Gift idea for someone who loves to bake?

[YakiSOBA]

Hello! I've been browsing some of the posts here and I'm really happy to have found this forum! Some of the recipes and ideas sound absolutely delicious!

I'm writing here in hopes of getting some suggestions from you pro's on what you think would be superb gift ideas for someone who loves to bake!

My girlfriends birthday is coming up, and she loves to bake all sorts of goods! Cookies, cakes, muffins, etc. She started teaching me how to bake, and I've fallen in love with the amount of fun you have when trying out new recipes for the first time, or trying to perfect older recipes you've learned.

For her birthday gift, I thought a good idea would be to get her something related to baking -- but as a relatively newcomer to the world of baking, I have no clue what would be considered a "must-have", "essential", or even just "cool/unique" tool as a gift idea.

She is particularly fond of "cute" things, such as bunny-shaped cookie cutters.

If anyone could come up with -any- suggestions, I would be very very thankful!

Thanks again, and keep up the good work! =)

[GB]

Welcome to the site! What kind of price range would you like to keep within?

[YakiSOBA]

Hmm... I would say anything between $25 to $50 dollars? She would kill me if she found out I spent too much!

[GB]

Does she have a silpat? I do not bake much, but the people I know who do would not want to be without their silpat matt. It would not fit the "cute" requirement though, but she sure would get a lot of use out of it.

[YakiSOBA]

Oooh, that sounds like a really good idea!

I don't think she has one, and it seems to be quite useful for all-purpose baking indeed! :)

Thank you GB!

[GB]

My pleasure. I am sure others will chime in with some great ideas too.

[Katie E]

You say she likes to bake muffins, how about getting her something like this: Amazon.com: Norpro 3992 12 pc petite nonstick heart muffin pan: Home & Garden.

It's not very expensive and you might even go to the book store and find a neat cookbook on muffins only.

For less than $50, you could give her the Silpat sheet, a "cute" muffin pan and a muffin cookbook.

Then go to the store (I've seen them at Wal-Mart.) and buy a package of white flour sack towels. Use them to wrap up her presents with pretty ribbon. She can use the towels for pastry cloths and/or to dry dishes.

You might even get some tasty heart-shaped muffins as a big thank you.

[jkath]

Silpat - great idea GB!
My first thought was a cute one (before I realized she was into such things) -
how about a silicone madelaine pan? They're awesome!

Another thought - ramekins with a torch (and fluid)

Also, you know those cake pans that look like a big rose? Now they have cupcake/muffin sized sets (I think they come with 4 different flowers). Anyhow, they're beautiful and I've seen them at Bed Bath & Beyond....who always has 20% off coupons!

[Yakuta]

Silpats are great but here is something one of my good friend gave me that may spark up some more ideas:

Cookie Press (farily inexpensive plastic one with different heads)
Good quality Madagascar pure vanilla extract
Good quality Chocolate (White and Bittersweet)
Assorted cookie cutters
Decorative Sugars

You can make a basket and present it to her. It's fun to buy little stuff but more of it so the receiver has fun opening it.

[college_cook]

Not really cute but if she's a serious baker she'll need a scale. Some recipes just require the ingredients to be measured by weight, and I can say from experience that some things just don't turn out at all if not measured exactly.