The holidays are basically peak baking season, which means it’s the perfect time to treat yourself (or the baker in your life) to a few tools that actually make a difference in the kitchen.
After years of working in bakeries, testing recipes, and baking through every season, these are the tools I reach for most, making baking easier, more consistent, and, honestly, just more fun.
Whether you’re looking for a big statement gift, something practical for everyday bakes, or stocking stuffers that actually get used, this guide has you covered!
Table of Contents
Baker’s Essentials: My Most-Used Tools
1. KitchenAid Stand Mixer — My #1 workhorse. It mixes cookie dough, kneads bread, whips frosting… everything! I’ve had mine for almost 10 years, and it still runs like new.
2. Oven Thermometer — Most ovens run hotter or colder than they claim, and this tells you the real temperature so your bakes stay consistent. It won’t fix your oven, but it will fix your results. Plus, it comes as a two-pack for a friend!
3. Dutch Oven — Not only is this the most versatile baking pot, but it will last you decades. I use mine for frying donuts, baking loaves of bread, and making soups. It’s 100% worth the investment.
4. Kitchen Scale — If you’re serious about consistent bakes, this is the tool to get. I have this exact scale and love that it comes with a charging cord instead of a battery like other models.
5. 9×13 Baking Dish — This is my go-to pan for cinnamon rolls, sheet cakes, bars, brownies, and casseroles. I love USA Pan because it heats evenly and lasts forever, so it’s worth the price.
6. 8×8 Baking Pan — Ideal for brownies, blondies, and bars. If you’re still using a glass pan with rounded edges… please upgrade. A metal pan with sharp corners bakes better and gives you those clean, bakery-style slices.
7. Loaf Pan — You’ll notice I don’t recommend anything but metal baking pans, like this loaf pan, and that’s because they bake faster, rise higher, and give you those crisp edges everyone wants.
8. Parchment Sheets — Pre-cut parchment is a lifesaver: no curls, no fighting the roll, just perfect sheets that fit your pans. You can also buy cake parchment rounds so you don’t have to trace them out!
9. Round Cake Pans — I use 8″ and 6″ pans the most of any size. Having three of each size on hand means you can make three or two-layered cakes.
My Favorite Baking Gifts Under $60
1. Sheet Pans — These are the exact pans I use every time I bake. They can be used for literally anything, not just baking!
2. Waffle Kitchen Towel Set — I love a reliable kitchen towel, and these waffle-knit ones are just that, plus they are super cute! They’re one of those gifts that bakers never think to buy for themselves.
3. KitchenAid Hand Mixer — If buying a stand mixer isn’t on your list right now, this is a great alternative. I use mine when I’m baking a few things at once and the stand mixer is preoccupied.
4. Donut Cutter — If you want bakery-style donuts at home, this is the secret. A proper cutter gives you clean edges, perfect rings, and even frying, no lopsided donuts in sight!
5. Half Apron — After wearing aprons for years in bakeries, I actually love a half apron instead. It’s perfect when you want coverage without the bulk and feels lightweight and easy to move in. I love the floral pattern of this one!
6. Ceramic Pie Dish — Ceramic pie dishes bake evenly and hold heat beautifully, giving your crust that perfect golden finish. It also doubles as a serving piece, so you can bring pies straight from the oven to your table, and they’ll look gorgeous.
7. Candy Thermometer — This tool is used for frying donuts, making caramel, or cooking sugar syrups. Temperature is everything in these recipes, and this tool prevents guesswork.
8. Printed Oven Mitt — I’m obsessed with the cute cherry print! It also has a thick lining and extended wrist coverage, so you’ll know your hands are protected when you pull your baked goods out of a hot oven.
9. Large Cookie Scoop — This is my go-to cookie scoop size for bakery-style cookies. It portions the dough perfectly, speeds up prep, and keeps your hands clean!
10. Real Vanilla Bean Paste — When I’m making frostings, sugar cookies, glazes, or cakes, I always use vanilla paste. You can really taste the difference when a few ingredients are involved.
11. Wooden Cake Stand — A cake stand isn’t essential, but boy, does it look stunning! You can use it for more than just cakes, too. I’ll line up brownies, bars, cupcakes, donuts, etc., on top and display them when I’m hosting.
Stocking Stuffers & Under-$20 Gifts
1. Offset Spatula Trio — I use these to lift cookies, smooth frosting, loosen bars, spread glazes, the list goes on. They’re inexpensive but make a huge difference in precision.
2. Large Piping Tips — These are my most used piping tips for cupcake swirls, frosting cinnamon rolls, decorating cookies, and cakes.
3. Reusable Piping Bag — I actually prefer disposable piping bags only because I hate washing them, but I do use my reusable bag frequently. Either way, they’re a must for frostings, fillings, or even drizzling.
6. Rubber Spatulas — A good heat-resistant spatula is key, especially when stirring really hot items like caramel or hot sugar. I have a gorgeous Le Creuset one that I love, but over time, the wood has started to splinter and warp.
7. Cupcake Liners — I use these liners for cupcakes and muffins. They’re sturdy and have that brown bakery-style paper look. They are a perfect stocking stuffer!
8. Kitchen Ruler — When I’m making cinnamon rolls, this is my go-to tool for precision. It’s also perfect for cutting bars or sheet cakes when you want all sizes to match.
9. Pizza Wheel — Another go-to cinnamon roll tool in my kitchen! Using a pizza wheel to cut through dough is quicker and easier than using a knife, and you get perfect, clean lines every time.
10. Cupcake Corer — This is my favorite secret tool for filling cupcakes that we used in the bakery. It’s actually for apples, but it’s perfect for removing the center of cupcakes for filling.
I hope this list helps take the guesswork out of holiday gifting!
These are the exact tools I use every day in my kitchen and would genuinely be thrilled to receive myself. So whether you’re shopping for a baker in your life or treating yourself to a new favorite, I hope you find something you’ll love this season.
If you’d like a visual look at everything on this list (plus some extras), you can browse my full ShopMy storefront.
Happy holidays! 🫶🏻
— Cambrea
