5 Best Cooking Gifts for Kids

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If your child is curious about what’s happening in the kitchen and has been eager to lend a helping hand, kids cooking gifts are ideal for just about any occasion. We scoured the net and asked our own kids what they thought they’d like if we were to offer them a cooking-related gift. With more than a little research and some thoughtful input from the littles in our lives, we came up with this concise list of the five best cooking gifts for kids.

At a Glance: The Best Cooking Gifts for Kids to Buy

We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product.

Before we get started, here are some things to keep in mind when choosing cooking gifts for kids who love to cook.

Age: Be sure that the gift you choose is age-appropriate! Once your child reaches pre-teen to teen stages, they’ll be able to use many of the same kitchen tools you do, so items such as specialty tools, small appliances, and cookbooks will be well-received. If your child is younger, then they’re going to love things that are sized just for them.

Interests: Some kids like the idea of making dinner, while others are primarily interested in baking desserts or making bread. Get your child a gift that feeds their interest or helps them transfer the skills they already have to new areas. A caddy full of kid-sized kitchen tools might be just the thing!

Budget: Whether you’d like to spend under $20 or invest a bit more in your child’s at-home culinary education, there are great options available! We did our best to find options that are moderately priced.

With these and a few other considerations such as convenience and versatility in mind, we’ve assembled this list of five great cooking gifts for kids.

Betty Crocker Cookie Cutter Collection

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Kids will enjoy baking creative cookies all year-’round with the Betty Crocker Cookie Cutter Collection. This is one of the biggest cookie cutter collections we could find. It includes 101 assorted cookie cutters depicting animals, sports-related items, letters, numbers, and holiday-themed shapes, all color-coded for easy identification. The clear canister holds all of the cookie cutters neatly when they’re not in use. These plastic cookie cutters have easy-grip tops and are top-rack dishwasher safe.

Pros:

• Tons of cookie cutters for every occasion
• Affordable price
• Safe, kid-friendly design
• Easy cleanup and compact storage

Cons:

• A little more prone to sticking than metal cookie cutters
• Some buyers have reported missing shapes/letters and/or duplicates

Who’s Going to Love It

If you have young bakers who enjoy making cookies, then it’s likely they’ll be absolutely thrilled with these cookie cutters. There’s a huge assortment of shapes and the color-coding system makes it easier to find exactly what they’re looking for.

Curious Chef Child’s Foundation Set

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Start little cooks and bakers off on the right foot with the Curious Chef Child’s Foundation Set. This fantastic set includes kid-sized versions of many essentials including an apron, oven mitts, and even a chef’s hat! A weighted rolling pin helps get cookie dough and pastry crusts to the perfect thickness, and a whisk, spoon, spatula, pastry brush, cookie turner, cookie cutters, and 3-quart mixing bowl make it easy for little helpers to assist with a variety of kitchen tasks.

Pros:

• Fully functional tools
• High-quality items, not toys
• Perfectly sized for little hands

Cons:

• A few reports of manufacturing flaws

Who’s Going to Love It

Kids who aren’t yet large enough to use full-size kitchen tools are very eager to give these a try! The set is ideal for children age 4 and up; some kids continue using the set until about age ten and many parents report “borrowing” the tools to use themselves. If you have a child or grandchild who’s eager to lend a hand and learn culinary techniques, then this set is sure to please.

Curious Chef 30-Piece Chef Caddy Collection

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A full set of kid-sized cooking tools? Yes, please! The Curious Chef Caddy Collection packs a rolling pin, a pizza cutter, a whisk, three skin-safe knives, measuring spoons, measuring cups, spatulas, and many other essentials into a handy caddy with a nonslip, rotating base. All items are dishwasher safe, third-party tested BPA free, and designated safe for kids age 4 and up.

Pros:

• All tools are kid-safe
• Perfect size for children
• Very good quality
• Caddy holds everything neatly

Cons:

• Only available in one color
• Peeler is pretty sharp; may not be suitable for the youngest kids

Who’s Going to Love It

Children who are eager to use grownup kitchen tools love this set for its variety as well as for its kid-friendly sizing. Perfect for any budding chef age four and up, this kit packs everything neatly into one place, so it’s very easy to find exactly the right tool for the job and stow it neatly after all the dishes are done. If you have a little helper, they’re going to love this fantastic set!

Dash Mini Waffle Maker

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The Dash Mini Waffle Maker is a kid-sized appliance that’s as popular with adults as it is with little chefs. This fully functional mini waffle maker lets kids treat themselves (and you!) to fantastic treats including panini sandwiches, chaffles, hash browns, and a whole lot more. Weighing in at just a little over a pound, this nonstick cookware features dual non-stick surfaces and makes finished products measuring a little under four inches across. A recipe book is included, along with access to a recipe database. This handy little waffle maker is backed by a one-year warranty.

Pros:

• Easy for kids to use with supervision
• Makes kid-sized waffles and more
• Nonstick surface for easy removal

Cons:

• Handle to open waffle maker is a bit small
• Makes just one waffle at a time
• Some reports of defective units

Who’s Going to Love It

Kids who are fascinated by your kitchen appliances – and who are old enough to follow instructions responsibly – love using this waffle maker, even if you have to help them with opening the upper half and removing waffles after they’re done. While this waffle maker is far from perfect, it is inexpensive and most people who use it have fun while making tastier, healthier versions of some of their favorite store-bought breakfast treats. Be sure to supervise your child if you choose to get them this waffle maker since it is a real appliance that gets hot enough to bake actual food.

MasterChef Junior Cookbook

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Whether your kid has a kindle or if they prefer “real” books, they’re going to be head over heels for the MasterChef Junior Cookbook. Inspired by the TV competition show MasterChef Junior, this book bridges the gap between adult cookbooks and cookbooks for young kids who are just learning how to read. With real recipes that produce delicious results the entire family will love, this cookbook encourages creativity in the kitchen while helping kids learn important techniques that will inspire a lifetime of culinary enjoyment.

Pros:

• Quality recipes that call for real ingredients
• Excellent photos
• Inspiring techniques; goes well beyond basics
• Contains many healthy options
• Available in Kindle and paperback versions

Cons:

• Not ideal for kids who aren’t interested in cooking
• Kids who are just starting out might find some recipes challenging

Who’s Going to Love It

If your child loves to watch MasterChef Junior, then it’s likely that they’ll enjoy making the recipes in this book, since they’re some of the same ones featured on the show. This book isn’t for little kids; it’s more geared toward teens or pre-teens who already have some basic kitchen skills down.

With culinary gifts aimed at inspiring an even greater love for all the things that happen in the kitchen, your kids will learn important skills such as measuring, cleaning up after themselves, following directions, and more. Best of all, spending time in the kitchen gives you a chance to be together while creating something delicious to share. Enjoy!