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The Great Canadian Baking Show

A gift guide for the aspiring star baker on your list

With the holidays right around the corner, we asked some of The Great Canadian Baking Show bakers for advice on useful gifts for the aspiring bakers in their lives.
CBC Life ·

The Great Canadian Baking Show has inspired so many of us to either take up this new hobby or to amp up our existing baking game. With the holidays right around the corner, we asked some of the bakers for advice on useful gifts for the aspiring baker in everyone's life.

Stocking stuffers

Sometimes it's the tools we use for every single bake that we most often overlook.

James emphasizes the value of a good rubber spatula. "Got to get every last scrap of that yummy ganache out of the bowl!"

Rubber spatulas (Getty Images/iStock Images)

While hand-mixing can exhaust even the fittest baker, Linda's suggestion of a quality whisk could at least make it a bit more efficient. If your baker is set on the whisk front, she adds that an offset spatula is essential for spreading that perfect frosting.

Whisk (Getty Images/iStock Images)

Sabrina would treat any aspiring baker to a new set of measuring cups and spoons. Anyone who has ever run a plastic set of either through the dishwasher a few times knows how fast those markings disappear — and accuracy is key to baking success.

Glass measuring cup and stainless steel measuring spoons (Getty Images/iStock images)

Under the tree

A set of stackable, metal mixing bowls made Sabrina and Sinclair's wish list. It's one of the essential items that neither of them can get enough of.

Stackable, metal mixing bowls (Getty Images/iStock Images)

Speaking of mixing, Sabrina suggests upping your game and surprising your baking buddy with a hand mixer to really whisk that meringue into stiff peaks.

Cuisinart Power Advantage 5-Speed Hand Mixer (www.cuisinart.ca)

A mechanical flour sifter is one of Julian's favourite gifts to give the budding cake boss on his list, while both he and Linda agree that you can't go wrong with a rotating cake stand.

Flour sifter and rotating cake stand (Getty Images/iStock Images)

Corey and Sinclair each listed a digital thermometer and a digital scale as essential items for any new baker. No more eyeballing ingredients or fumbling with complex conversions when a recipe only provides the weight!

Digital food thermometer and scale (Getty Images/iStock Images)

Terri fondly remembers unwrapping her programmable candy thermometer for Christmas one year, "It opened up a whole new world of recipes I couldn't try before."

Digital candy thermometer (not exactly as shown but they look a lot like this!) (Getty Images/iStock Images)

The BIG gift

If you're all pitching in for a grand show-stopper, the bakers agree that a sturdy stand mixer  is a must. James insists, "It's the workhorse for so many bakes!"

Cuisinart Precision Master™ 5.5 Qt (5.2L) Stand Mixer (www.cuisinart.ca)

So, what if the baker in your life isn't so new to the game and seems to have it all? Like, all over their countertops!? Corey knows just what they need: storage solutions. "You can never have too many bins!"

Storage bins and baskets (Getty Images/iStock Images )

Vandana has a different kind of tool in mind, especially if you've got some bite-sized bakers to buy for. "I'm a huge believer in spending time baking with your kids! In today's technological and fast-paced society, I think it's so important to get back to basics, turn the oven on and BAKE!"

She suggests getting (or even making) kids their very own apron. Check out the adorable one she made for her (even more adorable) son.

Handmade, personalized apron (Vandana Jain)

And while the bakers in your life swoon over your thoughtful gifts, don't forget to generously offer up your services as a taste-tester for all of their new creations! Happy gifting!