Bonus: If you’re looking for something beyond these culinary must-haves, I’ve added a few AMAZING gifts for women including home decor and clothing items, too. Just scroll to the bottom!
The Best Kitchen Gifts for Chefs, Home Cooks, and Foodies
1. For the Entertainer: Confetti Celebration Stemless Wine Glasses
When I saw this set of four stemless wine glasses pop up as part of Pottery Barn’s holiday line I may have squealed. Don’t you just love those punch-y dots? These would be SO MUCH FUN to pull out while having girlfriends over or even set on the holiday table. They can be used year-round, although they’d be especially great for New Year’s Eve!
2. For the Coffee Drinker: Huogary Milk Frother, Milk Steamer
While I think this would be one of the BEST kitchen gifts for your caffeine-addicted friend who’s trying to cut down on Starbucks trips, this milk frother does much more than make foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
Use the gadget to steam milk with cocoa powder and now you’ve just made hot chocolate! Once you’ve got one of these, you can make my Starbucks copycat recipes for Caramel Macchiato and Pumpkin Spice Latte.
3. For the Baking Newbie: OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
Baking is all about precision, and this is often why people are scared of baking—but getting past that barrier means you can now whip up cookies, bars like my Mint and Chocolate Fudge Oreo Bars, or gooey brownies on a whim.
For the person in your life who is ga-ga over sweets and wants to TRY IT ALL, the best kitchen gift for them Is these measuring cups. Crafted from stainless steel, the set includes a 1 cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup, and ¼ cup. They also stack nicely thanks to magnetic handles, making them perfect for a small kitchen.
4. For the One Who Bakes Amazing Desserts: KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer
Most home bakers already own a mixer but this powerhouse is a worthy upgrade that will last forever. It packs away nicely—perfect for smaller kitchens—and comes in several colors. I also like that there are five speeds as plenty of mixers only have three and trust me, you want a different speed for my Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies than you do for my light and fluffy Lemon Bars. But don’t just believe me: there are nearly 22,000 Amazon reviews that give this hand mixer a 4.7-star rating.
5. For the Eco-Minded Cook: GreenPan Reserve Cookware Pots and Pans Set
Most nonstick cookware still contains some version of Teflon, but this 10-piece ceramic set from GreenPan is free from Teflon, so it’s oven-safe (even in the broiler).
This is the best kitchen gift for someone who is setting up their first home. These could also be used to make quick meals like my Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry, which takes just 25 minutes!
6. For the One Who Likes Baking Cookies: Nordic Ware 3 Piece Baker’s Delight Set
These aluminum sheets might not be the most dazzling holiday gift under the tree but trust me, they are a baker’s BFF and extremely practical. There isn’t a cookie recipe in the world that won’t excel on any of these sheets, so they are a must on my list of the best kitchen gifts.
And check this out: a whopping 49,000 reviews on Amazon gave this product a 4.7-star rating and the New York Times ranked these high, too, calling them a pick for the past decade.
7. For the Friend Who Likes to Bartend: Kalrin Bartender Kit
If you’re a mixologist, you can never geek out too much on all the cocktail gadgets out there. With this kit, 25 of those tools are rolled into one gift. Sweet, right? I checked out other bartender kits and this one’s a winner, earning the highest number of reviews for a kit like this on Walmart’s website.
Included are crucial pieces for nailing cocktail recipes, such as a strainer, shaker, tongs, and serving spoon. There’s even a duo of stainless-steel straws, ideal for cold or frozen cocktails.
8. For the New Home Owner: KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls, Set of 3, Pistachio
I love the fun color here, combining vintage and beach inspirations. They are practical kitchen gifts, sure, but fill them with snacks and suddenly your friends who are tired and worn out from moving have the sweet and salty goods to plop on the couch and stream their favorite show.
I HIGHLY recommend making my Snickerdoodle cookies and enclosing the recipe—no mixer needed, just these bowls do the job.
9. For the Holiday Host: All-Clad Specialty Stainless Steel Roaster and Nonstick Rack
There’s one in every family: the person who volunteers to host all the holiday meals and actually loves it. Pay them back in a huge way with one of the best kitchen gifts they’ll probably never buy for themselves: an All-Clad roaster. It comes with a handy rack and is oven and broiler-safe up to 600 degrees F. You could even gently suggest some recipes that detour from turkey, such as my Glazed Pork Loin Roast.
10. For the One Who Adores Vintage Décor: Fiesta 9-Inch x 13-Inch Rectangle Baker
Is your friend’s kitchen full of vintage items that they love from decades past? Fiesta has been in production since 1936 and the colors really, really evoke the 1940s. The New York Times recently named it among the top 50 dinnerware sets.
One of the reasons why this baking dish is one of the best kitchen gifts is that it’s very, very versatile. You could use this for my Classic Texas Sheet Cake or, on the savory side, Mexican Baked Cheesy Street Corn Dip—both great options for holiday entertaining.
11. For the Grill Fanatic: Cuisinart Wood-Handled Grill Tools, 10-Piece Set
Every family or friend group has that person who just can’t stop grilling. With this handy, portable kit that has a leather carrying case, they can even take their grill tools to other people’s houses; a huge win for the rest of us!
What I like about this kit is that it has 10 tools, such as a spatula, tongs, skewers, and chef’s fork, providing tons of variety in how to use them for grilling. Stave off this chilly wintry weather by suggesting the recipient make my Grilled Lime Cilantro Chicken for a virtual trip to the islands. I might tuck a copy of this recipe into the gift for some instant inspiration. The wood handles are also a classy accent.
More Great Home & Clothing Gifts for Women
12. For the One Who’s Always Losing Things: Apple AirTag 4
Do you have someone on your shopping list who can’t keep track of things? Remove those worries with this set of four AirTags! While the hype has been about placing them with checked luggage there are actually other reasons these come in handy: like locating one’s house or car keys, or maybe even their cell phone.
I even have one that I put in a pet collar so I can keep track of my cat who likes to take walks! It’s worth noting that the user must already have an iPhone for these to work.
13. For the Jetsetter: Infinity Loop Solid Color Scarf with Hidden Zipper Pocket
This is one of those travel-related products that is so stylish it looks nothing like a travel product, which I LOVE. The hidden zipper pocket is large enough to hold a cell phone but could also hold a house key or credit card.
In addition to wearing it on the plane to keep warm and listen to their favorite podcast, your stylish friend could also wear this for a night out on the town or out on a walk. It’s also available in 16 different colors. Sweet!
14. For the Bookworm: O’Bright LED Cylinder Floor Lamp with Remote Control
I looked REALLY HARD to find a gorgeous floor lamp that’s also functional. When I found this one, I knew it was perfect for someone who likes reading as well as high design. BONUS: this one operates with a remote control. Don’t you just love the minimalist aesthetic this one brings to a room?
15. For the One Who Likes to Be Warm and Cozy: MERSEA Cozy Cabin Faux Fur Mittens
These thumbs-free mittens are so comfy I can imagine wearing them while watching TV in front of the fire and cradling a cup of hot cocoa, but they are also suitable for a walk during chilly outdoor temps.
I also LOVE that these are from a small business that’s inspired by the sea in their designs but also gets modern-day living: you can use your smartphone and never have to take these off. I’m not the only one who loves them either: they’re one of Oprah’s Favorite Things. They come in two colors: oatmeal cream, which is my preference, as well as a deep red.
16. For the One Who is Always in Leggings: Colorfulkoala Buttery Waisted Full Length Leggings
I literally live in Lululemon’s Align leggings and these are a pretty close second—for half the price. They have a lot of fans who gave these buttery-soft leggings almost 50,000 reviews on Amazon, with an average 4.3-star rating. CNN also calls these an alternative to the wildly popular Align leggings.
17. To Create Calm in a Home Office: Nube Pillow Cover
To feel inspired, you should first feel calm, right? And with emails flying in and deadlines to meet, gazing at this cream-colored pillow cover loaded with texture would instantly make me relax.
Give this to a friend who is always working in their home office. Trust me, they will love it! Handwoven in India, it’s part of Minted’s direct-from-artist line of goods.
18. For the One Who Is Serious About Staying Hydrated: Simple Modern 40 Ounce Tumbler
Credit: Amazon
I am a big fan of Yeti bottles because I love the slide-top. However, if you prefer a straw instead, this is a great water bottle. It fits in your car, is lighter-weight than a Stanley and less expensive, too! My teen daughter loves this mint color and she has zero issues with leaks and water stays COLD for 18+ hours!
19. For the Active Person: Lululemon Dupe Fanny Pack
Credit: Amazon
I have the real Lulu version and this knockoff fanny pack. They’re both great, but if you’re looking to about 70% off the name brand, then this waist pack is for you! Great for travel, workouts, shopping excursions where you don’t want to carry a purse, theme parks, and more.
For the Traveling Beauty: Mini Flat Iron, Blow Dryer, Curling Iron
Credit: Amazon
I love this set and took it to Europe! I also take it on smaller trips and vacations when I am know I am going to need a flat iron AND a curling iron, and potentially the hotel hairdryer situation may be a bit uncertain. Can’t go wrong with this gift!
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
