The Best Holiday Gifts for Every Type of Home Cook

I’ve owned my Unicorn for nearly a decade and it still works perfectly. You can choose your grind size (which stays consistent until you change it), it’s comfortable to grip and twist, and it comes with a little tray at the bottom so there aren’t loose bits scattered around all the time. The one disclaimer is that this product tends to go in and out of stock quite frequently, so if you find yourself unable to purchase it, consider this ultraluxe one from Mannkitchen or a classic Peugeot.

Any professional will tell you that grinding whole spices is one of the simplest ways to improve your cooking. The battery-operated Finamill, which lets you swap out a rotating cast of pods and seeds, pulverizes them at the press of a button.

I reach for these tongs — a tool halfway between cooking chopsticks and traditional tongs — when I want to delicately flip individual ingredients to brown on both sides (like smashed potatoes or mushrooms). Still, they’re hefty enough to lift a chicken thigh or skirt steak, and they come in handy for random tasks like nabbing a piece of fallen food from the bottom of your burner or grabbing one slippery noodle left in your pasta water.

It’s easy for small kitchen tools like a peeler to be an afterthought — but not all are created equal. This one from Material is actually gift-worthy, with a comfortable grip and super-sharp blade that can be replaced (it comes with a second) when it wears down.

This clever fold-flat citrus juicer slides easily into kitchen drawers and offers a lot of leverage when squeezing. This midsize one works for both lemons and limes, but there’s a smaller one that fits only limes and a larger one that fits oranges, too.

A pretty glass skimmer is a bit unusual — the type of item someone isn’t likely to indulge in for themselves. It also makes a great punch-bowl ladle.

This striped apron is pleasing without being too much, but I talked to a bunch of chefs and recipe developers about other great options, too.

All of Gestura’s tools are supremely thoughtfully designed, and any one of them would make a fantastic gift. (I’ve written about how much I love its tasting spoon before, and included it on several gift guides in the past.) The latest in its lineup is this bench scraper, which can be used to handle dough but also to lift and transfer ingredients and scraps around the kitchen. The angled handle is made from Japanese oak and the blade from heat-treated steel so that it has the slightest flexibility.

A stellar chef’s knife will make them a better, faster, cleaner, more efficient cook. This Shun is a gorgeous Japanese-style blade but if you want to go with one that isn’t quite so pricey, I’ve been loving my Messermeister, too.

Many knife sets come with kitchen shears, but if your recipient doesn’t already have a dedicated pair, consider these chef-favorite ones from Wüsthof. They look sleek since they’re made from all stainless steel, and they are easy to pull apart and clean — but not so much that they separate while you’re using them to prep.

Le Creuset Dutch ovens are beloved by many pro cooks — but the brand’s skillets are just as pretty and hardworking. This isn’t a cheap piece, but it’s still markedly less expensive than that infamous bigger pot, and you’ll still go down in their book as being a remarkably thoughtful gift giver.

As always, there are a ton of giftable cookbooks that came out this year. One of my favorites is the debut from Hailee Catalano (my favorite Instagram cooking crush of the last long while). Her recipes are approachable but innovative, and as I said in my mini-review, the volume as a whole already feels like a classic.

Something about a cookbook stand feels a bit retro (maybe because so many people cook from online recipes these days). But if they’re a regular cookbook user, I think this would make such a fun gift. It’ll save them precious counter space, and the acrylic panel protects the pages from stains. Double up on this and a new title, and you’ll have a real standout.

If they’re not already, they should be buying larger tins to save money and decanting them into an olive-oil pourer — and even better, a chic olive-oil pourer.

A butter keeper that seals with a water basin means they they’ll have fresh and soft butter ready to spread any time they like.

Just a very delightful object for their counter.

Generally speaking, salad servers make a lovely gift because they come in so many different designs at so many different price points and can be used for so much more than salads. This set is on the more expensive end, but I think it’s so cool-looking. For cheaper options, consider a teak option from CB2, this playful one by Areaware, or this stripe-handled one from Zara Home.

I’m a big proponent of keeping a large stack of cheap dish towels you can use without a second thought, throw in the wash, and not feel bad about when you have to replace. But aesthetic dish towels are an easy way to make your kitchen cuter if it’s otherwise lacking. I have a set of striped ones I leave on my oven-door handle and only use occasionally to dry my hands.

These merino-wool felt coasters (that we’ve recommended before, and that I’m personally obsessed with) absorb water droplets so liquid doesn’t pool on your coffee table — a simple but genius concept. They’re also one of my own go-to gifts for that reason; I’ve bought monochrome sets for friends with minimalist style and rainbow hues for those with louder taste.

According to Flynn McGarry, this the perfect wineglass: big enough to release aromas but proportioned so that it’s not overwhelming on the eyes or in the hand. The stem is also long enough to be elegant, but not so much that it becomes unwieldy.

Graf Lantz also makes these sweet wine-glass tags so guests can keep track of which drink is theirs. (You can choose from several sets made up of different colors.) I think this would make a thoughtful nice host gift.

I like that these are Christmasy without being gimmicky or so overtly seasonal they’d be unusable for the rest of the year.

Gifting an appliance can be risky, so only go for this if you know they have the space. With that disclaimer, I’ll say that this completely changed the way I shop, as I’m able to stock up on meat and fish whenever I go to a specialty butcher and fishmonger. Vacuum sealing can seem intimidating if you’ve never done it, but the process with this machine couldn’t be simpler. It also works on dry goods and is useful for sous-vide cooking.

I recently asked 19 restaurants across the country which steak knives they use. Any one of the options in there would make a great gift, though I singled out this set recommended by Barclay Prime in Philadelphia because they’re pricey (but not insane), beautiful, and come in an especially nice box.

This idea is inspired by Carla Lalli Music’s gift guide on her Substack from last year. She recommended a cast-iron tape dispenser from this company (handy because it’s so heavy) — but I also like this stainless one that allows for a couple of rolls at a time, or one with a thicker width.

Encourage them to think beyond pancakes and waffles.

Grinding beans fresh is the single best way they can improve their brew. While high-end coffee grinders can be extremely expensive, Baratza has kept the price point of this model relatively low — and it’s still recommended by the pros. The machine is consistent, has a large range of grind sizes and a strong motor, and comes with a cup that makes it easy to dispense grounds without making a huge mess.

I know, I know: A moka pot isn’t the same as an espresso machine, but its brew works pretty damn well for lattes and cappuccinos. This is an exclusive version of the classic Bialetti made just for Anthropologie; it comes in this red as well as blue and green.

Compared to high-end and deeply expensive grinders and espresso machines, this milk frother (our very favorite, by the way) is a small luxury. It makes perfectly textured microbubbles, can create hot or cold foam depending on the season, and is a breeze to clean. (And if you’re interested in shopping for more coffee gifts, I have a dedicated guide to that, too.)

A serious baker is likely to have all the essentials, so it’s imperative you get them something a little different they likely don’t already own, like one of Nordic Ware’s stunning decorative Bundt pans. They’re a favorite of chef Vallery Lomas, who loves them not only for their intricate designs but because they “are so well constructed and reliable,” she says.

Every baker should have a scale. Weighing ingredients (instead of measuring) is a much more consistent way to go. Plus it comes in handy for portioning foods, like ground meat for burgers or produce from the farmers’ market. The Escali is a reliable model that comes in a ton of colors, so you can pick out your recipient’s favorite.

If they’re using a regular knife blade to score the tops of their loaves, a dedicated tool (especially one as attractive as this) would be a nice upgrade.

Misen’s tiny saucier is a size they’re unlikely to have — but it’s still extremely useful. They can use it for melting butter (naturally), simmering sauces, making oatmeal and hot chocolate, reheating broth, and more.

Once you know Jono Pandolfi, you’ll start to see its pieces in restaurants all over — and for good reason. They’re extremely durable but still handmade (whether through slip-casting, jiggering, or wheel-throwing) in a studio in New Jersey. I own several of its platters myself (this design comes in sizes medium and small, too) and can attest to just how often they come in handy. The design is simple, but that’s a good thing: All food looks great on them.

Picking just one standout platter or bowl from Porta is difficult — because they all are. I like that this one feels Bordallo Pinheiro cabbageware-esque, but less overplayed. The green is sold-out but the pink (even more unusual) is still in stock.

Cheese knives are another gift where you can shop around and tailor your pick to your recipient (and to your budget). These from Sabre are stunning, I think, but if you want to spend less, consider this set from Be Home, this one from West Elm, or this one from Hawkins New York — all of which are under $40.

I’m a fan of Casafina’s ceramics and think that this olive dish, with a separate compartment for pits, is a clever vessel any fan of the fruit would make great use of. The hand-painted design feels slightly kitsch in a good way.

These tiny, colorful aperitif forks can, in fact, be used for more than just meats. Your recipient can put them out for grabbing any small bites they might start their soirée with.

I love cutting boards that mix wood types into some sort of design, and Russell Ooms is a master of the craft. Each is unique, so you won’t know exactly what you’re going to get until it shows up — but it’s a safe bet it will be extremely cool-looking.

Alessi makes many truly giftable items, and while certain of the brand’s things cost a pretty penny, there are affordable gems to be found. This spaghetti measurer hits all the right notes: fun and funny, somehow still luxe, and actually useful.

This is exactly the type of speciality item I wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself but would be thrilled to receive as a present. It will inspire many a cozy winter dinner party — so long as they “have good melting varieties and add a dash of nutmeg at the end,” says Amanda Parker, managing director of Cowgirl Creamery.

Make it even more so by gifting a manual kitchen timer. There’ll be no need to open their phone.

Give them a luxe finishing step to their routine with our very favorite hand cream. This is our best-smelling pick, a favorite of senior editor Hilary Reid, who describes the scent as powdery but not old-ladyish and the texture as moisturizing but not sticky. “It’s also little splurgey for hand cream in general,” she says, “but nice for a gift.”