Gift guide
15 fun holiday kitchen gifts under $25 for your favorite dedicated or reluctant home chef. | Holiday Gifts 2021
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Whether or not you've made a huge dent in your holiday shopping or haven't even taken a look at your kids' Google Slide presentation (ha), there's still time to place your orders for some fun holiday kitchen gifts for everyone on your list who cooks. Whether they are a dedicated or reluctant home chef, there's something here to put a smile on their face the next time they go to cut some herbs or stir a simmering sauce.
And while we love a gorgeous, dare we say---sexy---splurge, we also know that not all of us have budgets to afford this for our entire list of family, friends, teachers, and party hosts. So this list of fun holiday kitchen gifts includes only wonderful, gift-worthy items that are under $25. Some of these items have gone up a bit in price from when this post was published this time last year.
So, don't put off your shopping any longer! Grab your list and start shopping with these ideas to get you going. We have something for everyone from younger cooks to us more mature ones who could use a little pick-me-up in the kitchen.
Charcuterie for two will look so special on this small personalized bamboo cutting board by Flowertown Weddings. They offer lots of different design options so you can find the one that your recipient would love most. But, hurry---other sizes have sold out already and this one will go fast too.
I can't decide if these adorable holiday spatulas by Tovolo would be cuter as a stocking stuffer for my teen daughter who loves to bake, or my neighbor who makes the most delicious Christmas treats. Maybe just grab a bunch to pass out to everyone you like.
I wouldn't normally want to give someone a gift that says "wash the dishes", but I love this pairing for a nice hostess gift or something for the aunt who has everything. These pretty European lemon dish cloths and the convenient Bubble Up Dish Soap Dispenser and Brush from Grove Collaborative will make even clean up a bit more cheery.
They'll be ready to shake shake shake all the holiday cocktails and mocktails well into the new year with this well-rated, classic stainless steel Boston shaker. Great gift for your favorite party host.
If they love to start their day with a cup of matcha, this pretty, bamboo-style aerolatte electric matcha whisk will help them get it nice and smooth. If you're feeling splurgy, add in some of teapigs' premium organic matcha green tea.
When they're stirring their favorite recipe and need to add pepper, they'll thank you for the OXO Good Grips Contoured Mess-Free Pepper Grinder which has an easy tab to select the grind settings. So much more convenient than the traditional mill!
Sometimes you just need an apron for a quick hand wipe, and I love this 100% cotton holiday plaid apron from the Magnolia line at Target for those moments.
There are so many terrific and beautifully designed cookbooks that you could easily find one for everyone on your list. If you're buying for an adventurous cook, try picking a title from a cuisine they may not be as familiar with--but would be willing to try--like some of these plant-based, vegan cookbooks from a variety of cooks.
There is the stunning The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro who you may know from popular her TikTok page, Hot for Food All Day by Canadian tv personality Lauren Toyota, The Vegan Meat Cookbook by acclaimed vegan chef Miyoko Schinner, and Vegetable Kingdom by Bryant Terry, a James Beard & NAACP Image Award-winning chef and activist. Hopefully, you'll get invited over for dinner.
One of my favorite gifts-to-me, this sustainable, sturdy and hygienic magnetic bamboo knife block from Happy Home Story makes it so easy to store knives safely on the counter (it's just over $25 but worth the extra $2). And it's so much easier to clean than those dark slits in a knife block. (shudder)
This set of six pretty ramekins from Sweejar will go from oven to table beautifully---look at those swoonworthy blues! I especially appreciate the handles on the side so I am not so apt to drop them while wearing bulky oven mitts.
This small .75 quart glazed terra cotta glazed tagine at Sur la Table comes at an incredible price for someone who may do a lot of cooking for one and wouldn't need a full-sized tagine. Great way to introduce them to a new style of cooking.
Most of us already keep our salt at the ready while we're cooking but this beautiful acacia wood salt cellar at Crate and Barrel would look fantastic on both the kitchen counter and the dining room table. At such a great price, you can even add in some Cole and Mason Sea Salt and stay under $25.
Our editor Liz raved about these incredible oven mitts from Beets and Berry which helped her daughter get over the fear of being burned while baking. Love this holiday red color, though they come in a total of six colors, from black to fuchsia pink. Yay for getting more kids into the kitchen!
Oh sure they may have plenty of cast iron pans but do they have a Lodge Guitar Mini Skillet? Perfect for a musical friend, this little pan is crafted in America with just iron and oil. Just no air guitar before dinner. ($12.95 at Lodge)
Say goodbye to dull knives in 2022 by gifting them this sleek, low-tech but highly effective knife sharpener from Material. Simple to use, they'll think of you fondly every time they have to dice, slice, or julienne. ($15, Material)
Personalized bamboo cutting board
Charcuterie for two will look so special on this small personalized bamboo cutting board by Flowertown Weddings. They offer lots of different design options so you can find the one that your recipient would love most. But, hurry---other sizes have sold out already and this one will go fast too.
Holiday spatulas by Tovolo
I can't decide if these adorable holiday spatulas by Tovolo would be cuter as a stocking stuffer for my teen daughter who loves to bake, or my neighbor who makes the most delicious Christmas treats. Maybe just grab a bunch to pass out to everyone you like.
Related: Holiday gifts for home cooks
European lemon dish cloths and pretty new dish soap dispenser
I wouldn't normally want to give someone a gift that says "wash the dishes", but I love this pairing for a nice hostess gift or something for the aunt who has everything. These pretty European lemon dish cloths and the convenient Bubble Up Dish Soap Dispenser and Brush from Grove Collaborative will make even clean up a bit more cheery.
Cocktail (or mocktail) shaker
They'll be ready to shake shake shake all the holiday cocktails and mocktails well into the new year with this well-rated, classic stainless steel Boston shaker. Great gift for your favorite party host.
Related: Fabulous holiday cocktails you can prep ahead so you can drink and be merry with your guests.
Bamboo matcha whisk
If they love to start their day with a cup of matcha, this pretty, bamboo-style aerolatte electric matcha whisk will help them get it nice and smooth. If you're feeling splurgy, add in some of teapigs' premium organic matcha green tea.
Mess free pepper grinder
When they're stirring their favorite recipe and need to add pepper, they'll thank you for the OXO Good Grips Contoured Mess-Free Pepper Grinder which has an easy tab to select the grind settings. So much more convenient than the traditional mill!
Holiday-plaid apron
Sometimes you just need an apron for a quick hand wipe, and I love this 100% cotton holiday plaid apron from the Magnolia line at Target for those moments.
Related: Kitchen aprons that bring the soul
A new-to-them cuisine cookbook
There are so many terrific and beautifully designed cookbooks that you could easily find one for everyone on your list. If you're buying for an adventurous cook, try picking a title from a cuisine they may not be as familiar with--but would be willing to try--like some of these plant-based, vegan cookbooks from a variety of cooks.
There is the stunning The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro who you may know from popular her TikTok page, Hot for Food All Day by Canadian tv personality Lauren Toyota, The Vegan Meat Cookbook by acclaimed vegan chef Miyoko Schinner, and Vegetable Kingdom by Bryant Terry, a James Beard & NAACP Image Award-winning chef and activist. Hopefully, you'll get invited over for dinner.
Related: Cool Mom Eats' cookbooks
Magnetic bamboo knife block
One of my favorite gifts-to-me, this sustainable, sturdy and hygienic magnetic bamboo knife block from Happy Home Story makes it so easy to store knives safely on the counter (it's just over $25 but worth the extra $2). And it's so much easier to clean than those dark slits in a knife block. (shudder)
Set of six ceramic ramekins
This set of six pretty ramekins from Sweejar will go from oven to table beautifully---look at those swoonworthy blues! I especially appreciate the handles on the side so I am not so apt to drop them while wearing bulky oven mitts.
Small terra cotta glazed tagine
This small .75 quart glazed terra cotta glazed tagine at Sur la Table comes at an incredible price for someone who may do a lot of cooking for one and wouldn't need a full-sized tagine. Great way to introduce them to a new style of cooking.
Acacia wood salt cellar
Most of us already keep our salt at the ready while we're cooking but this beautiful acacia wood salt cellar at Crate and Barrel would look fantastic on both the kitchen counter and the dining room table. At such a great price, you can even add in some Cole and Mason Sea Salt and stay under $25.
Related: 9 practical gifts for home cooks, all from small businesses we love | Holiday Gifts 2021
The best oven mitts for kids
Our editor Liz raved about these incredible oven mitts from Beets and Berry which helped her daughter get over the fear of being burned while baking. Love this holiday red color, though they come in a total of six colors, from black to fuchsia pink. Yay for getting more kids into the kitchen!
Lodge Guitar Mini Skillet
Oh sure they may have plenty of cast iron pans but do they have a Lodge Guitar Mini Skillet? Perfect for a musical friend, this little pan is crafted in America with just iron and oil. Just no air guitar before dinner. ($12.95 at Lodge)
Material knife sharpener
Say goodbye to dull knives in 2022 by gifting them this sleek, low-tech but highly effective knife sharpener from Material. Simple to use, they'll think of you fondly every time they have to dice, slice, or julienne. ($15, Material)
More 2021 Holiday Gift Guides:
10 tasty gifts for fans of The Great British Baking Show | Holiday Gifts 2021
9 practical gifts for home cooks, all from small businesses we love | Holiday Gifts 2021
Fabulous food gifts for families | Holiday Gifts 2021
Sexy cookware and kitchen gifts for the holidays. Hubba, hubba. | Holiday Gifts 2021