Gluten-Free Living's Holiday Gift Guide

‘Tis the season to give and to receive, but forget the fruitcake as we’ve compiled a gift guide from the personal wish lists of the GFL staff to please every kind of cook, chef or baker. And don’t worry – we won’t judge you if you buy two – one for them, one for you.

1.    Kuhn Rikon Cookie & Cupcake Decorating Set, $19.95, Sur La Table
No more futzing around with flimsy icing tubes or make-shift tinfoil funnels – a cookie and cupcake decorating set like this one from Kuhn Rikon can make putting on those finishing flourishes a cinch. Plus, it also comes in pastel colors.

2.    Magnetic Knife Holder, $16.99, Bed Bath and Beyond
Karen Morgan, the author of the cookbook Blackbird Bakery, Gluten-Free, recommends a magnetic knife holder as just one of the many space-saving tricks featured in the Saving column of the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of GFL on newsstands Jan. 2. Here’s one that comes with a reasonable price tag.

3.    Mini Holiday Silicone Spatula, Set of 3, $16.95, Williams-Sonoma
Whimsical cooking utensils like these spatulas make awesome stocking stuffers. These even come in a set of 3 so you can spread the love without spreading yourself thin.

4.    All is Bright Snowman Set, $8.99 - $14.99, Target
Holiday china can really transform a meal; after all, “Cookies for Santa” without proper signage are just cookies on a plate. “We have a set of Christmas plates that we use from Dec. 1 – Dec. 31 which just adds something festive to the entire month,” says our Associate Publisher, Kendall Egan.

5.    Paper Eskimo Red and White Dot Baking Cups, Set of 25, $7.95, Sur La Table
Think outside the box – baking cups aren’t just for muffins and cupcakes anymore. Sturdy paper ones like these are great for mini ice cream sundaes and holding or displaying toppings like sprinkles and marshmallows.

6.    Flat Stainless-Steel Icing Spatula, $35, Williams-Sonoma
“You would be amazed at how much easier it is to ice a cake with a really good icing spatula,” says our Editor Amy Ratner. “Mine was a treat from me to me. It and a good bread knife I bought are among my favorite kitchen tools.”  We love this one from Williams-Sonoma.

7.    Silpat Silicone Cookie Sheet Liners, $19.96, Williams-Sonoma
I tend to be a pretty by-the-book kind of baker, but greasing the cookie sheet is my weakness – I almost never do it. As a result, things stick, burn, and clean-up’s a mess. Santa, if you’re reading this, slip a silicone cookie sheet under the tree, for me; I’ve been an awfully good girl.  

8.    Claro Cake Stand, $49, Pottery Barn
After you spend hours mixing, baking, and frosting, your baked work of art deserves a place of honor at the holiday table - especially if it’s a gift for the host or a contribution to a holiday potluck. A domed cake stand will not only make your cake look majestic, but also protect it while in transit.

Beata Rybka