It’s no surprise that I happily consider myself a foodie, which is pretty obvious. But if you aren’t sure what that is, well it’s basically someone who loves cooking and especially eating great food. So I thought it would be super fun to compile a list of some great Holiday Gifts for Foodies that might be on your shopping list.
There are definitely basics that you need to get started in the kitchen, and I’m skipping those here. I assume that most foodies have at least the basics to make the meals they love. Those would be like pots & pans, tableware, can opener, baking sheets, etc.
Instead in this post I’m sharing the fun stuff, because those are what make for fun gifts. They’re the things you don’t necessarily need, but if you love to cook you secretly DO need them. If you’re not a foodie, then they’re the items that you walk into someone’s kitchen and see and wonder when you’d ever actually use it.
Well, those of us who love to cook use the following a TON. I’m going to mark the ones that I use daily or weekly, so you can see the ones I personally get major use out of. And then I’ve asked my other foodie friends, what would be on their Holiday Gifts for Foodies.
When I asked my mom and sister, we all shared a lot of the same ideas much like we share the same brain at times. My mom taught my sister and I how to cook and, beyond that, a true love and passion for cooking. And frankly it was the greatest gift she ever gave me, so thanks for that, Mom!
I adore being self-sufficient in the kitchen, because I know I won’t have to eat out all the time. I laugh when my boyfriend comes over that he’ll certainly never starve in my home, because I have enough to make something at all times.
So this week I’m also traveling for work, and I’m here with a few guys I work with who love to cook too. So I’m throwing in their ideas as well, because they really round out this list!
Let’s dive into this Holiday Gifts for Foodies List!
I’m breaking it down into the following categories:
Appliances: These are the big items that take up space and often sit on your counter. They’re also pricier gifts and are great if you’re looking for something on the bigger side to give someone.
Kitchen Gadgets:In this section, these gadgets might be add-ons to appliances you have or else perform a really useful function.
Utensils: I’m using this category for my everyday things that are super helpful in the kitchen.
Ingredients:Foodies love food, and there are some things that we may really want ingredient-wise but have a hard time justifying. So here you go!
Cookbooks: I’m going for the cookbooks that are great staples and some that are great healthy eating options.
Appliances:
Vitamix – I pretty much use my Vitamix every day, because in the Summer there’s smoothies and smoothie bowls. And now I’ve started using it each morning for celery juice, so this guy is INCREDIBLY valuable to me.
Instant Pot (with steamer & egg basket – says my mom) – Last year Instant Pots went on a major sale, so my whole family picked one up. I have had fun with mine but definitely need to experiment even more with it. And my mom says to make sure you grab a steamer and egg basket, because they’re great additions.
Kitchen Aid – We take our Kitchen Aid mixers VERY seriously in my family, so of course it’s a total must on our list. This is crazy useful for pretty much all baking, making breads, and more! And they last a long time, so they’re great investments. (I’ve had mine for over a decade now.)
Large Food Processor (and small size) – Hummus, pie crusts, pasta dough, pesto, oh my! These are some of my favorite things to make with it, and it’s definitely handy to have two sizes.
NuWave – You might think you wouldn’t use a NuWave that often, but I use mine a ton. It makes the BEST bacon, plus I use it to reheat pizza to perfection. It’s also great to heat frozen baked goods like scones, or to warm up a muffin or something along those lines. I literally grab mine weekly, if not more, so it’s pretty awesome.
Keurig – I’m a girl who loves her coffee, but I really don’t need a huge pot since it’s just me drinking it. Plus it helps me curb my coffee needs to only one cup a day usually. Oh and I also use it for making lemon water and hot tea, so it’s always on and ready for me.
Air Fryer – My mom raves about her air fryer, which is really like a healthier way to fry foods. So if you love the idea of frying but wish there was a healthier option, then this is the appliance for you!
Kitchen Gadgets:
Ice Cream Maker – This summer I was really wishing I had an ice cream maker, and so I’m asking for one this year. Specifically I want the one that goes with my Kitchen Aid, because it looks crazy easy to use. If you have someone who gets creative in the kitchen, then this is a perfect Holiday Gifts for Foodies!
Kitchen Aid Spiralizer – Healthy eating is important to me, and this spiralizer helps me make “pasta” eating way better. Whether you convert zucchini, squash, sweet potatoes, or more to noodles, it’s a cool tool. And it’s a great option to add onto the Kitchen Aid to make quick work of this task.
Electric Kettle – If I want massive amounts of hot tea, then the electric kettle is my go-to. You could get a stovetop kettle too, but I really love the convenience of the electric kettle.
Thermapen – So a Thermapen is an instant read thermometer for meats and breads especially, and I tried not going this route. I bought a cheaper version and you get what you pay for, so I broke down and got a Thermapen. I was way too excited when it arrived, and it works like a charm!
Digital Scales – These scales come in handy for SO many things, and I often like to weigh when I cook for more accurate counts. Having a set of digital scales is a non-negotiable for me, and so it should be for any foodie.
French Press – Full disclosure here is that I don’t own a French press, but I always want one. They look cool, refined, and classy AF, so maybe that’s why. But they’re also supposed to make AMAZING coffee, so that’s the actual reason why I’d love one.
Food Saver (or hand held version) – I got the hand held version for Christmas a couple of years ago, and the handheld one is great for not taking up a ton of space. It also makes cooking a lot of food at once a breeze, so you can freeze some to enjoy later.
Hand-held Butter Churner – Such a fun idea for making butter from scratch with this mason jar version. Seriously fresh butter in 10 minutes sure beats how it was made in the old days, right?!
Electric Garlic Roaster – I had no idea this existed until this week, but it’s a great way to roast garlic without firing up the oven. Plus pair it with the above butter churner, and you’ve magically got homemade garlic butter. Thanks to my coworker, Bugara, for that stellar idea!
Egg Cooker – It’s tough to get perfectly cooked eggs, but with this guy on your counter, it’s a breeze!
Utensils:
Silpat – My love for the Silpat goes to before this blog began, and I still continue to use and reuse my Silpats nearly every day. It’s perfect for roasting vegetables, baking scones, breads, and more. Such a great, inexpensive gift that will be used a ton by the foodie in your life!
Spurtles – I adore stirring, so these spurtles are right up my alley. They’re like a spoon and a spatula, are wooden, and make stirring gently and folding in ingredients a breeze!
Brandless utensils – If you haven’t heard of Brandless, it’s a brand that prices everything at $3 including really high quality utensils. I use my spatula and silicone spoon a ton, and they’re super durable.
Brandless Knives – What blew my mind was when I saw Brandless was selling knives for $3, so I had to give one a try. I’ve got their vegetable knife, which is not only super badass looking, but also well made. I’ve used it a ton and am impressed, because it definitely doesn’t seem like it only cost me $3.
Granny Fork – This utensil is a favorite of my mom’s, and it’s for good reason. They’re long forks that are useful when flipping hot things, gently working with food, and they’re kinda cute too.
Microplane – I can’t imagine not having a Microplane grater in my kitchen, so this is a must for our Holiday Gifts for Foodies. I use it for zesting, grating Parmesan for a pretty look, and so much more. It’s handy and very durable, so it makes another great, inexpensive gift.
Ingredients:
Sea Salts – Good quality sea salt on top of a dish literally makes a meal. So most foodies know that having at least one good finishing salt is critical. I picked up lots of sea salt in Hawaii and they’ve been a great gift and so delicious. Yum! Grab a salt cellar like this multi-tier one to add onto the gift so your foodie friend has storage for them if you’d like!
Nutmeg grater with fresh nutmeg – Talk about an awesome specialty gift most people wouldn’t get themselves with this Holiday Gifts for Foodies idea. The nutmeg keeps in a plastic bag for ages, and is so good when baking plus in béchamel (white) sauce.
Truffle Salt – Along the lines of sea salt, truffle infused salt is a real culinary delight. I love fancying up popcorn with it, but it’s hard to justify purchasing it, so it’s a perfect gift!
Truffles – Or a small container of truffles that your favorite foodie can shave on risotto and more would be a luxurious gift!
Vanilla Bean Paste – When it comes to baking, I adore vanilla bean paste. And it may not necessarily be something everyone has on hand, because it’s a bit of a specialty item. So it makes a wonderful Holiday Gifts for Foodies who love to bake with and use vanilla.
Cookbooks:
Chrissy Teigen’s 2 Cookbooks – I love Chrissy Teigen’s first book, Cravings, so much! Plus she’s absolutely hilarious, and so I’m asking for her second book, Cravings 2, for Christmas if my family needs any ideas. That girl can
True Roots by Kristin Cavalleri – Now if you’re in the market for a really healthy celebrity cookbook, Kristin’s True Roots book is a must. Her recipes are approachable, and you know you’re making dishes you can feel good
LL Balanced by Laura Lea Goldberg – I love Laura Lea’s cookbook for all of the amazingly healthy options that are also a breeze to make. I made a version of black bean brownies on my blog that was inspired by hers. And the best chili of my life’s recipe on my blog is one I got from her and shouldn’t be
Simple Green Smoothies & Meals cookbooks – If you’re ready to make a positive health change in your life, then the SGS cookbook is for you! With a TON of smoothie recipes it’ll have you dying for a Vitamix if you don’t already have one. And you’ll definitely find a major healthy recipe gold mine with her Simple Green Meals cookbook.
Eat Feel Fresh – Ayurveda is a new concept for me as of this year, but it’s been a practice in India for literally thousands of years. And Sahara Rose’s book breaks Ayurveda down for you. Plus she helps you find recipe that will work for your dosha and for your family’s healthiest life!
Ina Garten’s Cook Like a Pro Cookbook – Her latest cookbook is one my mom & sis have raved about, and my sister put it so well. She said that it’s the book everyone needs that wasn’t lucky enough to grow up with our mom as theirs. Many of Ina’s basic ideas here I learned from my mom, but I forget that not everyone is as lucky. So if you need some tips, tricks, and of course delicious recipes, then look no further!
Danielle Walker’s Eat What You Love Cookbook – This one is on my list this Christmas, because it looks like an amazing, healthy food resource. I’ll keep you posted!
So you officially have the ultimate Holiday Gifts for Foodies list at your fingertips. There are tons of options for all the different foodies in your life, which is pretty awesome really. After all, we have different interests. If someone loves baking, then they likely prefer different things than someone who grills or loves to cook big dinners.
I hope you found this Holiday Gifts for Foodies guide useful and comment below if you’re a foodie. If you are, what are your items you can’t live without in the kitchen?! Comment below so we can keep this convo going!
Stay inspired & happy gifting!
~Kelli
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