I love baking: the homeyness of it, the feeling that you are doing something nice for your family, the smell that permeates the house. So even though I am not the world’s best baker (lack of practice and lack of patience both play a key role), I keep doing it anyway, because it can be so rewarding. And I love bakers, inspirational women like my sister Nelly, who has turned egg-free baking into an art-form (her youngers daughter is allergic) and my friend Michelle, who makes cupcakes that are almost too pretty to eat! Real bakers don’t need a lot of gadgets and gizmos to whip up something amazing, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t enjoy them! So, for the bakers on your list, here are a few of my favorite finds:
1. Monogrammed Gift Boxes, $29/set: These boxes are so pretty, they inspire me to slip some slice and bake cookies into one and call it a gift! (Just kidding!)
2. Cake Jewels, $12-38: When I discovered these amazingly realistic, edible decorations, I heard choirs of angels singing. At last, a way for a frosting-challenged novice like myself to decorate beautiful baked goods. I made white frosted cupcakes for Eva’s last birthday, sprinkled some edible glitter on top, and added one of these sugar diamonds.
3. Cupcake Wrappers, $12: Fancy Flours is amazing! This is another super-simple way for a beginning baker to make a simple cupcake or muffin look amazing. I used these on Eva’s cupcakes, and they were so pretty!
4. Babycakes Cupcake Maker, $40: No, you don’t need a handy little all-in-one cupcake baker, but it’s so cute, who can resist. This device bakes a batch of miniature treats in just a few minutes, without firing up the oven. I want it in pink! The cookbook from the same bakery is also a must!
5. Layer Cake Apron, $32: Anthropologie has an adorable apron for virtually every day of the month, and now, sadly, so do I. This one is so feminine and so pretty!
6. Piccadilly Rolling Pin, $50: Yes, it’s pricey, but this rolling pin is so charming it makes the simple act of rolling out dough a pleasure.
7. Secret Ingredient Collection, $59.95: The King Arthur Flour company is known for outstanding ingredients for baking, as shown in this exceptional gift. Top quality cocoa, espresso powder, cinnamon, vanilla and Fiori di Sicilia are all presented in a useful 8″ square pan.
8. Bird Glass Cloche, $34: This beautiful glass cloche turns a special dessert into a centerpiece.
9. Julia Knight Peony Cake Stand, $88: This cake stand is so elegant, it can make even a store bought dessert look truly special.
10. MacKenzie-Childs Flower Market Cookie Jar, $52: I love the idea of a cookie jar, always filled with freshly baked cookies, and this one features one of my favorite designs from MacKenzie-Childs.
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