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Amazon has been supplying my kitchen for years now. Most of what I’ve bought has been great, and when it wasn’t, I usually had no trouble returning it. Whether you are buying for yourself or for the home cook or foodie wanna-be in your life, here’s a list of some of the tools and small appliances we love.
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What people are gifting in 2026
- Practical beats frivolous. In a Talker Research survey of 2,000 shoppers, 57% said they would rather give a practical gift than a fun one.
- Spending is up, and so is deal hunting. Deloitte expects the average shopper to spend $1,654 this season, up 4% from last year, and 38% of shoppers are hunting promotions and value.
- Personal touches count. One in five shoppers plans to give something personalized or monogrammed, and self-gifting is up, too.
- The home coffee bar and the pretty counter. Whole Foods named “kitchen couture” (pantry pieces too good-looking to hide) and upgraded instant drinks like single-serve lattes among its 2026 food trends.
- Hello Kitty is still holding strong in the beloved animated characters category by celebrating 50 years of cuteness! Check out my utter devotion to practical AND fun with a few Hello Kitty Kitchen & Foodie products here.
Gifts $25 and under
1. TempPro TempSwift Instant-Read Meat Thermometer
It reads in about a second, and the backlit screen flips itself so it faces you whichever hand you hold it in. This is the gift that ends the “is the turkey done yet?” standoff, and it works just as well on candy and fudge.
2. Microplane Premium Classic Zester
It takes the zest off citrus and leaves the bitter pith behind, turns parmesan into fluffy snow, and grates garlic, ginger and nutmeg. Once someone owns one, they reach for it almost every time they cook. I really love the barrel zester even more, but the zest comes out in much longer strands, not perfect for every recipe.
3. Dash Mini Waffle Maker in Red
A 4-inch waffle iron that heats fast, wipes clean and fits in a drawer. It’s a stocking-stuffer price, it’s holiday red, and it makes chaffles and mini waffle sandwiches as easily as breakfast waffles.
4. Zulay Rechargeable Milk Frother
Three speeds, three whisk heads and a USB-C battery, so nobody has to hunt for AA batteries again. It froths milk for lattes, whisks matcha and blends hot chocolate, which makes the home coffee bar a lot cheaper than the drive-thru. I also really like the kind with the push-button on the end.
5. YIBO Matcha Whisk Set With Bowl
A bamboo whisk, a whisk holder, a spouted ceramic bowl, a sifter and a scoop, all in one box. It’s a complete starter kit for the matcha fan, or for the friend who keeps buying it out and wants to make it at home.
6. Tayfus Personalized Engraved Cutting Board
Engrave it with names, a date or a family name in walnut, cherry or bamboo. A personalized board gets used every day instead of sitting on a shelf. Order it early, since custom pieces take longer to ship.
7. Escali Primo Digital Kitchen Scale
Bakers who weigh their flour get the same cookies every time. This scale has two buttons, a tare function and a sealed control panel that shrugs off spills. I’m currently weighing food to track calories, and a simple scale like this has worked out fine for us. I use an older version of the Ozeri Pronto digital scale and it’s been a workhorse for several years now.
8. Kinder Joy and Friends Countdown Calendar
A chocolate countdown to Christmas from Kinder, with a treat behind every door. It’s a fun one for the kids on your list, or for the grown-up who still gets excited about opening door number one.
Gifts from $25 to $60
9. Mightylicious Salted Peanut Butter Grain-Free Cookies (3-Pack)
Grain-free, gluten-free salted peanut butter cookies that are plant-based and made without preservatives. A thoughtful treat for the friend who skips gluten and still wants something sweet to open, and an easy add-on to a bigger gift.
10. Godiva Patisserie Belgian Chocolate Truffles Gift Box (15 Pieces)
Fifteen Belgian truffles with dessert-inspired ganache, mousse and praline centers, in a blue and gold box that’s already gift-ready. An easy pick for a host, a coworker or anyone who would rather eat dessert than make it.
11. Rorecay Sourdough Starter Kit
Two rattan proofing baskets (a 9-inch round and a 10-inch oval) plus the tools a beginner needs to start baking sourdough, with a guide in the box. Perfect for the person who has been talking about making bread “someday.”
12. Graza Sizzle and Drizzle Olive Oil Gift Set
A cooking olive oil and a finishing olive oil in squeeze bottles, packed in a gift box so the wrapping is already done. Squeeze bottles mean no glugging and no oily drips down the side.
13. Spicewalla Masala Spice 6-Pack
Madras curry powder, tandoori masala, garam masala, chaat masala, chai masala and a golden milk blend, packed in small batches. A great pick for the cook who wants to try more global flavors at home.
14. Le Creuset Stoneware Salt Crock
A 10-ounce crock that keeps salt within pinching distance of the stove. It’s pretty enough to live on the counter, which is the whole point. Tuck a box of flaky sea salt inside before you wrap it.
15. True Cubes Clear Ice Cube Maker
It makes four 2-inch crystal-clear cubes from tap water in a regular freezer. Big clear cubes melt slowly, so the last sip of an old fashioned tastes like the first. An easy win for the person with a bar cart.
16. Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
A Swiss-made chef’s knife with a non-slip handle that cooks and culinary schools have trusted for years, at a fraction of the price of the fancy brands. If someone on your list is still sawing away with a dull block-set knife, this is the upgrade.
17. Fishwife Tinned Fish Gift Set 5-Pack
Anchovies, sardines, tuna, mackerel and trout from certified sustainable fisheries, in tins pretty enough to put out on a board. Add crackers, good bread and a lemon and the snack plate builds itself.
18. Nordic Ware Pumpkin Patch Bundt Pan
Almost every Christmas, Renee’ gets me a bundt pan. NordicWare is my go-to for a crisp release and a variety of fun holiday designs. Last year’s looks like a cute cabin with a snowy rooftop. Love it.
This cast aluminum Bundt pan that turns one batter into a ring of little pumpkins, made in the USA by the company that invented the Bundt. Bake a spice or pumpkin cake in it and it becomes the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dessert table.
19. Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus 3-Cup Food Processor
I love mine. It’s almost at the point where I need to replace it. It’s the perfect size for blending cottage cheese or pineapple or cabbage into cole slaw. I’ve used it to make a batch of bread crumps or to shred carrot. Highly recommend, especially for the price point and reliable brand. I’ve got a bigger Cuisinart food processor too because I know I can rely on them.
This is a small food processor for the jobs that don’t need the big one: chopping herbs, onions and garlic, grinding nuts, and whipping up pesto, dressings and dips. It’s light, it stores in a cabinet, and it gets used far more than you’d expect.
Splurge-worthy gifts over $60
20. OXO Good Grips 8-Piece Baking POP Container Set
Airtight, stackable containers for flour, sugar, brown sugar and the rest of the baking shelf, with labels already on. The push-button lids pop open with one hand, and the whole pantry suddenly looks like a magazine shoot.
I have OXO tools, containers, and small appliances that I swear by,
21. Cosori Gooseneck Electric Kettle
Five temperature presets and an hour of keep-warm for pour-over coffee and tea. The water never touches plastic, and the narrow spout makes a slow, even pour easy.
22. AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden
It grows six plants on the counter with no soil and a grow light on a timer. Fresh basil and cilantro in January, no green thumb required.
23. Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
It bakes bread, braises short ribs, simmers chili and goes straight to the table. You get enameled cast iron without the designer price tag, in a red that looks right on the stove all winter.
24. Le Creuset Stoneware Heritage Rectangular Baking Dish Set (3 Pieces)
Three nesting stoneware baking dishes that go from casserole to lasagna to cobbler, then straight to the table. They’re the kind of dishes people keep for decades, and the Sea Salt color looks good in every kitchen.
25. All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12-Inch Fry Pan With Lid
Made in the USA from bonded stainless steel that heats evenly and sears like a restaurant pan. It goes from stovetop to oven, and with care it can lasts a lifetime.
26. Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker
Freeze a pint base overnight, then let it spin into ice cream, gelato, sorbet or a milkshake in minutes. It’s a hit with anyone making high-protein or lower-sugar treats, since they choose every ingredient.
27. Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
It chops, slices, shreds, purees and kneads dough in one big bowl. Holiday cooks will use it for everything from pie crust to hash browns to a giant batch of salsa. Here it is, the big daddy that can shred all the things.
28. Breville Bambino Espresso Machine
It heats up in about three seconds and has a steam wand for real latte foam. For the person who spends a small fortune at the coffee shop, this one pays for itself faster than they’ll want to admit.
29. KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer in Empire Red
The classic stand mixer that bakers dream about, with a 5-quart bowl, ten speeds and a pouring shield. It’s the gift that gets left out on the counter on purpose, and red looks right there all year.
The bottom line
The gift that wins this year is the one that gets used. Every pick here earns its spot on the counter or in the drawer, whether the budget is $10 or a few hundred. Keep an eye on CookingChew.com for more gift guides this season with a theme or a budget!
Want to add something homemade? Fill a mason jar with our homemade cranberry granola and tuck it in with the matcha kit, or pack a tin from our Christmas candy recipes for gifting to go along with that engraved cutting board.
