Create your own gift basket with a selection of any of these items for the beginning baker in your life. Either use one of the large items as a receptacle or purchase a pretty basket to place smaller gift items. You might also want to add a bag of flour and a bag of sugar. A bottle of your favorite vanilla would also make a great addition. Finish your basket off by sealing it up with shrink wrap with a pretty ribbon and you've just created the perfect gift for the first time baker.
1. Measuring Cups and Spoons
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Baking requires exact ingredient measurements. Every baker needs measuring cups and spoons.
2. Wire Whisk
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A day doesn't go by that I don't use my wire whisks. My absolute favorite one is the one I have made by Oxo. The handle feels so good in my hand.
3. Spatula
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A must for any baker is a spatula. It helps get all of the good stuff out of the mixing bowl. I prefer silicon spatulas that won't melt in a hot pan. Spoon-shaped spatulas are come in handy when putting batter into small places like muffin cups.
4. Cookie a.k.a. Baking Sheets
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Good baking sheets will last a lifetime. Make sure to get the shiny metal kinds. Most recipes were written for these types of pans.
5. 8-inch Round Cake Pans
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Good pans are so important to making good cakes. Again, purchase the shiny metal ones.
6. Glass or Porcelain Pie Plate
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You can use metal pie pans, but glass and ceramic are so much better.
7. Muffin Tin
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If you want to make muffins, you've got to have a muffin pan. There are so many choices from 6-cup typical muffin cups to a 12-cup rose-shaped pan.
8. Measuring Bowls
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Ceramic, stainless steel, glass or melamine, it's your choice in mixing bowls.
9. Timer
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Timers come in all shapes and styles. There are a lot of cute ones that have magnets that will attach to your refrigerator. I have a timer that allows me to set 3 different times.
10. Electric Hand Mixer
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For the beginning baker, I recommend purchasing medium priced hand mixer like one from Black and Decker. For the more experienced baker, I highly recommend a KitchenAid stand mixer.
