The Best Bread Baking Gifts for Holiday 2021

Bread baking has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the last few years. If you have a baker in your life, these gifts for bread bakers just might be what they’ve been looking for!

Baking bread is a unique category of baking, requiring different techniques, recipes, and equipment than many other types of baked goods. Even within the overall “bread” category, there are dozens of different types of breads that each require different methods. If you know someone who is really upping their bread game beyond the ubiquitous sourdough starters, this gift guide offers plenty of practical, creative options for items that bakers will genuinely enjoy and use. And hey, even if the bread-lover on your list isn’t quite so hands-on, we even have some great picks for bread machines!

A Dough Whisk

Mixing dough can be tricky: It needs to be worked enough to incorporate all the ingredients and start building the gluten structure, but it also shouldn’t be overmixed while trying to get those last bits of flour mixed in.

The solution? A dough whisk, like the Coson Home Danish Dough Whisk, a set of two dough whisks made with oak handles and stainless steel rings. These dough whisks are designed for ease of mixing bread dough by hand, with a multi-loop design that cuts through the ingredients, gets into those sticky corners and mixes more thoroughly than using hands or wooden spoons. If you really want to take your breadmaking to the next level, start here.

A Proofing Basket

Setting your bread dough to proof is a key step in the process. Having the right container can make a big difference, especially when you’re looking to get a particularly well-formed crust.

The bread fanatic in your life will probably enjoy the WERTIOO 9-inch Proofing Basket: a proofing basket kit made from natural rattan and lined with a lightweight linen. It’s ideal for giving bread a chance to properly rise, while also gently pulling moisture away from the surface to later produce a crispy, perfect crust. Plus, the basket comes in four different sizes, for any bread recipe and batch size.

A Dough Scraper and Cutter

Even the best baker is only as good as their tools! A dough scraper is incredibly useful for ensuring even mixing—plus, it often doubles as a cutter for any number of needs.

Made from sturdy stainless steel, the MS WGO Pastry Scraper is used for scraping bread dough (especially during the kneading process). It’s also perfect for cutting dough, whether into individual pieces or just scoring the top of a loaf, with a cylindrical handle that’s easy to grip and maneuver with.

A Clear Container for Dough Rising

When proofing dough, it’s important to let it sit long enough, often until it doubles in size. To make it easier to tell when it hits that mark, use a clear plastic food storage container that has measurements marked on the outside. A simple, easy-to-clean option like the Cambro Round Storage Container is a great choice—it’s not glamorous, but it does the trick!

Pro tip: Don’t fasten the lid on top when proofing bread; instead, set it lightly on top or cover with a cloth instead of the plastic lid. If you end up using this container exclusively for bread dough, you can make a tiny hole in the center of the lid so the container has a permanent “fermentation vent” to let the gas out.

A Versatile Bread Cookbook

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a friend, it’s always fun to get a new set of recipes to experiment with! The gift of a bread cookbook filled with a wide variety of recipes is always welcome.

The Best of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day is a collection of delicious, easy, and creative bread recipes from Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François. Includes 80 recipes with minimal prep time and a simple base dough, plus in-depth knowledge about the mechanics of bread, techniques to make any bread baking experience better, and gorgeous photographs.

For a more elaborate exploration of bread, Marie-Laure Fréchet’s cookbook, Upper Crust: Homemade Bread the French Way, starts with the basics, then branches out into over 100 recipes. Learn classic French techniques for different types of bread, all with an accessible approach for at-home bakers looking to take bread to the next level.

A Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Many breads are perfect for baking in a Dutch oven, and a simple, sturdy cast iron version from a reliable brand is a great gift for the baker in your life. Dutch ovens are sometimes perceived as more of a baking “want” than a “need,” but they’re unbeatable when it comes to baking certain kinds of bread, especially ones with a crispy crust.

The Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a fantastic option from a reliable, made-in-the-USA brand. It has a 5-quart capacity, with a domed lid for a slight rise of bread, and comes pre-seasoned so anyone can start baking right away.

A High-Rise Bread Pot

For those gorgeous, high-rise, beautifully domed loaves of bread, a baker can really use a bread pot: something tall enough to lend height, shape, and texture to a loaf as it bakes.

Gift your favorite baker an Emile Henry Bread Pot to bake breads with a higher rise that still form their best crust with a closed lid. The shape of the closed-lid pot produces a crusty loaf with a high, rounded rise rather than the flatter top that often happens with a more open design.

A Bread Board and Serving Knife Set

Is there anything more classic than putting a fresh-baked loaf of bread on a wooden board? Genuine antique bread boards can be hard to find (or priced too high), but you can still get a beautiful look with a modern version.

The Ivation Bread Cutting Board has both form and function. The bamboo wood is sturdy without being clunky, and it’s constructed as a dual-layer board with a crumb catcher underneath, so every slice is clean and your counters are too. Plus, the kit comes with a long-bladed serrated knife, perfect for cutting slices of any bread and easy to store in the ready-made sheath along the side of the board.

A Set of Cute Kitchen Towels

Bread bakers will find a few different uses for quality kitchen towels. Lightweight towels are great for covering bread as it rises, as well as just for wiping hands when they get sticky and floury! Simple, elegant towels can also work as part of the joy of sharing bread: it’s so easy to wrap up fresh bread and deliver a homemade loaf to someone.

While themed towels can always be fun, you can’t go wrong with the KAF Home Classic Farmhouse Stripe Kitchen Towels. These 100% cotton towels are simply woven with a charcoal-gray farmhouse stripe down the middle. They’re timeless in style and, while not sturdy enough for daily dish-drying use, they’re just right for covering breads or putting together a basket for a loved one.

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Baking bread is a hobby that anyone can enjoy. And, even better, it’s perfect for sharing! Pick up a few of these items for the bakers in your life—and maybe grab something for yourself, too.