The Best Cooking Gifts for Grownups Who Love to Cook
In our kitchens, we have many go-to tools that we use on daily basis, cookbooks that inspire our own cooking, and fun, happy things that we just like to keep in our kitchens! We’ve narrowed them down here to our most loved and most used. We hope the items on this curated list of tools makes your everyday cooking a little bit happier.
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Silicone Scraper
We’ve been corrected by our chef friends, that these are indeed called Scrapers and not Spatulas :) If you’re in need of a new set, I highly recommend this brand: BPA-free silicone and heat resistant up to 600 degrees F, which means they’re good for candy making too! Buy multiple sets! Not because they wear out, but because the colors are GOOD! We reach for the spoonula most often because it’s great for mixing, scooping and scraping, but every tool get regular use in our kitchens.
Immersion Blender
Every kitchen needs an immersion blender! Easily blends soups in the winter and salad dressings in the summer, and makes the most amazing whipped cream. All without having to haul out (and clean!) the regular blender. The Cuisinart brand is tried and true and has withstood the test of time in our kitchens.
Food Processor
This one is a bit of an investment, but if your kids like making snacks and dips, this is a fantastic tool. And a good one will last forever. We bring our food processor to almost every class we teach because it’s essential for making nutrient-dense energy bites, and smooth and creamy dips and salsas. We recently discovered that you can chop up salads, quickly julienne veggies, and even make your own nut butters. This appliance is a workhorse, and one that can really take you to the next level in your cooking journey.
Small Metal Spatula/Server
This is one of those all-in-one tools you didn’t know you needed, but then end up using all the time. We love this tool because you can use it as a spatula (in a stainless steel or cast iron pan), or you can use it to both cut and serve any sort of bar/baked food, like brownies, rice krispie treats, baked oatmeal…you get the idea. It’s small and sturdy, and you’re gonna wanna keep it close by the stove!
Lightweight Sheet Pans
These lightweight, stainless sheet pans are perfect for baking everything. We use them in our own homes especially after cooking in commercial kitchens where this style of baking sheet is king. We love that you get three sizes and they’re a great price point too! Note: we HIGHLY recommend using parchment paper when using these pans. It REALLY extends the life of the pans. They do clean up easy enough, but yeah, just use parchment and make your life a lot easier.
Food Scissors
If you’re a parent of young children, you’ll love having a pair of scissors that are dedicated to cutting food. Perfect for cutting fruits, veggies, pasta, meat, and cheese into bite sizes for little kiddos. Kids that can safely operate scissors also love to use these for cutting their own food! Love the carrying case too. Pro tip: Grab two and keep one at home and the other in your bag for eating out.
Let’s Eat by Dan Pelosi
101 Recipes that feel like a great big hug! Most recipes lean Italian, but every recipe I (Lauren) have made, has been an absolute knock-out. There are helpful guides included and while we can’t guarantee it, this cookbook will make you HAPPIER. It’s also just incredibly beautiful and doubles as a coffee table book. A perfect gift for that cook (especially if they love Ina Garten) or wannabe cook in your life. The Vodka Sawce is a must try, but the Fork and Knife Carbonara is absolutely gourmet. Once you start cooking with Dan, you’ll be amazed by how quickly joy will infiltrate your kitchen!
Love & Lemons Simple Feel Good Food by Jeanine Donofrio
A vegetarian’s dream cookbook! Besides being visually beautiful (truly the photos and layout are stunning), this book is jam-packed with delicious and practical vegetarian recipes. I (Sally) love her “Mix and Match” recipes that offer a base recipe and multiple ways to mix it up OR her 3-in-1 meal plans that use one seasonal produce ingredient in three unique ways. My favorite, however, is the entire section devoted to Grain Bowls! If you love vegetarian cooking, or are simply trying to get more veggies in, this is your book.
The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila
This book has been the guide to my (Lauren) entire adult life as a self-taught cook. If you’re someone who is looking for more ways to make things at home rather than buying pantry staples from the store, it is a guide. This cookbook operates almost like an encyclopedia guiding you through a variety of pantry staples that you can make easily at home. It is approachable and simple and positively delightful. You’ll learn to make foods and also how to enjoy the process of making foods. From ketchup to graham crackers, to teas, and doughs, this book will teach you everything you need to know. It is the perfect gift for the cook who wants a little bit more out of their kitchen.
Meal Planning Notepad (Magnetic)
“What’s for dinner?,” they ask (every darn day!) Meal planning saves us every week when this question comes up! We love this meal planning notepad (I mean, shameless plug but we did design it ourselves!) to help you stay organized. Plan your your weekly meals and write them down so it’s visible to all, and cheerful to boot! List is 5.5x8.5 in, includes 50 pages, and has a magnet on the back to keep it up on any refrigerator or other magnetic surface.
These are the gifts we would want for every day cooking! We hope you find some favorites for yours! Looking for a list for kids who love to cook? Check out our guide.