Mother's Day Presents for Avid Bakers: From Cookbooks to Mixing Bowls

One of the iconic images of motherhood is fresh-baked goods from her kitchen. For many, the idea of home-baked cakes and treats is inseparable from the memory of mothers. Warm muffins, sweet cakes, flaky biscuits, bubbling pies and fresh bread come from the well stocked kitchens of mothers who bake. For those who cherish their mother's baking, Mother's Day is a good time to show appreciation.

Most mothers who bake will have a favorite set of implements, the perfectly worn rolling pin or familiar set of mixing bowls. There is always a need for spatulas, good wooden spoons, and measuring cups of all sizes. A quality coffee been grinder can be used for both coffee and spices. Items such as flour sifters, different sized strainers and aprons with pockets are also useful. For a mother whose kitchen is lacking in appliances, the Cuisinart food processor and the Kitchen Aid stand mixer are two of the most useful appliances possible. Both have many uses and are well crafted machines. A stand mixer is one of the single most useful appliances in a kitchen, valued for its power and versatility. Kitchen Aid offers their classic mixer in multiple sizes and colors to suit most any need. One can even purchase after market decals to decorate the mixers with flames, flowers or tribal designs. Consider what things she cooks most often. For a mother who enjoys cakes, new pans, cake racks of decorating tools are an excellent choice. Nordic Ware makes a number of elaborate Bundt pans shaped like flowers and castles as well as many other high quality pieces of bakeware. Pie makers may delight in the individual pie slice baking dishes. Find cookie cutters in unique shapes. Shop at stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Sur La Table, Amazon.com or Target to find a wide variety of bakeware and tools.

Instead of stocking the cabinet with baking tools, consider stocking the pantry. A gift basket filled with quality baking chocolate and other items such as nuts, dried fruit, marzipan, fruit preserves, spices makes an excellent present. Choose a basket or container that can be used to transport baked goods in the future. King Arthur Flour offers numerous mixes through their online store. The rise of interest in chocolate has put many high quality baking chocolates on grocery shelves. Search for products from companies such as Scharffen Berger, Valrhona and Ghirardelli. Specialty stores, groceries and wholesale outlets for baking supplies may carry a wider variety of chocolates and decorations.

For mothers who enjoy learning by doing, cooking classes may be the perfect answer. King Arthur Flour offers numerous options, from online classes to DVD instructions. They also produce a beautiful bimonthly newsletter that is quite inexpensive and full of recipes and baking information. Wilton offers cake decorating classes at various locations around the United States and at their renowned facility in Illinois. Check with your local groceries, craft stores and baking supply stores to see if they offer any baking classes that might be interesting. Most classes are reasonably priced and students will get to take home some or all of their efforts.

Cookbooks are another good choice. Many cookbooks, especially those dedicated to baking, are beautiful enough to qualify as coffee table books. From the founders of Scharffen Berger, The Essence of Chocolate combines gorgeous photography, recipes, and information about chocolate from the bean to the table. Rose Levy Beranbaum has produced several cookbooks that are wonderful for bakers. Among them are The Cake Bible, The Bread Bible, and The Pie & Pastry Bible. An excellent cookie choice is the King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion. There are thousands of books dedicated to different aspects of baking. From Southern cakes, gluten free bread making, to the best pies there are books to suit every taste and style. Check your local bookstores or online retailers such as Amazon. If there is a Half Price Books nearby, this is an excellent place to obtain cookbooks, often brand new copies that were remaindered from larger bookstores. Churches and community groups also often produce their own cookbooks, which can be a great source for regional and home recipes.

All cookbooks, bowls and mixers aside, one of the best gifts for a mother who bakes is time. Take some time to enjoy baking with her, either learning her techniques for making the perfect pie crust or just sharing some conversation over muffins and coffee. Baking is about sharing, bringing delight to the table. Share that joy, celebrate Mother's Day and enjoy a slice of pie.