2026 Holiday Gift Guide for Home + Kitchen
The gift guide includes my favorite recommendations for the KITCHEN + HOME:
- At the top of the guide is brand, new gift guide recommendations this year.
- Below that are the all-time most popular gift guide items from the last 15 years.
This means you don’t have to go clicking through 15 years of gift guide links…all the best recommendations are right here in one spot!
Remember that none of the items on my gift guides are sponsored. I’ve bought or been gifted by friends/family everything on this list – these are all the things I genuinely love for my home and kitchen! Affiliate links are included which means I earn a small commission if you click on the link to buy; but as always, feel free to shop around for the best deal.
➡️ For extra gifting inspiration, here is a comprehensive look at the kitchen tools I keep on hand at all times.
New 2026 KITCHEN + HOME Gift Ideas
Best Muffin Tins: These aren’t necessarily new; I’ve been using them in my kitchen for years and years, and they definitely belong on this gift guide because they are the best muffin tins ever.
Ice Cream Scoop: Who wouldn’t this best-ever ice cream scoop in their stocking?? Comes in so many cute colors.
Air Fryer: This is one of the highest rated air fryers for a reason. My son has this one at college and now that my family is smaller at home, I’m getting one for myself.
Cheese Slicer: I had one of these cheese slicers growing up, and of course I have one in my kitchen, too. Works great on big blocks of cheese!
Customized Dinner Plates: My sister gifted us customized dinner plates (with pictures of our family), and they have been one of the best gifts ever! She says they are her favorite gift to give people. The plates hold up great (dishwasher safe).
Toaster Tongs: I thought I had recommended these tongs last year, but I can’t find them on a gift guide, and they are a must have…and a great stocking stuffer! These are magneted to the side of our toaster, and we use them all.the.time.
Glass Food-Safe Containers: Love these containers! I use them daily for my overnight oats and a myriad of other foods/leftovers.
Tablecloth: I have used this floral tablecloth so many times for baby and bridal showers, dinner, and more. There are many different patterns available. Note: the flowers are not embroidered; they are printed, but the tablecloth is well-made and durable. Love it!
Cup and Saucer Set: These cups and saucers are incredibly well-made and robust in design and in how they feel. I got them after returning from Italy, and they are perfect for Italian-style hot chocolate (and any hot chocolate, really!).
Silverware Caddy: This is a great tool to manage silverware when serving food. Cute and functional! It’s perfect for when you’re at home feeding a crowd…or take it on a picnic or to an outdoor get together. I also love this slightly elevated version.
2-Quart Pitcher: This 2-quart glass pitcher with a lid is so adorable and also really functional. It makes such a great gift! Comes in lots of different lid color options.
Tiered Serving Tray: I use this tiered serving tray all the time when serving food at different parties and events. It comes in a couple different color options, and is a fabulous way to serve treats, muffins, cookies and more.
All-Time Favorite KITCHEN + HOME Gift Ideas
My Cookbook: I’m obviously a little bit biased, but I think this cookbook would make a fantastic gift for anyone who enjoys cooking or baking. The recipes are approachable, fun and family-friendly. Use code: HOLIDAY for 15% off. 😘
6-Quart Instant Pot: I can’t imagine my kitchen without the almighty Instant Pot. I use it multiple times a week. 100% worth it. I also have, love, and use the 8-quart Instant Pot.
Stacking Cooling Rack: Talk about handy! This cooling rack saves so much counter space; love it!
Best Kitchen Scissors: I have three pairs of these in my silverware drawer and use them for EVERYTHING in the kitchen. They are dishwasher safe to clean!
Veggie Peeler: I have had a lot of vegetable peelers in my day, and this is by far the best. I’ve been using it over a year – it’s still sharp, is dishwasher safe, and doesn’t rust.
Portable Slow Cooker: I bought this to use for traveling sports events, and I’m surprised by how much I’ve used it outside of that. First of all: it’s really cute. Second of all: the way it seals makes it the perfect vessel for taking food a short or long distance. LOVE IT.
Lovely Dessert Plates: This set of dessert plates is so lovely and elegant. They can also be used for salad or anything else you want to serve them on. I have a set, and it feels special using them for Sunday desserts.
Silicone Muffin Tins: I don’t know why it took me so long to buy a set of these – but I finally did and they are LIFE-CHANGING for making egg bites (like this recipe or this recipe). They work great for regular muffins, too. Pro tip: pop the muffin tins on a baking sheet before filling so they don’t bend and spill when transferring to the oven.
Lodge Pan: Please meet my new favorite pan. I love it so much! It’s perfect for one-pot dishes, and I’ve been using it nonstop. It also can go from stove-to-oven, which saves on cleanup for recipes that normally call for transferring contents to a baking dish. Can’t recommend this pan enough!
Mini Tongs: These mini tongs are so handy! We use them for dishing up toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce, etc. They are great for so many things where bigger tongs would be too unwieldy. Comes in a set of two!
White Platters: Love, love, love these white platters! They are shallow, but they still have a scooped edge to prevent food from spilling over. They are great for dips, salads, side dishes and so much more! Comes in a set of two.
Compact Vacuum Sealer: This small vacuum sealer is AMAZING! Among other times, I used it this summer to prep and vacuum seal a bunch of smoked pork and other food for our family reunion. It is powerful and so easy to use (and takes up way less space to store than larger vacuum sealers).
Highball glasses: These glasses are so cute and fun. We use them often when serving frozen drinks like this whipped lemonade, lava flow, or frozen hot chocolate.
Stovetop Popcorn Maker: It’s no secret we love homemade popcorn, and we have used this stovetop popcorn maker nonstop this year. (It is induction compliant and works on gas or electric stoves, too.) It makes the best popcorn! We love this Amish purple or white popcorn.
Grill Brush: Best grill brush ever. The end.
Precut Parchment Paper: Precut parchment paper sheets will change your life forever.
My Favorite Small Knife: Literally the best little knife ever. I use mine (ok, I have three) daily, and have gifted them to more people than I can count. I use them more often than the most expensive knives in my drawer.
Ninja Individual Blender: We have used this every day for two years (usually twice a day), and is the best little blender ever. Can’t recommend it highly enough!
My Favorite Cutting Boards: These are my favorite cutting boards; I have multiple sizes! I don’t use mineral oil on them and they’ve held up for years (although, I do not put them in the dishwasher – hand wash only!).
Best Wooden Spoon: It’s hard to describe how much I love this wooden spoon. It is custom made in a small shop in Pennsylvania, and it is truly the best – in shape, size, everything. (I don’t put it in the dishwasher.)
Butter Dish: I have had many butter dishes over the years, and this one stands firm as my favorite. It fits one stick of butter (maybe a bit more) – it comes in a bigger size, too.
Rubbermaid Power Scrubber: This little power scrubber is so exceptional, it deserves a mention and would make a great stocking stuffer (or just buy it right now for yourself!). It digs into the corners and edges of sinks and grout like a beast.
Electric Whisk and Frother: This frother is high powered and long-lasting. We use it almost daily for hot chocolate, mixing protein powder into milk, and any small whisking job that needs a little power behind it.
Sourdough Jars: For the sourdough baker in your life, these jars are practical and pretty. I keep my sourdough starter in one enormous jug, but I use these smaller jars when I want to feed sourdough for specific recipes. I’ve gifted this set to several friends, as well! It’s available as a single jar or in a set of two.
Bread Knife: This affordable bread knife is incredible. I bought a very expensive one at the same time as this one to compare, and this $17 knife is just as good, if not better, than the $100 serrated knife. Can’t recommend it highly enough!
USA Metal Pie Plate: I think USA pans are the best pans ever. I have their bread loaf pans, muffin tins, mini muffin tins, and 9X13-inch pans, and nothing else compares, so it is no surprise that their pie plates are exceptionally stellar. Not only do they work great for, well, pie, but they are one of the best pans for this easy peasant bread (and the cheesy version!).
Rotary Cheese Grater: I use this cheese grater all the time; it’s not hard to clean – most of the pieces are dishwasher safe. I’ve found it even works on soft cheeses, especially if I don’t press hard with the insert and/or freeze the cheese for a few minutes before shredding.
Portable Fabric Steamer: I despise ironing more than I can express. Enter this portable steamer. I’ve been using it for a couple of years (the one pictured is a newer model than the one I have), and it has changed my life. Even my kids use it to iron out wrinkles quickly before school.
Double Sided Measuring Spoons: These are the best measuring spoons ever. I have two sets!
Low Profile Cake Stand: This is my favorite cake stand! I love the low profile height and the generous width of the tray. It’s perfect!
Best Kitchen Scale: After having several kitchen scales go haywire on me, I finally invested in this scale, and it has been going strong for several years now. It never glitches, it’s super accurate, and I use it daily.
Dinner/Pasta Bowls: We use these bowls all the time (for Korean beef bowls or Fajita bowls). I also use them for serving taco toppings and the like. They are the perfect size; I love them SO much.
Wüsthof Gourmet Spreader: This unique spreader is exceptional for cream cheese on bagels and really for spreading anything on bread/sandwiches, etc. Would make a great stocking stuffer!
Microwave Popcorn Maker: Not only is this microwave popcorn maker exceptionally cute, but it works amazingly well (we don’t use the option to melt the butter on top). It comes in several colors!
Chopper: I use this all the time for onions, veggies, salsa, etc. Totally worth it!
Staub Baking Dish: A bit of a splurge, this is another favorite baking dish AND it’s the one that appears on the cover of my cookbook (loaded with cinnamon rolls). It is beautiful and functional.
Little Snowie Snow Cone Machine: This snow cone machine is small in size but big in delivering great shaved ice for snow cones. The best part is you can use regular ice cubes! We’ve had this for years and use it nonstop during the summer. (It’s priced $40 lower than I’ve ever seen it before!)
Swedish Dishcloths: These are the only cloths I use in the kitchen (I wash and reuse them), and they are amazing, because they never stink. Best things ever!
DASH Multi Mini Waffle Maker: We love this waffle maker and use it weekly. It’s perfect for making and freezing waffles in individual-portions.
Bread Lame: This is the best bread lame I’ve used (and I’ve used several). It comes with several razor blades, and makes slicing the top of bread dough so easy.
Electric Crepe Maker: This crepe maker is amazing! We use it all the time and have completely abandoned the skillet method. I have a how-to video here if you are skeptical (like I was!).
Meat Chopper: This thing is 100% worth it for cooking ground meat – and it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
ThermoPop: I have had this instant-read thermometer for years, and it is the best thermometer ever (I have owned MANY, so I feel like I can be trusted in this matter). I use it for meat…but also for cooking candy (it works great with a pot clip!).
The Best Liquid Measures: I have multiple of these measuring cups. They are the best! No more peering down at eye level to see the measurement. I have all the sizes of these (1-cup, 2-cup, 4-cup).
The Best Mini Muffin Tin: I wax poetic a lot about my love for USA-brand pans. The mini muffin tin is exceptional (I have two because I use them that often!). It really is the best one out there. Everything bakes evenly and nothing sticks!
Cookie/Brownie Spatula: I have two of these spatulas because they are so handy! I use them for scooping cookies off sheet pans, lifting brownies out of the pan and cooking eggs in a frying pan.
Bosch Stand Mixer: I have had a Bosch stand mixer for over 20 years, and they are incredible (and unparalleled) for bread making. They are also great for cookie dough, frosting and more. I couldn’t live without my Bosch mixer! Use code MKC20 for $20 off.
Best Whisk: This is the absolute best whisk. It is sturdy and durable and doesn’t bend out of shape AND it is the perfect size for almost everything I mix – small batches or large. It’s the whisk I reach for 99% of the time.
9-Inch Tongs: Easily one of the most oft-used kitchen tools, these tongs have stood the test of time. I’ve had mine for years! The length is perfect for every day cooking.
Bench Knife/Scraper: Every kitchen needs one of these. I’ve had this OXO one for almost 10 years. I use it for cutting, scraping (the counter after cinnamon rolls or pie crust!), portioning dough…and so much more.
Favorite Rolling Pin: My life was forever changed when I moved to a dowel-style rolling pin. I’ve used this for over 10 years…and I’ll never go back to other styles of rolling pins (there are multiple sizes available; I have the 13.4-inch one).
2-Cup Measure: You don’t realize how much you need one of these until you have one. I use it every time I bake.
Cooling Racks: These are sold in a set of two and are my favorite cooling racks.
My Favorite Cookie Scoops: This is the only brand of cookie scoops I’ve used for years. I have the small, medium and large sizes.
Spatula Set: I am picky about silicone spatulas, and I love this brand! This set would make a perfect gift (but you can buy the spatulas individually, too). There are several color options.
XL Sheet Pan: I swear by these sheet pans! They are larger than a standard half sheet pan and fit in most standard-size ovens. They are great for baking more cookies at once or fitting several loaves of French bread onto one pan.
Best Pastry Brush: A perfect stocking stuffer, I have been using this pastry brush for years, and it truly is the best!
Best Hand Mixer: This is the best hand mixer on the market – it is really powerful! I’ve had it for over five years, and it is still going strong (and I use it multiple times a week).