The holidays are HERE! Thanksgiving is tomorrow and the K to my A is out doing the obligatory last run to the grocery store before Turkey Day.
I really like him.
Anyway, it seems fitting that we talk about some small kitchen gadgets you’ll want for the holidays. I even threw in some bonus recommendations at the bottom.
None of these are things that you have to have, but they are very handy indeed when it comes to making holiday treats.
1. Microplane grater
Last year I put this on my wish list thinking I would use it for zesting lemons for these muffins. While it does work very well for that, I have recently fallen in love with freshly-grated nutmeg. It is most definitely worth the extra little bit of effort.
2. Marble rolling pin
Whether you are rolling sugar cookies, pie crust, or play dough, the extra weight of a marble rolling pin makes the job a whole lot easier.
3. Cookie scoops
These things are great to have in an assortment of sizes. And while I do use them for cookies, they are also fantastic for making any kind of meatball or patty, scooping up hummus or refried beans, and shaping energy bites.
4. Candy thermometer
Maybe not the most necessary kitchen tool, but definitely nice to have around the holidays. I use mine for making marshmallows, and on rare occasions, homemade caramel. Features I like in a candy thermometer are the ability to clip to the side of the pan, and some sort of stopper to prevent the thermometer from touching the bottom of the pan. I linked the one I have, but this one seems to have great reviews and is even slightly cheaper.
5. Pastry blender
Not into making pies? This also works great for chopping eggs into egg salad. Having a basic pastry blender does make it a lot easier to whip up things like pie crust and shortbread cookies.
6. Turkey baster
There’s the obvious application of this, yes. But it also comes in handy in other ways too. I once filled some empty holes in a muffin tin with water to help the muffins bake more evenly. This tactic worked great, until I had to turn them over. That’s when I whipped out my turkey baster and suctioned the water out. Just keep a turkey baster around – you never know when you will need it. The one linked is pretty similar to the one we have.
7. Stackable cooling racks
I have these, but if I was to recommend certain ones, I would say get these. Mine work great most of the time, but if I ever put something small on them, it falls through. Either way though, these things are a lifesaver for even a small batch of cookies. Kitchen counterspace is a limited resource, so building up instead of out is the way to go.
A few bonus recommendations:
Baking pans
I like these for everything from roasting veggies to baking cookies.
Silicone mats
I talked about these before. They are super duper, especially if you are working with something finicky that might stick to the pan.
Mixing bowls
These came up in another list of favorites too. A good set of mixing bowls is a must any time of year, but even more so during the holidays.
What holiday treats are on your baking list?