Learn from top-rated chefs
If your giftee loves cooking and is always looking to expand their repertoire, there's no better gift than a professional chef guiding them step-by-step through a new skill or recipe. These are a few of our favorites.
The Chef & the Dish private cooking class
Here is all the fun and know-how of a private cooking class from world-class chefs, but from the privacy of your home. The Chef & The Dish brings Michelin-level culinary masters into your kitchen via video chat, from places as far away as Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, New Orleans, Turkey and Thailand. Dinner is going to be awesome from now on. Classes for two start at $299, plus $50 for each additional person, making a four-person class as inexpensive as $100 each.
You can also purchase cooking class gift cards and let them choose the lesson themselves.
Sur La Table online cooking classes
Did you know Sur La Table offers some of their cooking classes online too? Instead of heading to a retail store for the class, the food lover in your life can learn from the pros in the comfort of their own kitchen. These classes are very affordable too -- starting at $29. Each lesson is 90-120 minutes, and it's the same price no matter how many guests "attend" the Zoom class from the recipient's home. Offerings include tamales, Thai stir-fried noodles, lemon macarons and more.
Rouxbe online culinary school
Rouxbe is flexible and comprehensive, offering courses for both professional certification and first-time cooks. It's great for helping people learn the fundamentals of cooking, since it offers everything from knife skills to how to make a salad dressing. You can even take courses with a more a plant-based focus.
Yotam Ottolenghi's Middle Eastern cooking MasterClass
Few chefs today have a better handle on cooking vegetables and legumes in creative ways than Yotam Ottolenghi. His MasterClass course explores plant-based spreads and dips, including labneh, muhammara and other tasty mezze that are perfect for the serial entertainer or host.
Explore all of MasterClass' food and drink lessons here. A subscription is $180 for one year and gives access to the full library of classes across dozens of categories and practices.
Make a meal at home
There's something incredibly satisfying about a home-cooked meal, especially when it doesn't require much planning or a long list of new ingredients. It's even better when you can share that satisfaction by gifting someone one of these cooking kits, all personally vetted by our CNET experts.
Urban Cheesecraft Deluxe DIY Cheese Kit
If you know someone who loves cheese, this kit is sure to bring them joy -- and plenty of cheese. All the cheese lover needs is basic kitchen equipment and their favorite milk to make portions of mozzarella, ricotta, burrata, string cheese, paneer, queso blanco, goat cheese and farmer's cheese. Are you already drooling at the thought? The cheeses can be further customized with their favorite herbs and add-ins, like honey or red pepper flakes. Yum.
The best part? Making cheese with this kit isn't overly complicated or time-consuming -- it can be made in less than an hour. Quick, easy and delicious? Count us in.
Looking to boost your favorite foodie's pantry? Look no further than the Momofuku bestseller pack. It contains the brand's signature original Chili Crunch, of course, as well as 25 individual servings of the brand's noodle packs and sauces (five of each flavor), a soy sauce and seasoned salt. They'll think of you every time they need a quick and delicious meal -- and when they put a scoop of Chili Crunch on their eggs, BBQ or pizza.
I made my first paella this year and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Having the right ingredients -- like bomba rice and paella spices -- along with a proper pan to cook and serve it in, makes all the difference. This kit from Williams Sonoma has much of what you need for under $60.
DIY kits for bakers
Whether you're looking for a gift for an experienced baker, someone just starting out or a loved one who's eager to dive into a new genre (like sourdough), there's a baking kit out there for everyone. The following kits cover the full spectrum, and we can confirm that they churn out delicious treats.
Make your own focaccia kit
For the aspiring bread baker, this hands-on kit includes (almost) everything needed to make your own delectable loaf of yummy herbed focaccia. You'll just need to provide the olive oil, warm water and sugar, and it includes the rest, including instructions, so that you wind up with a crusty, delicious loaf of bread. It'll be hard to go back to store-bought once you start whipping up your own loaves.
Bake Eat Love monthly baking kit
Each month, the Bake Eat Love box includes pre-measured ingredients, a useful baking tool, and step-by-step instructions with video tutorials. Whether the giftee is an experienced baker or just starting out, they'll love trying a new, delicious recipe every time. You can't go wrong with a gingerbread cake roll with eggnog whipped cream, for example. Since each box makes around 12 to 20 servings of the dessert, maybe you'll even be lucky enough to get a sample.
You can opt to gift the Bake Eat Love subscription for one month ($39.99 per box), 3 months ($38.50 per box), 6 months ($38.50 per box) or 12 months ($38.50).
Flour Shop Mini Explosion Cake Kit
You’ve likely heard of the Flour Shop Rainbow Explosion cake that went viral. Well, the brand teamed up with Williams Sonoma so now you can make or gift a mini one. This set includes all the cake mix, coloring gels, frosting mix and sprinkles your giftee will need to whip up a small version of this Instagram-worthy dessert. Note that this kit does not include the baking pan, which can be purchased separately.
Cook with kiddos at home
Getting kids involved in the kitchen benefits everyone. They learn valuable life skills and their parents can reap the benefits of an enjoyable shared activity and the delicious outcome. Whether you're buying for your own kids or giving a gift, you can't go wrong with these tried-and-true kid-centric kits.
KiwiCo Science of Cooking Bundle
For better or worse, kids usually love getting involved -- and messy -- in the kitchen. And with these KiwiCo Science of Cooking kits (ice cream, bread & butter and mini cakes), they can help create something delicious and also learn the science behind yeast, weighing ingredients and more.
Note that these sets contain tools, not actual food ingredients. But most of the required ingredients are likely things you already have at home or can easily find at the grocery store. Each kit includes an illustrated instructional booklet that explores related science topics (like crystal formation in the ice cream kit). Because of this, they’re recommended for kids aged 5 and up.
Duff Goldman DIY Baking Set for Kids by Baketivity
If you're hoping to see a kiddo in your life make it to the small screen on Kids Baking Championship, perhaps start with these tasty Duff Goldman DIY baking sets. This particular kit contains most everything they'll need to create delicious s'mores sandwich cookies. Need we say more? The ingredients look amazing even before they're assembled.
MasterChef Junior dumpling making set
Aspiring pint-sized chefs will love this MasterChef Junior dumpling kit that comes with all of the tools needed for the job: steam basket, dumpling press, measuring cups and steamer paper. It also comes with eight recipe ideas (geared towards all different levels of experience) and a blank card for writing down their own recipe iteration. How fun is that? It's one thing to teach a kid how to make a sandwich on their own -- but learning to make dumplings will hopefully take their cooking interest and skills to the next level.
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