Knowing someone’s hobbies is the first step in getting them a gift they will love. But the tricky part is finding them a gift that is both exciting and useful. When it comes to baking, sometimes you may not even know what you need, but then you receive a gift that makes each baking experience richer and simpler to accomplish. A winning gift for sure! Getting gifts for a baker can be made simple with a little help from your baker friends!
1. Baking Scale
Why weigh ingredients in baking?
We have four of these in the bakery and they are probably the most used pieces of equipment. Weighing ingredients is the most accurate way to measure. It results in an identical bake each time. An added bonus is that instead of having to wash various measuring cups, you just directly add ingredients to the bowl. This eliminates the guess work on whether you should level your measuring cup with a knife, or whether the meniscus should be above or below the line. I also included a scoop that is handy when scooping out ingredients to be measured.
2. A dutch pastry whisk
Why do bakers use Dutch whisks?
This tool is such a wonderful tool that I use in my daily baking. The aspiring baker in your family may already be aware of the dangers of overmixing certain baked goods. This whisk helps in fully mixing your dough, while helping to prevent over mixing. The way it cuts through the batter helps hit the pockets of unmixed ingredients, while also preventing unnecessary overmixing. Items I used this for: pancakes, sourdough starter, biscuits, quick breads, muffins, and much more. Check out our article on Homemade Pasta from Fresh Milled Flour to see the Dutch whisk in use.
3.Glass mixing bowls
Why use glass mixing bowls for baking?
When mixing, it’s just nice to be able to see the bottom of the bowl. Are all my ingredients incorporated? Is there a patch of dry flour? Easy to see in a glass bowl. I like this particular set because it also has small bowls that are perfect for certain ingredients. For instance, I always keep a small bowl of coarse salt around because everything tastes a little more high-end with some coarse salt sprinkled on it, even baked goods. In addition to possibly improving the quality of baked goods, glass bowls just feel good to work with. Enhancing the baking experience is a gift in and of itself!
4. UNique SPices
Every year my mother-in-law gets me a new and unique spice from her favorite spice shop. I am excited to see what new flavor she brings me every year. My favorite spice so far has been the Apple Pie Spice. I use it not only in my baking, but also in my cooking. I have also used the Vietnamese Cinnamon and it provides such a deep and complex flavor to the simplest of recipes. Using these special spices can provide a uniqueness to a baker’s treats. It inspires creativity and births new ideas. I like using Apple Pie Spice and Vietnamese Cinnamon in pancakes, quick breads, French toast, cinnamon rolls, pies and much more.
5. Vanilla Bean Paste
Why use vanilla bean paste in baking?
Vanilla bean paste is more pricey than extract, making it a luxury that you can provide for the baker in your family. It adds a richer flavor than extracts and aids in the creaminess of the bake. This is perfect for macarons due to the fact that its water content is less than that of an extract. Gifts for a bakers can include a range of essentials and luxury items.
6.Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Is a Dutch oven normally used for baking?
If your baker enjoys making bread there are so many wonderful artisan bread recipes that use a Dutch oven. It helps the loaf hold that round artisan shape while not looking to molded. It also helps the bread get a nice crusty exterior and soft interior. I love multipurpose gifts for aspiring bakers. This is also perfect for soups, casseroles, and much more.
7.MIni cast iron
What is the use of a mini cast iron skillet?
I remember seeing these at the store and thinking they were really just a novelty item. However, when you’re baking certain recipes, they can be very useful. When making savory or sweet baked goods you’re occasionally required to sauté garlic or brown butter. For small batches, it can be difficult to sauté small amounts in a large pan, and also a pain. It can be much simpler to have a small pan devoted to this particular task.
8.Full coverage apron
There are so many aprons out there. A couple helpful tips I would give is that the apron be full coverage and have pockets. Obviously, I like to be able to wipe my hands on the skirt. But I also like to protect the rest of my clothes. For instance, when making a berry compote, sometimes it can pop out of the pan when I’m stirring. Berry stains are very difficult to remove so a full apron is so helpful. I also like to choose lighter colors because the most common thing I get all over me is flour or dry ingredients. This shows up much worse on dark colors, as seen below. An apron is one of those gifts for a baker that can be both a fashion statement and a useful tool.
Pockets are so handy to keep track of those small tools that are helpful to have right on your person, like a thermometer or a marker.
9. 10 in Bench scraper
This is another item we fight over in the bakery. We use it for EVERYTHING: cutting cinnamon rolls, icing cakes, scraping flour into the trash bin. What makes this extra useful is the added length. Most scrapers are six inches long. The ten-inch length makes it useful for cake icing, no matter how tall the cake. In addition, it’s good for slicing through dough, no matter how thick. You can also use it to scrape up chopped vegetables and other food prep tasks. One of the best gifts for a baker because its so versatile!
10.instant read thermometer
How do you know you’re getting a perfectly baked treat every time?
An instant read thermometer, specifically the Thermapen, is often seen as a cooking tool for making sure meat is cooked correctly. But it is indispensable in the bakery! Items like bread, croissants, pastries, brownies, muffins and several other bakes, have proper internal temperatures. If you are able to check that temperature, then it takes the guess work out of whether your treats are done. No more knocking on your bread loaves to test for doneness. Just check the internal temperature. Easy! Again the one we use and love is the Thermapen, the last forever and always give us a good read.
Gifts for A Baker
This list of gifts is meant to help your baker continue to fall in love with the art of baking. Just as an artist may want new paints, high quality canvas or a new variety of paint brushes, a baker yearns for new tools and supplies to help them improve upon their art. I hope this helps you on your hunt for the perfect gift for someone special and please comment with any questions you may have.
Joanne says
I love everything about the flour barn, including the great gift suggestions! Thanks you for posting and providing some ideas for gifting. Perfect!
lilianscheiderer says
Thanks, Joanne! So glad you enjoyed it!