Cook Smarts’ 2016 Holiday Gift Guide

Can you tell that we love putting together our annual holiday gift guide? We get to share some of the most awesome kitchen goods that we discovered throughout the year, but mostly, it’s because it’s so fun to do some “window shopping” when working!

We shared our first gift guide in 2013 with amazingly colorful gift ideas that would add fun pops of color to your kitchen. Our 2014 gift guide kept things simple and smart to help folks raise their kitchen IQ and cook efficiently. Last year, we picked out gifts for all levels of cooks – from novice to pro to little helpers – for our 2015 holiday gift guide.

This year, we had fun scouring the internet for new items, but we wanted to include things that made cooking and eating more convenient and enjoyable.

One of our most popular guides is our Kitchen Essentials Guide, which outlines all of the must-haves for any home cook. That list is a great place to start when thinking about gifts for all the chefs in your life, but sometimes it’s fun to add a little something extra – like a colorful cooking calendar or a funny tea infuser. Little things that add joy, but are also functional.

Check out our top picks of food-related gifts for all the special people in your life below. We’ve got ‘em all covered – Cook Smarts enthusiasts, friends and neighbors, parents, small space dwellers, and foodies!

Cook Smarts Enthusiasts

1. 2017 Cook Smarts Calendar

Keep track of your schedule with the our first-ever wall calendar, featuring some of our most popular infographics. If you want to see all the full infographics that are featured in the calendar, check out this blog post.

2. Nourish Gift Certificate

The perfect gift for anyone wanting to build a solid foundation of kitchen skills. Our 6-week online cooking program will kick off in January 2017, and you can learn more about here. (Use code HAPPYCOOKING by December 6th to get 40% off!)

3. Cook Smarts Meal Plan Service Gift Certificate

Give friends and family the gift of reduced stress in the kitchen! Our meal plans are designed to be healthful, flexible and simple. You can learn more about it and check out our latest menu here. (Code HAPPYCOOKING also applies here. Use by December 6th to get 40% off!)

4. GlassLock Glass Storage Containers

Cook Smarts subscribers know that prepping ingredients beforehand can save tons of time in the kitchen. These sturdy glass containers are perfect for storing a week’s worth of Cook Smarts meal ingredients.

5. Limo Studio Light Box & Food Photography Studio Kit

We love when our Kitchen Heroes share their awesome food photos. For those who love beautiful food photography, a light box is a simple tool that can add a “wow” factor to their snapshots!

Friends & Neighbors

1. Fred & Friends Manatea Tea Infuser

We love this adorable infuser that adds a little whimsy to your morning cup of tea.

2. Tea Forte Tea Sampler

This organic tea sampler has a great variety of flavors to suit any taste. Perfect for use in the aforementioned Manatea tea infuser!

3. Le Creuset Tea Mug

Le Creuset is famous for its colorful cookware, but its stoneware is also beautiful and durable.

4. H&M “Eat Well and Love Each Other” Tea Towel

A great message in any kitchen! Use this towel to cover baked goods, or just hang it up to spread a little cheer.

5. Milkbar Compost Cookies Cookie Tin

One of the most popular items at Momofuku’s Milkbar in NYC and DC, the Compost Cookie has a mixture of sweet and salty ingredients (Chocolate chips! Butterscotch! Potato Chips!) that makes it an extra-special treat. (So good, we had to order it for dessert at our 2015 Cook Smarts retreat.)

Parents

1. LunchBots Stainless Steel Bento Boxes

We recently featured a #KidsWhoEat series, and one post included tips on how to pack a fun school lunch for kids, and bento box lunches was one of them. (We even created a video on how to put them together!) These stainless steel bento boxes are sturdy, light and leak-proof, and perfect for little hands.

2. Eshop 99 Egg Mold Rings

Add a little fun to breakfast with these cute egg mold rings, shaped like hearts, flowers and stars. You can also use them to make fun-shaped pancakes!

3. Taidea Sandwich / Toast Stamp

Use this clever tool to cut animal shapes in toast or bread for sandwiches. Because it’s always more fun to eat a sandwich shaped like a panda bear than a plain square sandwich.

4. StarPack Home Fruits & Veggies Shape Cutter

Add a little flair to lunch boxes and salads with these tiny cutters that make it easy to turn fruits and vegetables into works of art!

5. Solvetta Neoprene Lunchbox / Placemat

These lunchboxes make eating on-the-go convenient and mess-free. Not only do they carry your lunch, but they open up into a handy placemat as well.

Small Space Dwellers

1. Signature Housewares Microwave Storage Bowls

These versatile dishes go from the fridge to the microwave to the table with ease.

2. Susoki 8-in-1 Kitchen Tool Set

When space is at a premium, it’s great to have tools that are compact and multipurpose. This gadget has many of the basics, like a measuring cup, cheese grater, and juicer – all in one!

3. Uno Casa Stacking Bowl Set with Spoons

Serve up a Cook Smarts favorite like Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili in these bowls that stack up neatly and add a pop of color.

4. Bodum French Press Mug

Enjoy your favorite cup o’ joe in this travel mug that serves as both the coffee pot and cup.

5. Black+Decker Toaster Oven

Save time and energy with a countertop toaster oven. It’s perfect for reheating leftovers, or even cooking classic oven meals, like our Oven Baked Risotto with Roasted Mushrooms.

Foodie Friends

1. Instant Pot

This trendy kitchen gadget is an all-in-one slow cooker / pressure cooker / rice cooker / yogurt maker and more.

2. MSC Citrus Juicer & Sprayer

We love adding a splash of fresh lemon juice to salad dressings, fish and vegetables, and this juicer and sprayer makes it easy.

3. Two Tumbleweeds Foodie Dice

Use these zany dice to shake up your dinner routine!

4. The Best of America’s Test Kitchen 2017 Book

America’s Test Kitchen is a great resource for aspiring home cooks, and their latest book doesn’t disappoint. It’s full of recipes, tips and ideas compiled throughout the year.

5. Global Chef’s Knife

A high-quality knife can totally change your kitchen game. We love this one because it’s sturdy but light with a comfortable grip.

And a little extra treat for the perfect gift – all meal plan subscriptions and gifts are 40% off through Tuesday, 12/6/16, with code HAPPYCOOKING. Enjoy!

Check out the full 2016 Holiday Gift Guide below. We’d love if you could share this on Pinterest, so that foodies, friends, and cooks alike can experience a little joy and convenience in their kitchen. Happy Holidays!

A little note: We’ve chosen these products completely on our own and are not paid sponsors. However, links to products on Amazon are affiliate links, which means we earn a small percentage from those sales. We use this affiliate revenue to support the continued growth of Cook Smarts.

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