The Best Holiday Gifts for Cooks

Searching for the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook? Our gift guide has you covered! Find stunning cookware, fun appliances, and more.

Our 2025 holiday gift guide is here! If you’re looking for gifts for the cooks in your life, you’ll find some amazing options in this post. I’ve included my favorite pots and pans, the BEST storage containers, an unbeatable immersion blender, and more.

When I make this gift guide every year, my goal is to recommend gifts that the cooks you know will use and love. Every item is something I reach for regularly in my kitchen, and each one has stood the test of time through years of consistent use.

As a recipe developer and cookbook author, I’d be thrilled to receive any of the gifts in this guide. I hope the cooks in your life love them too!

P.S. There are some incredible Black Friday deals here! Totally acceptable to buy a holiday gift for yourself too.  🙂

(Disclosure: I earn a small commission on items purchased. This post is not sponsored – these are kitchen tools we’ve selected because we love and use them every day. We hope you like them too!)

Prices were accurate at the time of publication.

The Best Gifts for Cooks of 2025

Must-Have Cookware & Bakeware Gifts

Staub 4-Qt. Cast Iron Dutch Oven

This enameled Dutch oven from Staub is the most-used pot in my kitchen. It’s my #1 choice for simmering sauces, soups, and stews, and Jack also uses it to bake bread in the oven.

Here’s why I love it:

• The cast iron conducts and retains heat amazingly well.
• The enamel coating is easy to clean with soap and water—no seasoning needed.
• This pot looks gorgeous, so it can go straight from the stove to the table for serving.

It would be a fabulous gift for any home cook. It’s currently on sale for $149.95, which is as much as 50% off for certain colors!

Staub 8.5-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

I use this Staub skillet every single day for sautéing veggies, making frittatas, and more.

Here’s why I love it:

• It browns food beautifully.
• The enameled cast iron is easy to clean with soap and water (no seasoning required!).
• It can go straight from the stove to the oven—great for a frittata.
• The high sides minimize splatter and spills.

This high-quality piece will last a lifetime and comes in 7 vibrant colors. Choose any of them for a stunning gift for the cook in your life!

Staub 4-Piece Ceramic Baking Dish Set

This 4-piece ceramic baking dish set would be a perfect gift for an avid baker or host!

Here’s why I love it:

• It contains 3 versatile pans: a 9×9-inch square baking dish with a lid, a 9-inch oval baking dish, and a 7.5×6-inch baking dish.
• They’re great for making savory dishes like baked ziti as well as desserts like apple crisp.
• They can double as serving ware. I use them for sides like roasted vegetables at holiday meals.
• They’re dishwasher-safe and scratch-resistant.

This 4-piece ceramic baking set is on a steep discount right now (47% off!), so it’s the perfect time to snag this cooking gift.

Nordic Ware Half Sheet Set

Every home cook needs good sheet pans, and you can’t beat these ones from Nordic Ware.

Here’s why I love them:

• The uncoated aluminum material is durable, rust-resistant, conducts heat evenly.
• Galvanized steel rims prevent the pans from warping.
• They’re long-lasting. I’ve used mine for years, and they’re still in incredible shape!
• The half sheet pan size is ideal for baking cookies or roasting vegetables.

Home cooks will get SO much use out of this gift!

Caraway Non-Stick Cookware Set

I upgraded my non-stick cookware to this Caraway set a few years ago, and they’ve quickly become my favorite non-stick pans.

Here’s why I love them:

• They have a non-toxic, PFAS-free ceramic coating.
• The coating is super slick, perfect for making fluffy pancakes or scrambled eggs.
• In addition to a 10.5-inch and 12-inch skillet, the set includes a Dutch oven and saucepan, which I love for cooking rice and other grains.
• It comes in 8 bold colors!

This cookware set would be an incredible gift for anyone who needs new pans or who wants to replace old non-stick cookware with a non-toxic alternative.

Heads up: Caraway is running a huge Black Friday sale. You can get this cookware set for 47% off. That’s over $300 of savings!

Caraway Non-Stick Mini Fry Pan & Saucepan

These smaller pans would be a nice add-on to the larger set above or a perfect gift for someone who regularly cooks for 1 or 2 people.

Here’s why I love them:

• They have the same non-toxic coating as the set above.
• The 8-inch frying pan is perfect for frying eggs and making frittatas. (It’s oven-safe up to 550°F!)
• The 1.75-quart saucepan is my favorite pan for cooking small batches of oatmeal or rice.

This set is steeply discounted right now. Get it for 29% off!

Caraway Steamer Set

If you’re springing for Caraway pans, you might want to consider adding on this steamer duo. I use them weekly for steaming veggies like broccoli!

Here’s why I love them:

• They nest in the larger Caraway saucepan and Dutch oven, so they’re easy to store.
• They’re made of stainless steel for even heat distribution.
• They’re lined with Caraway’s non-toxic, non-stick coating, so they work well for cooking steamed dumplings as well as vegetables.

This 2-piece set is currently 15% off. Any cook will love having these steamers in their kitchen!

The Best Gifts for Cooks Who Love to Meal Prep

Zwilling Fresh & Save 3-Piece Glass Food Storage Containers

These vacuum containers are some of my favorites for freezing soups and sauces.

Here’s why I love them:

• They come in a set of one small, one medium, and one large glass vacuum container.
• The cordless handheld vacuum sealer (sold separately) is simple to use.
• They keep food super fresh—vacuum sealing can extend shelf life up to five times!
• The containers are freezer-safe, microwave-safe, and oven-safe.

This set is also on sale right now. You can get it for just $34.00—that’s 51% off!

Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Set

My favorite all-purpose storage containers! They’re a great gift for cooks. You can use them for meal prepping work lunches, transporting dishes to potlucks, and stashing leftovers in the fridge and freezer.

Here’s why I love them:

• The glass containers nest inside each other for efficient storage.
• The BPA-free lids are entirely leak-proof and airtight.
• They’re durable. I’ve been using my set daily for years, and it’s still in fantastic condition.

Grab this set now for 25% off!

Souper Cubes Freezer Storage Molds

I first learned about Souper Cubes watching Shark Tank, and I immediately thought, “I need this.” 

Now, they’re one of the most-used storage items in my kitchen and one of my favorite cooking gifts.

Here’s why I love them:

• They’re essentially large silicone ice cube trays, but for soup (or sauce or vegetable broth!).
• Each cavity has a 1-cup capacity, so you can freeze food in 1-cup portions and reheat a little a time to serve one or two people.
• The trays have reinforced steel rims, so they won’t bend or warp when they’re full.
• They’re dishwasher safe!

Stasher Bags 4-Pack Silicone Bags

Know a home cook who’s committed to sustainability? This 4-piece Stasher bag set would be a perfect gift for them!

Here’s why I love them:

• Made of reusable silicone, they’ve replaced plastic bags in my kitchen.
• They have an airtight seal and are easy to clean in the dishwasher.
• I use them to pack snacks for Ollie, freeze baked goods like cookies, and store vegetable odds and ends in my fridge.

Save 20% on them for Black Friday!

Small Appliances Any Home Cook Will Love

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

If you’re shopping for someone who loves to bake, the KitchenAid Stand Mixer would be an incredible gift.

Here’s why I love it:

• It’s a long-lasting investment. I’ve owned mine for over a decade, and it’s still going strong!
• The removable stainless steel bowl has a 5-quart capacity—perfect for large batches of cookies or pizza dough.
• It has 10 different mixing speeds that suit a wide variety of tasks, from whipping cream to mixing bread dough.

It’s on major sale right now—you can get it for 30% off!

KitchenAid Go Cordless Food Chopper

This cordless food processor is my current kitchen obsession. I think it’s one of the best gifts for cooks!

Here’s why I love it:

• The cordless design makes it easy to use. No need to fuss with a cord or even stand near an outlet!
•  The rechargeable battery can sustain 25 minutes of continuous use.
• I reach for it constantly to make sauces like pesto and my cilantro lime crema. It’s also great for chopping nuts, onions, and more.

You can get it now for a super low price—just $69.99. That’s 46% off!

Vitamix Immersion Blender

This Vitamix immersion blender is one of my favorite gift ideas for home chefs. I got it about two years ago, and I’ve used it nonstop since.

Here’s why I love it:

• It’s perfect for blending hot soups and sauces right in the pot (don’t worry—the bell guard will protect your cookware!).
• The 625-watt motor creates super smooth purees.
• The blade twists off for easy cleanup.

No other immersion blender I’ve tried compares to this one. It’s 15% off for Black Friday!

Vitamix V200 Blender

If you’ve been following for a while, you know that I adore my Vitamix blender.

Here’s why I love it:

• The 2HP motor is insanely powerful.
• It makes soups, sauces, and smoothies silky smooth in seconds, and it can break down tough ingredients like cashews without soaking them first.
• It’s long-lasting. I’ve used mine for over 10 years!

This one is currently on sale for 45% off, one of the best prices I’ve ever seen for a Vitamix.

Get this blender for yourself, or give it to any home cook—it’ll be the best holiday gift they receive this year.

The Best Knives to Gift

Henckels 2pc Knife Set

Quality knives are one of those kitchen tools that every home cook needs, and this set from Henckels comes at a fantastic price—currently just $29.99 for Black Friday!

Here’s why I love it:

• The set contains two versatile sizes. The 5-inch knife is my go-to for everyday kitchen tasks like chopping onions. The larger 7-inch knife works well for breaking down larger vegetables like cabbage and squash.
• The finely honed stainless steel blades stay sharper longer than many other knives I’ve owned.
• The white handles are so pretty!

Miyabi Mizu 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

This Miyabi knife would be a truly special gift for someone who loves to cook.

Here’s why I love it:

• It’s beautiful. I love the look of the hammered steel blade and Micarta handle.
• It’s razor-sharp. The ice-hardened blade stays sharp even with daily use.

It’s 23% off for Black Friday. You won’t find a better deal on a Miyabi!

Miyabi Birchwood Nakiri Knife

This Miyabi birchwood knife is more of a splurge, but I’m still including it here because I reach for it all the time when I’m cooking.

Here’s why I love it:

• It does an exceptional job breaking down tough veggies like cabbage and squash.
• The patterning on the blade is so pretty and makes this knife amazingly durable.

Miyabi Bread Knife

This knife would be a wonderful gift for the bread baker in your life! I got it for Jack a few years ago, and I’m so glad I did.

Here’s why we love it:

• The scalpel-sharp blade slides right through the toughest crusts.
• The Japanese construction is just beautiful.