I can hardly believe that the holidays are upon us! For those of you trying to come up with the perfect gift for your child or teen who loves to help in the kitchen, look no further; here are our TOP 10 for 2019!

1. Weekend Breakfast Kit : In addition to teaching them how to use the remote, the key to a relaxing weekend morning is teaching the kids to make their own breakfast. Put together a basket including a waffle maker, pancake/egg molds, a fun pancake flipper, and a basic recipe that they can use to make either. Do you want an easy recipe? Scroll to the bottom of this post for an easy one we like to use.

2. Baking Set : Do you have a younger kid that loves to help you bake? Instead of buying “kid” equipment, purchase your child a real set of baking equipment that can withstand lots of use. Start with a mixing bowl that has a grippy bottom and something to hold onto, then fill it with measuring cups and spoons (make sure the measurements are easy to read), a liquid measuring cup, and a fun whisk and spatula. Step back and watch them flourish!

3. Apron, Cookbook, and Recipe Journal : If you have an abundance of baking equipment that you don’t mind sharing, give your child a cookbook, recipe journal, fun apron (we have some for sale here), and a set of heavy duty oven mitts. There are literally thousands of cookbooks to choose from, which can be overwhelming. Get comfy in the aisle of Barnes and Noble or scroll to the bottom of this post for a couple of our favorites.

4. Popcorn Popper : Kids LOVE to watch popcorn being popped. Air-poppers are reasonably priced (about $20) and give your kiddo an easy way to make their own after-school snack. Once they get the hang of popping, they can start to get creative with flavorings. Odds are, no matter what they do, it will be healthier than what’s in the microwave bag! If you want to go with the topping theme, pick up a few options at All Spice in the East Village. Sea Salt and Vinegar isn’t just for chips!

5. Dinner Prep Kit : For the tween or teen cook in your life, give them the tools to get chopping. A couple of different sized knives with sheaths are a safe choice (we love the Kuhn Rikon knives which are super sharp and have fun patterns). Add in a peeler and a fun shaped cutting board. The pig shaped cutting board is always a favorite at our house! If your child isn’t ready for a real knife, there are great safe options available. We use the ZYLISS lettuce knife, and also like the Curious Chef nylon knife set.

6. Cake Decorating Set : Do you have someone that loves decorating? Put together a cake decorating kit complete with a turntable cake stand, cake boards, frosting spatula and smoother, decorative cake scrapers, piping bags (and ties) and lots of different tips.

7. Ingredient Basket : Introduce your teen to the world of real food and they might never turn back. Put together a basket filled with real maple syrup, local honey, high quality baking chocolate, a variety of different types of salt, real marshmallows, and more. There truly is a difference and it may make your child think twice about dumping vast quantities of “pancake syrup” on their breakfast in the future. Maybe.

8. Muffin & Cupcake Set : Everyone (I think) loves muffins and cupcakes! They’re easy to make and can vary from healthy to decadent. Give your child a few fun-shaped muffin/cupcake pans, an ice-cream scooper to make sure they get filled evenly, and a couple of recipes. Sweeten the deal by throwing in a cupcake corer to make filled cupcakes!

9. Fondant Set : For the artist in your life, give them a tub of fondant, rolling pin, cookie cutters, and a set of natural dyes. The edible art they create will be amazing!

10. Cooking Classes : Of course! For the kiddo that wants to get started in the kitchen, or the one who already has lots of kitchen gear, give the gift of cooking classes! We offer gift certificates that can be used for up to one year from the date of purchase. Learn more about our cooking classes here.

Time to get shopping! If you live in the Des Moines area, we recommend the Kitchen Collage in the East Village for a great selection of high-quality gifts. Check them out! Happy Holidays!

RECIPE: Looking for that pancake recipe? Here’s one we like to use from America’s Test Kitchen:
Mix dry ingredients together: 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt | Mix wet ingredients together: 2 eggs (mix with a fork), 2 cups buttermilk, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 cup sour cream. | Mix wet + dry ingredients with a spatula. Then spoon onto hot griddle using a 1/4 cup measuring cup. Cook for a couple of minutes and flip when bubbles start to pop.

COOKBOOKS: Here are a couple my kids favorites:
Duff Bakes - my son purchased this for my daughter a few years ago and it is great for your budding baker.
The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs by America’s Test Kitchen - my youngest received this last Christmas and it’s easy for her to follow the recipes.