The Basics

• Most bakers probably already own baking sheets, cake pans or muffin tins. But, these items do wear out, especially if they have a non-stick coating. Over time, these items have subtle improvements, such as the addition of heat-resistant silicone handles or new, improved non-stick coatings. You may want to branch out from basic bakeware and give a gift that relates specifically to your baker's interests. For instance, if your baker loves to bake bread, you can give her a baguette pan or cloche. A baker who specializes in cake would be delighted to receive an unusually shaped cake pan.

  Other baking basics include measuring cups, mixing bowls and utensils such as a cookie turner or silicone spatula. Small, glass prep bowls are a great gift, particularly ones that are pretty and match the tastes of your baker friend.

  If it is in your budget and your friend does not have one, you may consider giving him a stand mixer or food processor. Stand mixers can be a baker's best friend; not only do they mix ingredients, they can knead bread, whip cream and egg whites quickly and shorten the prep process considerably.

Consumables

• Fancy, hard-to-find ingredients are great gifts for bakers. You can find expensive chocolate, unusual flours and decorating sugars online or in a local kitchenware store. A bread baker may be happy to find several pounds of unusual flour, such as high gluten flour, under the Christmas tree or wrapped up for her birthday. Fancy chocolates, such as black cocoa powder or good white chocolate, will brighten a baker's day.

  The baker who wants to use organic or natural ingredients in his baking would be happy to receive products such as natural food coloring, raw sugar or exotic, organic vanilla beans or extract.

  The baker who wants to use organic or natural ingredients in their baking would be happy to receive products such as natural food coloring, raw sugar or exotic, organic vanilla beans or extract.

Cookbooks or Cooking Classes

• Many bakers are always looking to improve their baking skills or tackle another area of baking. Help them expand their horizons by giving them a cookbook or signing them up for a cooking class.

  A themed cookbook is a great gift idea for the baker who wants to expand her horizons. Consider giving a cookbook full of ice cream recipes to a cake baker or a basic bread cookbook for the baker just starting to explore the world of bread baking.

  Some cookbooks target vegan bakers. In 2006, Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero released "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World" to great acclaim. The pair followed it up with "Vegan Cupcakes Invade Your Cookie Jar" in 2009. Other cookbooks targeted at vegan bakers are Hannah Kaminsky's "My Sweet Vegan" and Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's "The Joy of Vegan Baking."

  Many local cooking schools offer amateur classes. Consider purchasing the baker in your life a few cooking classes to expand his baking skills.