Welcome to the definitive Bread Baker’s Gift Guide for this year! It’s remarkable how quickly another year of baking has flown by. Hopefully, your year, like mine, has been filled with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread, shared with friends, family, and perhaps even your community. There’s something truly special about baking for others, but let’s be honest, treating yourself to a homemade loaf (or perhaps a decadent cinnamon roll or rich babka) is equally important.
This marks my fourth year compiling this gift guide, and throughout the year, I dedicate myself to rigorously testing new baking tools. I evaluate what truly enhances the baking process, what stands the test of time, and what ultimately deserves a spot in this curated list. You’ll discover a range of items here, from budget-friendly essentials to more significant investments, but you can be assured that each has been thoroughly tested and proven in my own kitchen over countless baking sessions throughout the year.
Many of the tools listed below have become staples in my baking routine, and some may even be familiar from previous guides as enduringly excellent tools. However, I’m excited to introduce some brand-new discoveries that have impressed me this year. If you already own and love any of the items featured, consider this a strong endorsement for gifting them to the bread baker in your life.
Let’s dive into the best Gifts For Bread Bakers this year!
Essential Baking Tools as Gifts for Bread Bakers
Exquisite Stainless Steel Strainers
Sori Yanagi Japanese strainers for bread baking gifts
These Sori Yanagi Japanese strainers represent a lifetime investment in quality kitchenware. My exploration into crafting panettone at home quickly highlighted the necessity of high-quality strainers. They are indispensable for managing the copious amounts of candied fruit often packed in sticky syrup, and equally useful for preparing seed soakers for various bread recipes. While most kitchens have strainers, the Sori Yanagi set elevates this essential tool with exceptional craftsmanship. This set of three strainers nests perfectly for storage and embodies simple design executed flawlessly. Their enduring utility and superior quality make them a gift that will be cherished for years to come by any bread baker.
The Revolutionary Baking Shell for Bread Loaves
The Baking Shell, a result of a collaboration with Brød and Taylor, is a game-changer for bread bakers. Specifically designed for batard loaves, its rectangular form is ideal for oval shapes. Forget wrestling with heavy Dutch ovens; this innovative cover, weighing only about a pound, expertly traps steam during baking. This creates the perfect humid environment crucial for achieving optimal dough rise and a beautifully crisp crust. It’s a significant advancement in baking technology, making it one of the most thoughtful gifts for bread bakers.
Read more about why I love the Baking Shell.
The Baking Shell comes in shapes tailored for different loaf types: the rectangular-ish shape pictured above for oval loaves and a larger round cover for round boules.
GET THE BAKING SHELL →
Teiger Dough Cleaning Cloth: A Baker’s Best Friend
Cleaning dough from mixers, counters, and tools has always been a sticky challenge. This year, I discovered the Teiger Dough Cleaning Cloth, and it’s a revelation. It’s hard to believe I baked for so long without it. This cloth, resembling a fine net, possesses the perfect level of abrasiveness to effectively scrub off even the most stubborn dough remnants. Unlike a sponge that tends to smear dough around, this cloth grabs and removes it efficiently, much like eager friends flocking to a fresh loaf of bread. For anyone using a stand mixer with a fixed bowl, the Teiger Dough Cleaning Cloth will quickly become an indispensable cleaning tool and a much-appreciated gift for bread bakers.
The Indispensable Wiha Folding Ruler for Precise Baking
Wiha folding ruler for baking precise measurements gifts for bread bakers
If you understand the nuances of baking, you already know the value of a reliable ruler in the kitchen. I personally own four Wiha Folding Rulers and consider them essential baking tools. These rulers are exceptionally durable, constructed from fiberglass for easy cleaning, and are perfect for precisely measuring dough when making croissants, cinnamon rolls, or babka. Their accuracy ensures consistent results in baking, making them excellent gifts for bread bakers who value precision.
Why four rulers, you might ask? I keep one for active use, one as a backup, and two as decoys to distract my children—surprisingly, they find these rulers more captivating than even a new set of Legos!
Nordic Ware Snap-On Sheet Pan Covers: Proofing Perfection
Say goodbye to the hassle of plastic wrap, tin foil, or damp towels when covering sheet pans. Nordic Ware Snap-On Sheet Pan Covers are truly transformative. I use two of these covers, which fit snugly over standard half-sheet baking pans (18 x 13 inches). They are ideal for proofing pretzels, buns, and any other dough-based treats prepared on sheet pans. Beyond proofing, they are also fantastic for safely transporting baked goods. If sheet pan baking is a regular part of your routine, these covers will quickly become indispensable and are practical gifts for bread bakers.
LANON Liquid Silicone Heat Resistant Oven Gloves: Dexterity and Protection
LANON liquid silicone heat resistant gloves for safe baking gifts for bread bakers
Each year seems to bring a new favorite pair of oven gloves, as I use them so frequently they wear out quickly. This year, I discovered the LANON Liquid Silicone gloves, which initially struck me as something you might see in a medical setting. Indeed, their appearance sometimes prompts onlookers to joke about whether I’m performing surgery or just baking English muffins.
The LANON Liquid Silicone gloves are exceptional. They offer a snug fit and remarkable dexterity, allowing for precise movements. They are also easy to slip on and off, thanks to their slightly rigid yet smooth texture. Crucially, they have proven to be incredibly durable, showing minimal wear even after eight months of intensive baking. For safety and performance, these are excellent gifts for bread bakers.
Cookbook Gifts for Bread Bakers and Beyond
My Own Cookbook: A Baker’s Foundation
My cookbook is currently available at a significant discount, around 40% off at the time of writing! It’s a comprehensive guide perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.
Two Exceptional Cookbooks: Baking and Culinary Inspiration
Two cookbooks Start Here and Bake It Better gifts for bread bakers
This year has been rich with outstanding cookbook releases, and as a cookbook enthusiast, it was challenging to narrow down my favorites. Cookbooks are invaluable resources, encapsulating an author’s expertise and passion within their pages. They offer a direct line to years of culinary experience, effectively accelerating your own learning curve. Some represent decades of dedicated focus, while others capture a lifetime of culinary exploration. These two books are among the best to emerge this year.
First, Start Here by Sohla El-Waylly (left in the image above) is an essential reference book. It expertly guides you from basic cooking principles to advanced techniques, making you proficient enough to create impressive dishes or simply prepare delightful family meals. It’s packed with fundamental knowledge—the why behind kitchen practices—and includes a wealth of recipes you’ll use time and again. This is a fantastic gift for bread bakers looking to expand their overall culinary skills.
Second, Bake it Better by Matt Adlard (right in the image above). Matt’s approach to baking is characterized by precision, innovation, and incredibly delicious results. As a fellow baking enthusiast, I deeply appreciate his style. This book provides a solid foundation for mastering virtually any pastry you can imagine. For bread bakers intrigued by the often-mysterious world of pastry, this book demystifies the process and makes advanced techniques accessible. It’s a perfect gift for bread bakers wanting to delve into pastry.
More Great Gifts for Bread Bakers
The Unrivaled Thermapen: Precision Temperature Readings
For the past 8 or 9 years, the Thermapen has been an indispensable tool in my kitchen. Whether it’s in my shirt pocket, apron, or back pocket, it’s always within reach when I’m baking. I rely on it constantly to check temperatures—water, dough, kitchen air—because temperature control is crucial in baking.
The Thermapen stands out due to its robustness and incredibly rapid temperature readings—just one second! Its speed and reliability make it an essential tool for any serious baker, and one of the most practical gifts for bread bakers.
Currently, the Thermapen is offered at 30% off until December 2nd!
GET THIS THERMOMETER →
The Best Bench Knife (Scraper): A Durable Essential
Bench knife scraper for dough handling gifts for bread bakers
I have been using this bench scraper for years, and it remains as pristine as day one, without a single scuff, bend, or mark. Constructed from high-quality steel with perfect ergonomics, it’s built to last.
Choosing between the 6″ and 8″ sizes is the only decision you’ll need to make—though I recommend having both! I use the smaller 6″ scraper for rolls, buns, and smaller dough portions, and the larger 8″ version for handling big bread loaves. A sturdy bench knife is a fundamental tool and a great gift for bread bakers.
GET THIS SCRAPER →
Gift a Baker’s Corner Membership: Community and Resources
For someone beginning their baking journey or seeking a vibrant baking community, a year-long gift membership to The Baker’s Corner at The Perfect Loaf is an excellent choice.
Membership provides immediate access to my recipe spreadsheet archive, discounts on baking tools, and a supportive community of fellow bakers. It’s a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year, providing continuous learning and inspiration for bread bakers.
Consider investing in your own baking skills and join the membership yourself!
Looking for More Gifts for Bread Bakers?
If you’ve reached the end of this guide and haven’t yet found the perfect gift, explore my roundup of essential baking tools for bakers. Anything listed there would make an exceptional gift for any bread baking enthusiast!
Finally, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who reads my musings on bread, pastry, and more at The Perfect Loaf. Even after 11 years of running this website, my passion for bread and sharing my knowledge remains strong. I hope you’ve discovered and nurtured your own passion for baking!
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with the warmth of freshly baked goods, perhaps a batch of soft sourdough rolls, or my new, robust, and delightful Hop Miche gracing your table!
