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A quick public service announcement: Mother’s Day is this Sunday. If this holiday snuck up on you again this year (I’m in the same boat), it’s not too late to grab a thoughtful gift. Here’s a list of gift ideas for the chef, baker, coffee connoisseur, and everyone in between. While you may not have time to get something engraved or monogrammed, these gifts still say “You deserve to do more of what you love.”
The vendors listed below offer expedited shipping so your gift will arrive on time. Just make sure to check the two-day shipping option during checkout.
Maybe you’ve watched your mom slowly wear down that thin plastic cutting mat, or you’ve seen her eyeing those fancy cutting blocks at Home Depot but never buying one for herself. Anyone who cooks a lot at home deserves to have great tools to work with. Hardwood cutting boards are a thoughtful way to step up from the worn out plastic ones, and the end-grain cutting blocks are a real treat for the knives. Prized among chefs for their durability without damaging a knife’s edge, end-grain wood boards are a worthwhile investment. (They’ll last a while too, if you care for them correctly.)
Bread banneton
It’s 2025 now, and anyone who hates sourdough bread-baking has long since given up, but there are some home cooks who found a new best friend (and they feed and discard it every day). For the mothers who love their “mother,” a bread banneton will be a practical gift that everyone can benefit from when the pain au levain comes out of the oven.
A reliable meat thermometer
You'd be surprised how much easier it is to assess if a roast is finished cooking when you use a meat thermometer. Okay, maybe that's no surprise for you, but your mother might very well be impressed by the new confidence that comes with a proper meat thermometer. I'm a big fan of the Thermapen One, which gives you a reading in one second and has a light up digital screen.
A good set of knives
My mom manages to cook up a storm with the dullest knives I’ve ever seen. While avid cooks may just need to sharpen their knives, it’s important that said knives also don’t suck. Instead of resorting to the mysterious knife block gift set—half of the set never gets touched anyway—choose a set with fewer, more useful blades. This set from Wüsthof includes only the important knives—a chef’s knife, utility knife, and a bread knife.
Espresso machine
Coffee-loving parents who have been fussing around with the same irritable drip machine or espresso pods are long overdue for an upgrade. Having an espresso machine used to mean dealing with a noisy, bulky contraption, but they’ve since become more compact and intuitive.
New cookware
A new set of pots and pans is always a good idea. It may come as a surprise to your mom that the bald spot of scraped off non-stick coating in the middle of her pots is a sign they should be replaced. Treat her to a set of cookware that’s made to last, like this All-Clad set.
A mortar and pestle
Electronics aren’t for everyone. In fact, cooking can be a meditative way of working purposefully with your own two hands. A medium-sized mortar and pestle is a great size for small jobs like grinding popcorn spices, and making larger recipes like guacamole.
Picnic accessories
Some folks aren’t makers—they’re enjoy-ers. For parents who like to get out and enjoy good weather with some snacks, picnic accessories are just the thing. This portable charcuterie board packs up securely with a clip-on lid and has adjustable compartments so you can keep your snacks organized. Keep the lid handy between snacking sessions so you can keep away the little buggies that try to share the blanket with you.
