by Lisa Elbert, Tastemaker in Residence - Helps you master the art of pastry

Baking is both a science and an art—food scales, baker's percentages, and fermentation temperatures are crucial to successful pastry, and some might argue that presentation is the most judgment-worthy part of the whole process. Finding the right gifts for bakers is another art in itself, so we spoke with Judy Kim, food stylist and baker extraordinaire, to get some ideas. Below are the best baking gifts to give, no matter if the recipient swears by back-of-the-box recipes or nurtures their sourdough motherdaily.

Offset Spatulas

“You simply cannot live without these for baking,” says Judy. From frosting cakes and evenly spreading batter into a pan to transferring fresh-outta-the-oven cookies from baking sheet to cooling rack in one fell swoop, offset spatulas are a baking gift that will get plenty of action. The long, narrow blade and offset flipper is optimal for all of the above and more (go ahead, use it to butter the bread for grilled cheese sandwiches and to flip said sandwich). They’re affordable, so gift a few in varying sizes. Buy it: Ateco Offset Spatula, from $5 on Amazon

PieBox

Maybe your recipient's cakes and tarts are like works of art, maybe they’re not. Either way, chances are they’ve put time and effort into the presentation, and it would be a shame for their hard work to crumble during transport to its final destination. This handcrafted, reusable raw pine box—designed to safely transport pies—is an excellent (and fashionable) way to make sure baked goods remains intact and beautiful. You can even opt for including the leather strap, which loops around the box for easy toting.

Buy it: PieBox, $28–$55 at Food52

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Wooden Rolling Pin

A rolling pin has the potential to make or break (literally) your pie crust and sugar cookie dough. Like a cast-iron pan, a rolling pin can develop a good patina over the years if cared for properly—never soak, seldom use soap, always dry fully, and wipe down with spoon butter every so often.

Buy it: J.K. Adams Maple Wood French Dowel Rolling Pin, $16 on Amazon

Pie Cutters

Judy makes the most photogenic pies we've ever seen. They are also melt-in-your-mouth delicious, but those things photograph like Santorini at sunset—you’ve probably seen them on her Instagram feed. “These pie cutters give the pie just that little extra pizazz, and leaves like these are beautiful year round. They’re also the perfect size for scraps, so no dough will go to waste.” Judy recommends freezing the cut-outs and attaching them with egg wash before baking so the pastry keeps its shape in the oven.Buy it: Leaf Pie Crust Cutters (Set of 4), $15 from Sur La Table

Large Baking Steel

Behold, the quintessential baking steel. “Aside from pizza, I love baking pies directly on the steel, especially ones that need to be blind baked,” Judy explains. “You can skip that fussy step and still get a crispy bottom. It will save you time and result in a tender crust since you’re less likely to over-bake it.” This is also an opportunity to make a decorative shell, say, with the aforementioned cutouts.

Buy it: The Original Baking Steel Big Baking Steel, $129 on Amazon

Balloon Whisk

Give the gift of oomph, delicate crumbs, and the dreamiest, fluffiest desserts by way of the balloon whisk. The way eggs are whipped into batter is crucial to the final texture of a cake, and this whisk—with its especially large, round, "balloon-shaped" end—preserves the beautiful airiness of whipped eggs while quickly helping you blend in other ingredients. The long handle and round stainless steel wires make for easy blending, whipping, and beating, whether making a show-stopping soufflé or an elegant meringue pie.

Buy it: Sur La Table Copper Balloon Whisk,$45 from Sur La Table

Bundtlette Cake Pan

Aside from being a delightful word (try not to smile when saying Bundtlette!), this miniature version of the popular Heritage Bundt shape should get your baker excited about cake of any and all flavors. Nordic Ware is to Bundt as Kleenex is to tissue, so know that this is the real deal. Plus, if you feel inspired, there are dozens more cool shapes to choose from here.

Buy it: Nordic Ware Heritage Bundtlette Cake Pan, $40 on Amazon

Measuring Cup Set

Inspire confidence right off the bat with a set of measuring cups shaped like trophies. The stoneware cups are adorned with gold details and state what will hopefully be true: "Best In Show Baker."

Buy it: First Prize Measuring Cups (Set of 4), $36 from Anthropologie

Want more gift ideas? Check out our entire 2018 gift guidefor cooks, hosts, and everyone in between.

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The Best Baking Gifts, According to an Expert