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Every holiday season, complex algorithms deliver gift recommendations that make us feel like our TikTok FYP knows us better than our families. If your niche interest is food, you’ve probably noticed that there are certain gifts that seem to be everywhere: in your favorite influencer’s kitchen, in the cute “general store” that sells $40 candles, and in all of your targeted ads on Instagram. Some of these buzzy gifts are all hype, but there are more than a few that BA staffers are actually excited about. Without further ado, these are the buzziest gifts of 2023—the ones we’re actually giving, and would be very happy to receive.
Ninja Creami
I have personally seen at least a dozen TikToks where someone talks about replacing their morning latte with a morning espresso Creami (basically a whipped, frozen latte) and honestly, I want that to be me. Our colleagues at Epicurious reviewed this viral kitchen gadget and their take was a resounding…kinda? While this isn’t going to replace your actual ice cream maker, it will allow you to make a lot of experimental ice cream-adjacent things. It might not be the most practical countertop appliance, but that’s exactly what makes it a great gift.
Snif’s Crumb Couture Line
When Culture Editor Karen Yuan dropped Snif’s Crumb Couture candle in our gift guide suggestions chat, it turned into a 60-message thread in which we went very deep on bread and dessert-scented candles. We’d all been served countless Instagram ads for the Crumb Couture candle and fragrance, and decided it was time to investigate. While this smells more like a kouign-amann than a plain croissant, we’re not mad about it. It’s a bit like a grown-up Warm Vanilla Sugar, and it comes in a candle, a spray, and a body butter.
Anthropologie’s Dessert Candles
These candles look alarmingly like the desserts they portray, so prank your friends and family by putting one out as part of your holiday spread. I have been physically incapable of shutting up about how cute these candles are—especially the panettone. And the strawberry charlotte. And the fruit tart. Okay fine, we need them all.
Our Place Wonder Oven
When I started testing the Our Place Wonder Oven, I casually posted a snap of it on my Instagram stories. I promptly got a flood of DMs begging me not to say anything good about it. That makes sense—the siren song of its Adult Easy Bake Oven vibe is already hard enough to resist. Unfortunately, the Wonder Oven is good. Really good. If you or someone you know is in the market for a new toaster oven and/or air fryer, this is the one.
Staub Tomato Cocotte
Approximately every single person I know sent me a link to Staub’s tomato-shaped cocotte when it was released. This was the summer of peak tomato (and vanilla, and lemon…) so it makes sense that we lost our collective minds over something we already love (Staub’s dutch oven) shaped like something we’re obsessed with. If you don't want to spring for the $300+ three-quart version, Staub also makes a tiny tomato cocotte that's just $45.
Nonna’s Grocer Tomato Candles
While we’re on the topic of tomato things, we’d be remiss not to mention these heirloom tomato candles.
Made In Nakiri Knife
It seems like every single cooking content creator uses the Made In Nakiri Knife, and that’s not surprising—this chic DTC brand makes durable, high-quality kitchen tools that perform and photograph equally well. The Nakiri Knife is made in France, with a full-tang, fully forged six-inch blade. The handle comes in four colors, including a very luxe-looking olive wood option.
Fishwife Tinned Fish Serving Set
If you haven’t seen Fishwife’s tinned fish serving set, please tell me your screen time reduction secrets. This extremely giftable set comes with a cutting board *in the shape of a fish*, tinned fish-specific utensils, and a build-your-own trio of the brand’s cult-favorite conservas.
The Stanley Pan
Commerce staff writer Emily Farris is so obsessed with this giant pan from Stanley Tucci’s collab with Greenpan, she doesn’t care that it won’t fit on her pot rack. Instead, this massive 6.5-quart nonstick ceramic fry pan lives on top of her induction range where it can be properly admired. Get this for anyone who loves to cook for a crowd.
Maldon Sea Salt
Maldon salt is timeless, like a perfect black blazer or a Beatles song. Make sure the flaky salt obsessive in your life never runs out by getting them this giant tub of the good stuff. If they’re more of an eating-on-the-go than a cooking at home person, spring for the case of 2,000 sea salt sachets.
Jasper Hill Farm Cheese Tasting Box
Know someone who got really into girl dinner? Get them this tasting box from Jasper Hill Farm, one of our absolute favorite cheesemakers. BA Contributor Hannah Howard would bring their Harbison to a desert island, and their Moses Sleeper is a distinctly American take on brie that makes the perfect centerpiece for any cheese board. It comes in six different sizes, from The Starter Kit to The Full Spread.
Cheese Grotto
Unfortunately, simply wrapping your cheese stash in plastic wrap and sticking it in the fridge is a great way to ensure that it spoils quickly. This is where the Cheese Grotto comes in, a seemingly unnecessary kitchen gadget that the cheese-obsessed among us started seeing everywhere this fall. Cheese grottos are essentially tiny, personal cheese caves that live inside your fridge. Thanks to their natural humidity control, you can store your cheese unwrapped.
Printfresh Pajamas
Pajamas are always a great holiday gift idea, and you might was well get a luxe, eye-catching pair from Printfresh. They have an entire (adorable) line of embroidered chef-themed sleepwear, but we also have our eye on this brushed twill set for a NYE in. If you want to get something truly decadent, go for the plush velvet Big Cat Energy robe, which is perfect for low-key hosting situations.
Yield Glass French Press
A French press makes a reliably good gift for anyone who drinks coffee, and this stunning glass model from Yield is my personal favorite. It’s perfect for that person who always wants the most aesthetic version of everything.
Brightland Olive Oil
Brightland has been one of our favorite olive oil brands since they burst onto the market in 2018 and this year, the brand has released a limited-edition Artist Series of four infused olive oils in very giftable bottles. Each one has a different flavor—chili, garlic, lemon, and basil—to inspire artistry in the kitchen.
Ooni Volt Pizza Oven
If you’re looking for a big-ticket gift, an outdoor pizza oven is a great choice—but what if the pizza lover you have in mind doesn’t have a backyard? That’s where the Ooni Volt comes in. This compact, electric pizza oven is designed for indoor use, and it can reach temperatures of up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit in 90 seconds. BA’s Commerce Producer Alaina Chou is a fan, and whoever you give this to will be, too.
The Omsom Best Sellers Set
The ideal gift for your friend who is always vowing to order less takeout while simultaneously ordering takeout, Omsom’s sauces will actually help them get back in the groove of cooking—or get into one for the first time ever. This set comes with five three-packs of different sauces, enough to make 15 meals.
Stanley Quencher
Hydration never goes out of style, and the same seems to be true for the Stanley Quencher. Even if your giftee already has one, they’ll probably appreciate getting a second (or third, or fourth…) in one of this season’s limited-edition colors.
Iris Hantverk Desktop Dustpan Set
The first time I saw this extremely aesthetic tabletop brush and dustpan set, it was at the Salter House store in Brooklyn. Then, I started seeing it all over the internet. As someone who gets really annoyed when there are stray grounds on my coffee bar, I would love to receive this as a gift—and so will any other neat freaks on your shopping list.
Alice Mushroom Chocolates
Functional mushrooms have been buzzy for a while now, and the trend is clearly not going anywhere. While some mushroom-laced things can taste weird and have questionable benefits, our team tried and tested both the Nightcap and Brainstorm chocolates. Even the most skeptical of us found that we slept like babies and were suddenly really excited to check things off our to-do list after lunch.
Ghia First Sip Kit
It feels like a new N/A spirit brand launches every other day, but Ghia is still one of our favorites in the category. Their First Sip Kit is a great gift for new parents and the sober-curious, but it’s also nice to have on hand if you’re hosting during the holidays and want to offer a booze-free beverage option that doesn’t taste like juice. The kit comes with a bottle of their classic apéritif and a sampler pack of their canned mocktails.
Cuisinart’s 50th Anniversary Food Processor
Do you know someone who’s been holding onto an ancient food processor because they just don’t make ‘em like they used to? Well, actually, now they do. This 50th anniversary edition of Cuisinart’s classic 14-cup food processor looks like it came from your grandma’s attic, minus the dust and missing parts.
Fly By Jing ‘Tis The Seasoning Set
If you’re going to give someone chili crisp, it should probably be from Fly By Jing. If you’re going to give someone Fly By Jing, you might as well get them the ‘Tis The Seasoning Set, which comes with five jars of crisps, seasonings, and sauces, as well as the brand’s fiery hot pot base.
Heilala Vanilla
BA’s Digital Director Sarah Jampel has written before about how Heilala’s Vanilla Bean Paste is the ideal gift for the baker in your life, and as an avid baker who recently received a jar of this as a gift, I can personally vouch for this statement. Also a great gift: the brand’s limited edition holiday flavors set, which comes with jars of high-quality vanilla extract in gingerbread, butterscotch, and apple pie.
Sfoglini Pasta Club Membership
2023 was a great year for pasta girls and #pastatok, so it makes sense that Sfgolini’s Pasta Club Membership is one of our most recommended gifts. The half-year subscription comes with six boxes of speciality pasta made from organic ingredients, as well as unique recipes to inspire your giftee’s next pasta night.
Mercado Famous Whole Leg Jamon
We’re pretty sure nothing can top finding an entire leg of jamon serrano under the tree—except maybe a whole leg of jamon iberico. Sure, it’s over the top, but isn’t that what gifting season is all about? If a whole leg is out of your budget, Mercado Famous also sells a lot of great charcuterie bundles. We’re partial to the La Familia option, since it lets you try a little bit of everything.
