Gift Guide - for Bakers

This year, I decided to do a whole lotta gift guides here, showcasing products I bought, some I got for reviews, some I reviewed already, and some that are up for review in the future.

First up are gifts for people who love to bake.

Letterpressed Cookie Cutters

I love cookie cutters, and this set of cutters includes 26 letters of the alphabet, plus ! and &, so you can make random letter cookies OR you can spell out messages. The cutters are several different sizes, which is really fun. Stamp with one side and cut with the other.

Parchment Tulip Cups and Lotus Cups

A great stocking stuffer for you favorite baker, these baking cups take cupcakes to the next level. And, if you're lucky, you'll get some cupcakes in return.

Snowflake Baking Pan

Bake a snowflake! I made a chocolate cake and dusted it with powdered sugar, and it was really pretty. There will be a recipe over on Cookistry shortly. The cake I made was a bit sticky, but it came out of the pan, which is pretty amazing given the dips and divots in the design. 

Stuff'n Mallows

Okay, maybe this should go with the food gifts or the stocking stuffers, but it's my gift guide, and these crazy marshmallows would be fun to bake with. Or eat while you're baking.

Finlandia Butter

Okay, no one's going to wrap up butter and put it under the tree, but it would be an awesome hostess gift for someone who bakes, or it would be nice in a gift basket that includes other chilled items. I've just started messing around with this butter, and I'm itching to use it in pastry or croissants because it's pretty solid. I think it would make marvelous flaky crusts.

Anything fron GIR

GIR makes awesome spatulas, turners, spoons, and bowl covers, and they come in a lot of different colors, so they're pretty as well as useful. I love the spatulas, and the new turners are very handy - and safe for nonstick cookware and bakeware. 

Silverstone Nonstick Covered 9x13 Baking Pan

I have other 9x13 metal baking pans, but this is my favorite. The color is nice, the cover hangs on nice and tight, and the interior is nonstick. Unlike other covered pans, this one is more square than angled, so it's roomier inside. I use this pan for baking, for storage, and for transporting items.

Custom-Made Cookie Cutter

Got a design in mind that you can find in stores? Get one custom made!

Thermapen

I went through a ridiculous number of inexpensive instant-read thermometers before I finally got a thermapen - the cheap ones were often unreliable, or they would fail suddenly. The Thermapen has lasted through lots of use, and the newest version has some great new features, like the screen that senses angle and direction which makes it easier to read.

OXO Measuring Beakers

The perfect way to measure liquid ingredients. That's it. They're just right. I use the teaspoon and tablespoon measures the most, but they whole set is handy to have, and they nest for compact storage.

Red Star Yeast

Okay, two pounds might be too much for many people, but smaller amounts would be fun for stocking stuffers or in addition to other bread-related gifts.

Time Bomb Kitchen Timer

A fun and funny kitchen timer that would be a good stocking stuffer for the cook with a sense of humor. The timer doesn't actually go "boom" when time is up - it rings like a normal timer.

Emile Henry Bread Baker

The bread baker in your life wants this.

Cake Boss Airbrush

If your favorite baker is the artistic sort, or just likes to play with colors on frostings, an airbrush can be a whole lot of fun to play with. A whole lot.

Why yes, I do love gadgets! 

Note: While I received some items at no cost to me for prior or future reviews, I am also featuring items that I purchased. I was not compensated to include items in the gift guides - these are all my choices.

Bear Hands

You wouldn't grab a hot cookie sheet from the oven with your bare hands. But you could do it with Bear Hands.

I mean, you could do it if you have Bear Hands Mitts. You know, potholders.

The mitts are thick and padded and heat resistant. The details are silicone, so they're nice and grippy and even more heat resistant.

But seriously, they're just FUN. Funny. Humorous. Comical. Amusing. Cute.

But, unlike some kitchen things that are so cute they sacrifice some functionality, these are completely useful. Well, okay, the little claws don't serve an actual purpose, but they don't hinder use at all.

And they're fun to wear. I tend to wave them around and say "rawr" when I'm wearing them. It doesn't really amuse the dog, or the meatloaf. But it amuses me. And that's enough.

If you're looking for a really fun but useful gift for someone who cooks or someone who spends quality time at the barbecue grill, look no further.

Who's it for: People who cook, grill, barbecue or bake, and who don't want to burn their fingers off.

Pros: Thick, grippy, attractive.

Cons: Honestly, I've been a bit hesitant to get these dirty just because they look cool. After the first stain, I won't care, But for now, I'm being careful with them.

Wishes: Polar bears need love too. Just kidding. White would get dirty way too fast.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.

Voga Wine and Sparkling Ice Lemonade

As a food blogger, sometimes I get, well, food to sample. And drinks. 

Not long ago, I received a package with Voga wines and Sparkling Ice Lemonade. The idea is that you'd make a wine cocktail using the wine and the lemonade. And presumably something else. But after trying the wine and lemonade together, I didn't think it needed anything else. It was pretty tasty just like that.

On the other hand, if I was serving this to company, I'd probably have some lemon or lime slices as a garnish. Or maybe some cherries on a skewer.

Wine cocktails can be potent, or they can be light, depending on what you add. In this case, the cocktail is very light, both in alcohol content, and in calories. The Ice lemonades are calorie-free, so they don't add calories to the drink. And obviously, adding a non-alcoholic beverage to the wine lowers the overall alcohol content.

Add some ice, if you like, and it's even lighter.

The Voga wine was nice all by itself, and I have to say that I liked the bottle design. Yes, you shouldn't buy a wine because of a bottle. But it is different. And fun. The bottle is sealed with the cork, but it also has a screw-on cap.

This combo would be fun for a party, either pre-mixed, or as a mix-your-own bar, since there are several flavors of the Ice lemonade and of course there are a variety of wines. This would also make a nice gift item or hostess gift.

Who's it for: Wine drinkers. Lemonade drinkers who'd like a little fizz.

Pros: Nice wine, unique bottle. No-calorie lemonade.

Cons: I know some folks don't like no-calorie beverages. I generally don't drink them, but unlike some, this didn't have a weird taste that I've detected in other brands.

Wishes: None that I can think of.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.