Photo:
Allrecipes / Kevin Liang
Toys are a dime a dozen, but that doesn’t make shopping for the best gifts for kids easy. In fact, kids are notoriously difficult to shop for, especially when the pressure is on to find something unique or educational.
That’s why we recommend tapping their interests. Think about what the kiddo in your life loves the most. Are they an active sports fanatic who jumps into any neighborhood pickup game? Or maybe they’re the creative type that likes to experiment in the kitchen?
There are plenty of great gifts out there for kids who like to cook or help out in the kitchen. We’ve rounded up the best cooking gifts for kids of various ages, from our favorite child-size chef’s tools and kitchen play sets to children’s recipe books and baking kits.
Psst! Ship your holiday gifts by these dates to make sure they arrive on time (may exclude Hawaii and Alaska):
- Amazon Free Shipping: Dec. 17, 2024
- FedEx and UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20, 2024
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Dec. 21, 2024
Cooking Gifts for Kids: Under 5 Years Old
You can inspire a love of food at a very young age—whether it’s through fun place settings or toddler-friendly utensils. Here are some fun cooking gifts for kids under five years old.
Constructive Eating Construction Plate and Utensils
PHOTO: Courtesy by Uncommon goods
$36 at Amazon
$21 at Walmart
$57 at Wayfair
For the youngest set expressing interest in the culinary world, consider a fun and interactive construction-themed dining set. The unique plate, complete with dedicated sections for different foods (we all know toddlers don’t like food to—gasp!—touch), comes with a bulldozer pusher, forklift, and front loader spoon. We’re pretty sure it could convince even the pickiest eaters to dig in. And, if tastes skew in a more otherworldly direction, there’s always the fairy garden set by the same brand, which is just as delightful.
Teamson Kids Little Chef Paris Wood Play Kitchen
PHOTO: Amazon
$153
$123 at Amazon
$315
$174 at Target
$123 at Walmart
Give children their first taste of cooking with this wooden play kitchen from Teamson Kids. It comes in six colors to suit your space, including neutrals like white and bright, bold shades like pink. And, best of all, it’s more extensive than most other models. Little ones will have access to a sink, a stove, an oven, a fridge-freezer combo, and some cabinets to store all their goods. Just be prepared to gobble up all kinds of pretend creations.
xo, Fetti Fruit Temporary Tattoos
PHOTO: Amazon
$7 at Amazon
$6 at Etsy
Stocking stuffers for foodies are a lot of fun, especially for those who are young. If you’re on the hunt for some affordable gifts to tuck into stockings, temporary tattoos are no-brainers for the food-loving set. We love these by xo, Fetti, which you can find on Amazon for quick delivery (perfect for you last-minute shoppers out there!), However, they are unlike your run-of-the-mill designs. They’re highly detailed and complete with shimmering gold foil.
Kidrobot Yummy World Medium Bunford Burger Plush
PHOTO: Courtesy of Kid Robot
View on Kidrobot.com
Stuffed animals are a classic gift for kids, but how about stuffed plushies of food? Kidrobot has an entire collection of food-shaped friends called Yummy World. The smiling burger named Bunford is absolutely adorable, and definitely huggable. Other cute options include Franky the Hotdog, Nicole the Ramen Bowl, and Flaco the Taco, among dozens of others.
Little Partners Explore ‘N Store Learning Tower
PHOTO: Amazon
$140
$126 at Amazon
$140
$120 at Target
$140
$130 at Walmart
Start ‘em young with this safe and sturdy toddler tower. It gives the tiniest tots the boost they need to be your dedicated sous chef (or to just observe!). The unit is adjustable to four different heights to nail the height, plus it has a fold-up step that allows for easier storage. We love that it comes in three colors, too: white, white with natural wood, and gray.
Lalo Little Chef Set
View on Meetlalo.com
Tovla Jr. Knives for Kids 3-Piece Set
$10 at Amazon
$10 at Walmart
View on Groupon.com
Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set
$28
$15 at Amazon
$15 at Walmart
View on Melissaanddoug.com
LeapFrog Smart Sizzlin’ BBQ Grill
$48 at Amazon
$48 at Walmart
Gund My Little Food Truck 5-Piece Plush Playset
$25 at Amazon
Munchkin Stainless Steel Utensil Set
$17
$16 at Amazon
$16 at Walmart
View on Kmart.com
Cooking Gifts for Kids: 5 to 10 Years Old
Toddlers quickly grow into children, and those children are learning a lot. Ensure they learn about cooking and cuisine, too!
Osmo Pizza Co.
PHOTO: Amazon
$50
$33 at Amazon
$33 at Walmart
$50 at Kohls.com
Does your kiddo have dreams of running their own restaurant one day? Give them a taste of the biz with this educational toy. Osmo’s Pizza Co. is an interactive game that syncs with iPad or Fire tablets to simulate the real-world experiences of a restaurateur—taking orders, collecting payments, and firing orders. Through these activities, kids not only have a blast but also learn important math and critical thinking skills.
Uncommon Goods Dinosaur Taco Holders
PHOTO: Courtesy by Uncommon goods
$25 at Walmart
$17 at Uncommon Goods
$25 at Toynk.com
Looking for a gift that’s sure to elicit a roar of excitement? It’s hard to go wrong with a playful accessory that might just marry two of their greatest loves: dinos and food. These silly but super functional taco holders come in multiple styles, including a triceratops (the “Tricerataco”) and a T-Rex (the “Tacosaurus Rex”). You can even complete the set by picking up a Weeniesaurus for hot dogs and a Nachosaurus for, you guessed it, nachos.
QANYI Toaster Lamp
PHOTO: Amazon
$26
$16 at Amazon
Light up your little foodie’s world, or at least their bedroom, with this food-themed piece of décor. The retro “toaster” is undeniably adorable, and a simple flip of a built-in switch provides the perfect soft glow to keep any nighttime scaries at bay. Choose from three different colors to best suit your kiddo’s taste.
Tovolo Dino Pop Molds, Set of 4
PHOTO: Amazon
$19
$14 at Amazon
$16 at Walmart
$16 at Wayfair
Popsicles are fun any time of the year. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, you can’t go wrong with this fun monster mold. It’s a healthy and easy way to make dessert. Simply blend fruit, yogurt, and other ingredients, then pour into the popsicle molds and freeze. The silicone won’t tip in the freezer and releases easily for a seamless experience overall.
Creativity for Kids Pizza Garden Kit
PHOTO: Amazon
$13 at Amazon
$17 at Michaels
View on Dickblick.com
If only pizza could grow on trees. Well, with this comprehensive kit, kids can at least grow parts of the pizza in a little indoor garden. This educational garden comes with seeds for basil, tomatoes, and peppers, as well as a fun activity book, stickers, and everything you need to make a mini garden. Kids will love watching the seeds sprout into blooms with the see-through terrarium (though the plants should be replanted outdoors or in a bigger pot once they grow large enough). When it’s harvest time, gather the family to break out the pizza stone and make a fresh homemade pizza from the fruits of your labor.
Algis Crafts Personalized Kid Rolling Pin
$25 at Amazon
Williams Sonoma Kids Bake and Create Cookie Set
$100 at Williams Sonoma
Opinel Le Petit Chef Box Set
$50 at Amazon
$50 at Uncommon Goods
Handstand Kitchen Unicorn-Shaped Cutting Board and Knife Set
$23 at Amazon
View on Maisonette.com
Wilder Games MasterChef Family Cooking Game
$20 at Amazon
View on Target
$25
$20 at Walmart
United Tastes of America
$30 at Amazon
View on Abebooks.com
View on Thriftbooks.com
Country Kitchen Mini Silicone Kitchen Utensil Set
$12
$7 at Amazon
Baketivity Cookie Cutter Set
View on Baketivity.com
Cooking Gifts for Tweens: 11 to 12 Years Old
Not quite children, but not quite teenagers, tweens usually fall in the 10 to 12-year-old range. This is a fantastic time to foster a passion for the kitchen.
Dash Turbo POP Popcorn Maker
PHOTO: Amazon
$30 at Amazon
View on Boscovs.com
Make movie night a little bit more exciting with this popcorn maker. It gives them the opportunity to experiment with different styles of kernels to churn out artisan popcorn at home without any dangerously hot oil or extra-large contraption you won’t know where to store. All they have to do is add popcorn kernels to the high-capacity heating chamber, and then press start. The hardest part is waiting a few minutes for the gadget to work its magic.
Uncommon Goods Kids’ DIY Root Beer Class
PHOTO: Uncommon Goods
$32 at Uncommon Goods
They may be used to making cookies, but soda… that’s a whole new ball game—and one that’s bound to be an exciting treat for your chef-in-the-making. This experiential gift, recommended for kids ages 8 to 12 (with parental supervision, of course), gives them access to a 60-minute hands-on virtual class, plus all of the supplies they need to brew their own root beer. There are plenty of class dates to choose from.
Dynamite Kids Cooking School: Delicious Recipes That Teach All the Skills You Need
PHOTO: Amazon
$25
$15 at Amazon
The New York Times called it one of the best cookbooks of the year, and it’s easy to understand why. Born out of the Brooklyn school where kids ages 7 to 17 learn fundamental cooking skills (in person and online), this compendium features more than a bunch of recipes. In addition to the everyday staples—smash burgers, quesadillas, and pasta alla carbonara, for example—it also houses 45 pages of tips, tricks, and techniques that’ll guide kids on their culinary journey.
Baketivity Cake Pops Baking Kit
PHOTO: Source: Baketivity
$37
$24 at Amazon
View on Baketivity.com
Are your kids cake pop-obsessed? Honestly, who isn’t? Save yourself a little bit of money (those Starbucks runs get expensive!) and fuel their passion for baking with this Baketivity kit. Each box, whether cake pops or bagels, comes packed with pre-measured ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe card to make the job foolproof.
Williams Sonoma Star Wars Pancake Molds, Set of 4
PHOTO: Williams Sonoma
$20 at Williams Sonoma
Help your food-loving kiddo make delicious pancakes for the whole family that are out of this world—dare we say, from a galaxy far, far away. The Set of four Star Wars-inspired molds includes Darth Vader, a Stormtrooper, R2-D2, and Yoda, each one more detailed than the next. But best of all, they have an innovative non-stick silicone design that allows for effortless release and easy clean-up. A win for the chef (and their dishwasher).
I Made Hundreds of Pancakes to Find the Best Electric Griddles
The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook
$18
$10 at Amazon
I’m The Chef Too! Galaxy Donut Kit
View on Imthecheftoo.com
MFC 5-Piece Wooden Cooking Spoons
$23 at Amazon
Hedley & Bennett Herb Garden Kid’s Apron
View on Hedleyandbennett.com
Genuine Fred Shark Munchtime Chopsticks
$8
$6 at Amazon
$6 at Kohls.com
$7 at World Market
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Cookbook
$28
$13 at Amazon
$19 at Target
$28 at Barnesandnoble.com
Amazon Basics Round Reusable Silicone Baking Cups
$14
$10 at Amazon
Oannao Multicolor Silicone Spatula Set
$14 at Amazon
$14 at Walmart
Cooking Gifts for Teens: Over 13 Years Old
Growing teens eat a lot, so they should definitely learn how to cook meals, make snacks, and bake delicious treats.
Little Passports Kitchen Adventures Subscription
PHOTO: Little Passports
View on Littlepassports.com
Send your little foodie on a worldly adventure with a subscription box (starting at $27 per month) that delivers the flavors of a different country each month. Each kit comes with kid-tested recipes, complete shopping lists, and activities and games to help teach your young chef about the culture behind the cuisine.
They will also get a special tool to help them get the job done—think a pair of kitchen tongs for pasta or a tortilla warmer for tacos. Highlighted areas include spots like Rome, Italy; El Paso, Texas; Punjab, India; and Buenos Aires, Argentina, among others.
Disney Mickey Mouse Double Flip Waffle Maker
PHOTO: Amazon
$90 at Amazon
$90 at Walmart
View on Shopdisney.com
Another breakfast-time winner, this waffle maker churns out fluffy waffles in Mickey Mouse’s likeness. The double-sided waffle can make up to six waffles at a time, has non-stick plates for fuss-free execution, and adjustable browning control so your little chef can cook the morning treat to perfection. It’s a fun countertop appliance that’s guaranteed to impress any sleepover buddies.
Flour Shop Rainbow Pop-Up Cake Kit
PHOTO: Courtesy by Williams Sonoma
$60 at Williams Sonoma
If you’re not sure what to get a food-loving teen, Williams Sonoma's partnership with the creative and colorful Flour Shop bakery is a good place to start. Who doesn’t love cake and rainbows? This brilliant push-pop cake kit is the perfect marriage and comes with everything they need to make dozens of multicolor masterpieces that will incite all kinds of oohs and aahs from eager taste testers.
Uncommon Goods DIY Dessert of the Month Subscription
PHOTO: Uncommon Goods
$142 at Uncommon Goods
Treat the young baker to a tour of the world’s most beloved desserts with this unique three- or six-month subscription. Treats include bubble waffles, Scandinavian cinnamon buns, strawberry hand pies, mochi ice cream, fortune cookies, and Linzer cookies. Each kit comes with complete recipes and shopping lists, plus the necessary tools to execute each confection like a pro.
Chef’n S’mores Roaster
PHOTO: Crate & Barrel
$60
$48 at Amazon
$35 at Macys
$35 at Macys
Is the weather outside too frightful for a campfire? Bring the fun indoors with this fun and safe (with adult supervision, of course) tabletop fire pit. The white ceramic dome sits on a wooden base meant to resemble crossed logs. A flame comes up from the middle for roasting marshmallows, while a shelf sits in the middle to toast graham crackers and melt chocolate—genius!
Yonanas Soft Serve Maker
$80
$50 at Amazon
$37 at Walmart
$42 at Home Depot
Farm Steady DIY Rainbow Bagel Making Kit
$35 at Williams Sonoma
View on Macys
View on Farmsteady.com
OTOTO Measuring Spoons Set
$20
$18 at Amazon
$18 at Target
Boston Warehouse Lobster Claw Oven Mitts
$22 at Amazon
Ototo Dunk N’ Egg Yolk Separator
$19
$15 at Amazon
View on Ototodesign.com
OTOTO The Nessie Family
$38
$28 at Amazon
View on Mymodernmet.store
Genuine Fred Manatea Tea Infuser
$15 at Amazon
$5 at Sur La Table
$15 at Kohls.com
The Super Easy Teen Cookbook
$17
$9 at Amazon
$10 at Target
$9 at Walmart
Why Take Our Word For It?
Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer with nearly 15 years of experience creating content for publications like Real Simple, Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily, and more. She also holds a culinary degree and has four young children under the age of six. She’s slowly teaching them the ins and outs of the kitchen and has personally tested multiple products on this list. For this article, she leaned on in-home experience with her own kids, plus researched unique and thoughtful gifts available from a variety of online retailers.
Mary Claire Lagroue, who originally wrote this gift guide, was an associate editor at Allrecipes who joined Dotdash Meredith in 2019. She has written about food since 2017, and her work can be found in Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Southern Living, and more.
Allison Wignall was thrilled to update this article since she prides herself on giving fun gifts. Her work has been featured in Food & Wine, The Spruce Eats, Southern Living, and more.
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