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6 Chatelaine Test Kitchen-Approved Gifts For Bakers

Our Test Kitchen contributors dish on their favourite gift-worthy essentials for the bakers in your life.
6 Chatelaine Test Kitchen-Approved Gifts For Bakers

Whether it’s a splurgy stand mixer or a pastry chef’s $18 secret weapon, there’s a gift to delight the baker in your life this holiday—even if that baker is you. Here's some favourites from Chatelaine's test kitchen contributors.

A set of three aluminum rimmed baking sheets of different sizes.

Nordic Ware 3-piece Baker’s Delight Set, $30

Heavy-gauge cookie sheets are always the right choice. You can scrub them clean, they don’t warp, and they conduct heat evenly. I have a lot of Chicago Metallic and Nordicware. Always choose silver metal over dark; you’ll get more control over how quickly things brown that way. —Eshun Mott 

A spring-loaded metal cookie scoop with rubber-lined handles.

Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop, $22

I’ve always got a metal spring-loaded scoop or two on hand for making cookies. They’re super helpful in portioning dough consistently, evenly and quickly—and no need to grease them. —Tara O’Brady

A single piece of metal rolled into a bench scraper.

Norpro Stainless Steel Ruler/Scraper, $18

I couldn’t live without a solid stainless steel bench scraper. It’s invaluable for getting flour and stuck-on bits off your work surface, so you can easily clean your countertops without ruining every sponge or dishcloth you own. I like ones made from a single piece of stainless steel as there’s no seams that can warp or dislodge. —Michelle Lucas Larving

A red plastic instant read thermometer with a hinge for the needle.

Thermapen Thermocouple Instant-Read Thermometer, $179

I’m a lover of simple things: silicone mats, cookie cutters, sheet pans. But an instant-read thermometer is an overlooked essential, and for me it's gotta be a Thermapen. I’ve used them at home and at work for years to test doneness on cakes and in candy-making. They’re quick, easy to use and they justify their price by lasting forever. —Camilla Wynne

A box of Kana parchment paper for 8-inch round cake pans.

Kana Parchment Paper 6, 8, 9, and 10-in. Baking Circles, $30 to $40

Someone out there with superior paper-cutting skills to mine might scoff at this, but hear me out: pre-cut cake pan papers. They’re fully biodegradable, nearly impossible to burn and fit perfectly into round cake pans. A $30 pack includes 100 sheets, which lasts a few years—unless you’re baking a brand-new cake each week, which only justifies the purchase even more. —Chantal Braganza

A KitchenAid artisan pro stand mixer.

KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, $640

For a splurge on serious home bakers, I recommend the KitchenAid Pro. It has a 575-watt motor compared to the standard Artisan’s 325. This extra power makes a big difference when mixing dense doughs like bread, or extra-large batches of cookie dough. —Jennifer Pallian

Check out more thoughtful (and affordable!) gift ideas.

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