Gifts for Bakers
Patricia @ ButterYum
Here are some last minute gift ideas for the baker in your life. I speak from personal experience when I say I use and love them all!
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Mauviel Copper Sugar Pot - The French designed this small narrow saucepan specifically for boiling sugar. The copper heats very quickly and evenly, and it inhibits the formation of sugar crystals which can ruin a batch of melted sugar in an instant. I use mine every time I make caramel or Italian meringue buttercream.
USA Pans - Top quality commercial-weight bakeware. Time to replace those warped and discolored pans that burn everything. This set is the bomb - simply the best bakeware I've ever used.
The BeaterBlade - This item is probably the single most important baking tool since the invention of the stand mixer. The silicone ribs completely eliminate the need to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Be careful when ordering - these are available for many makes and models so you'll need to know specifics of your particular stand mixer when placing your order.
Rotating Cake Stand - this is a must for anyone who wants to delve into cake decorating. My cake decorating skills went from so-so to pro when I started using a rotating cake stand. No flimsy plastic here. This is a heavy duty cast base with a rotating aluminum disk. I wouldn't dream of decorating a cake without it. And it's pretty enough to use for display too.
Microplane Zester/Grater - Nothing grates things like citrus zest, garlic, nutmeg, or chocolate quite as well as a microplane grater. I’ve had mine for years and it works just as well as it did when it was brand new. A tool you'll reach for again and again and again.
USA Pans Round Cake Pans - We already discussed the wonderful commercial quality of USA Pans, but it's important to use straight sided pans when baking a layer cake instead of pans that nest together and have slanted sides which can make decorating a cake a very difficult and frustrating task.
Oxo Digital Scale with Pull-Out Display - Those who want to bake like the pros know the pros measure their ingredient by weight. There are tons of digital scales out there, but this one has a nifty pull-out display which is extremely handy. I used a different brand scale for years and it worked very well, but a large bowl or plate would block my view of the digital display so I'd have to resort to very creative ways to read the display (plate or bowl stacked on an upside down cup = potential disaster). Not anymore! Measures in Imperial and Metric, has a tare (zero) function, and will weigh up to 11 pounds.
Cuisipro Meauring Spoons and Cups - For those who prefer to measure by volume, this set is the one to get. Not all measuring spoons and cups are accurate, but Cuisipro measuring spoons and cups are precisely calibrated, and they're not flimsy at all so they won't bend. They look really cool too.
Vitamix 750 - What an amazing piece of equipment. It's no wonder thousands of restaurants, cafes, and smoothie bars choose Vitamix. This thing is awesome, and not just for making smoothies - you can use it to make nut butters, hot soups, frozen desserts, grind flour - it'll even make pizza dough!
Nordicware Heritage Bundt Pan - Of all the Bundt pans I own, this is the one that gets the most Oohs and Aahs from friends and family. Everybody loves the shape it give to cakes.
Stainless Cookie Scoops - These little gadgets are the reason why bakeries can make cookies, cupcakes, and muffins that are all the same size. And when everything is the same size, everything bakes evenly. They're neat and tidy too, especially when filling muffin pans. I have them in 7 different sizes, but the #50 is my favorite size for cookies, and the #20 is what I use for muffins.
Oxo Mini Measuring Beakers - Perfect for measuring small amounts, this set includes 4 nesting beakers that measure from 1/4 teaspoon to 4 tablespoons. They have easy pour spouts, are dishwasher safe, and they're so darn cute!
Ramekins - I love to use these ramekins for serving things like creme brulee, pudding, and ice cream, but I love-love-love that they stack together without tipping over. And they're available in a rainbow of colors too.
Kitchen Torch - This is one of those items everyone wants to have in their kitchen. Use it to caramelize sugar on creme brulee, toast meringue, or melt cheese on French onion soup.
USA Pan Half Sheet Pan - Whether making cookies, roasting vegetables, or baking bread - these pans can handle the task. So versatile - I have 7 or 8, but the average kitchen can get by 2 (unless you bake on a huge scale like me).
Nonstick Cooling Racks - These cooling racks are my favorite because they're super sturdy and they fit perfectly inside the half sheet pan listed above. The nonstick finish makes them easy to clean too.
Silpat Baking Mat - Line half sheet pans with these reusable silicone baking mats. Absolutely nothing sticks to a silpat - bake cookies, make fudge, pour taffy, bake bread, and so much more. Heat-safe up to 480F, wipes clean with a damp cloth, and can be used thousands of times. I own five of them.
Flat Parchment - These precut FLAT parchment sheets fit half sheet pans perfectly. No more rolled edges! They make your baking surface nonstick and are super easy cleanup. I also love the fact that they’re not made in China. The package is easy to store and keeps the sheets nice and flat.
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker - Without question, nothing beats homemade ice cream. Need I say more? I have two of these so I can make a couple of batches back to back.
Compressor Ice Cream Maker - If you’re serious about making lots of ice cream, gelato, or sorbet, this is my go-to machine. Less expensive ice cream makers require the use of an insert that must be frozen for at least 24 hours in advance, and then you have to refreeze for another 24 hours before it can be used again. But a model that has an internal compressor allows you to make batch after batch after batch. This one has makes ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and even frozen yogurt… and you can select how frozen you want the finished product to be. I enjoy the nifty jingle that plays when the cycle is done.
Brod & Taylor Folding Bread Proofer and Yogurt Maker - The ultimate bread baker's toy. This folding bread proofing box helps maintain consistent humidity and temperature for the ideal environment to ferment and rise bread dough, make yogurt, and melt chocolate. Temperature range is 70-120F (humidity range or approx 60-80%). Folds flat for easy storage.
Flat Whisk - Kind of like a whisk/spatula hybrid. It functions like a whisk and it scrapes the bottom of a sauce pan when cooking puddings or custards - gets into the corners of the pan too. Pretty nifty tool.
Breville Sous Chef Food Processor - This thing is built like a tank! Let's start with the die-cast metal base, non skid feet, a count-up and count-down timer, huge 16-cup work bowl, silicone gasket to keep crumbs and splashes in the bowl, a small 2.5 cup mini bowl, 3 blades, 5 discs (including one that adjusts to 24 different thickness settings), and a storage case to hold all the extra blades and discs. I've tried a lot of food processors over the years, and this is one is my favorite by far.
Oven Thermometer - Nothing threatens to ruin the success of your baked goods as much as baking at the wrong oven temperature. It can sit on top of or hang under any rack in your oven.
KitchenAid Pro Stand Mixer - This super sturdy stand mixer is a long-time favorite of mine (I actually have 3). I use mine to make bread, pasta, cakes, whipped cream, buttercream, cookie dough, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, pie crust, meatballs, and so much more. Something every serious gourmand should own.
Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract - Any baker would absolutely LOVE to get this 32-ounce bottle of the world’s best Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. One of the most intoxicating flavors and aromas in the world - in a size large enough to last for a really long time. Pure vanilla extract never expires so you definitely can't go wrong with this one.
