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Hand in hand with the winter holidays, the gifting season is already upon us. If you want to show your love, gratitude, or send a little holiday cheer to someone special but don’t know where to start, this foodie gift guide is here for you.
Buying a gift for the Gen Z foodie friend in your life is really quite easy. You could get them a gift card to their fave restaurant or cafe. You could put together a basket of their most-loved snacks like Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Cool Ranch Doritos, and Pringles. But let's be honest. Those options are fully expected. And for your culinary-obsessed bestie, you've got to do better.
Don't fret. We've put together a list of some very cute, very affordable, and very useful gifts. Some are great if they are in need of some kitchen accessories. Others are just really damn adorable food-related gifts. Almost all the products on this list are under $50, so you don't have to splurge to spoil your foodie friend. Here are the best gifts for Gen Z foodie in your life.
1. The Unbreakable German Glassware, $40
For the clumsy and the classy, this set of glassware is crafted in Germany with high-tech materials to ensure that a silly slip won’t result in any shattered glassware. This elegant set contains four glasses and is also insulated four times more than traditional glassware, allowing warm drinks to stay warm and cool drinks to stay cool.
2. Hedley & Bennett Smock, $95
This is the perfect gift for those who want to save their cute clothes from any accidental spills and splashes in the kitchen by throwing something cute on top of it. These adorable smocks are the result of a collaboration between Hadley & Bennett and LoveShackFancy: now you get kitchen aprons that are both practical and cute with a vintage flair. The smocks also come with a lifetime guarantee!
3. Superwhisk, $25
Perfect for on-the-go matcha or post-gym protein shakes, this Superwhisk is going to be your new best friend for perfectly blended drinks. This travel-friendly handheld frother is rechargeable and comes with a USB charging cable with two high-speed options — say goodbye to any clumps in your cup.
4. AeroPress Coffee Maker, $40
The AeroPress uses patented 3-in-1 technology to combine the best aspects of several brewing methods compacted into one, portable, easy-to-use device. As someone who’s taken the AeroPress out for a camping trip before, I can say the AeroPress was not only lightweight and simple, but also capable of delivering a delicious sip. The immersion, aeration, and pressure of the AeroPress come together to create coffee that’s “rich like espresso, smooth like a pour-over and full bodied like a french press.”
5. Jif Peanut Butter Safety Stash, $23
Got a secret to keep? This faux peanut butter jar has got you covered. With a completely empty compartment inside, this unsuspecting secret stash can hold trinkets and valuables like jewelry without anyone ever knowing. The jar is even weighted close to a pound to feel like a full peanut butter jar.
6. Cereal Scented Soy Candle, $26
Mmm…smells like sleepy mornings and sweet cereal milk. If you want to fill your room with the scent of sugary, childhood nostalgia and a piece of cute, kitschy decor, this one’s for you. There are options like Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Froot Loops, and more to satisfy you and your living room’s sweet tooth. To add to the nostalgic, hug-like vibes, each cereal-scented soy candle is also poured and painted by hand.
7. Glazed Donut Lanolips Lip Balm, $14
This Lanolips lip balm is formulated with pure lanolin and vitamin E to bring moisture back to your chapped lips. Plus, the lip balm is donut-flavored, and who wouldn’t mind a boost of hydration and the taste of glazed donut on their lips?
8. Reusable Swedish Dishcloths, $7
These Swedish dishcloths are the cuter, eco-friendly replacement for paper towels — you can save up to 17 rolls of paper towels with just one Swedish dishcloth! The Swedish dishcloths come in a variety of patterns and can absorb twenty times their weight, and they air-dry quickly without breeding bacteria or creating any odor. Made of FSC-certified cellulose and cotton water-based ink, the dishcloths are also totally biodegradable and can be added to your compost bin.
9. Korean Dish Scrubbies, $12
These adorable, fruit-shaped Korean dish scrubbies will add some zest and efficiency to your dishwashing. Hand-crocheted with bristly yarn, these reusable dish scrubbies are highly effective at removing any grime from your dishes and are also safe to use on non-stick kitchenware. The scrubbies also dry much quicker than regular sponges, discouraging harmful bacteria growth.
10. Crumb Couture Fragrance, $65
For the fragrance fanatics and the sweet-treat lovers, this gift caters to the best of both worlds. Known across the Internet as the “croissant perfume,” Snif’s Crumb Couture will leave you smelling like a beautiful, buttery, bakery.
11. Charcuterie Boards Gift Set, $50
For elevating your charcuterie game at parties, picnics, or even personal enjoyment, this charcuterie boards gift set is just what you’ll need. This nifty set includes a cheeseboard with a sliding compartment that holds little cheese knives, slate labels, and even chalk markers. The divots in the cheeseboard perfectly hold the ceramic bowls that come in the set, which would be perfect for some savory nuts. Finally, a fruit tray is also included in the set.
12. Amusesable Croissant Jellycat Plush, $25
Have you ever loved your food so much that you wanted to cuddle with it? Maybe not…or maybe yes. For the people with the latter sentiments, I have some good news: Jellycat offers a whole range of your favorite foods in adorable, cuddle-able plush form. The croissant is one of their bestsellers, but you can also find a sandwich, lemon, pumpkin, sushi, and more.
13. Chocolate Chip Cookie Blanket, $40
For those who just want to get embraced by your favorite food because you love it so much, I still have some good news: you totally can! You can buy huge, light, cozy blankets that bear an uncanny resemblance to some common comfort foods like tortillas, pizzas, and cookies. With the chocolate chip cookie blanket, you’ll be drifting off to sweet dreams guaranteed.
14. CAROTE 12.5 Inch Nonstick Deep Frying Pan, $40
A really good set of non-stick cookware is essential in the kitchen. This highly-rated deep frying pan comes in a stunning white granite color with a super durable non-stick coating that makes cooking and cleaning very easy.
15. Cotton Waffle Weave Kitchen Towels, $16
Washing and drying dishes, wiping down the counters, and squeezing out excess moisture from grated zucchini all require a good dish towel. These towels have a waffle texture, come in neutral colors, and are super cheap.
16. UTALENT 5-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender, $43
No one has room for an entire blender in their first apartment. That's why this immersion blender is a perfect alternative. It can whip up a green goddess dressing in no time, make a creamy fruit smoothie every single morning, and chop up veggies for prep. Plus, it comes with a whisk attachment so no need for an electric hand mixer either.
17. Umite Chef Kitchen 33 Piece Cooking Utensils Set, $26
This utensil set has literally everything one needs for kitchen tools. It's got tongs, spatulas, spoons, a whisk, measuring cups and spoons, and a container to hold everything.
18. Bekith 6-Pack Drinking Glasses, $18
What we love about these drinking glasses is how cute yet versatile they are. The vintage textured design makes them look fancy and expensive, and the tumbler shape means they work for cocktails, beer, juice, or water.
19. Bamboo 1" Thick Butcher Block Wood Cutting Board, $26
A good cutting board is a necessity in the kitchen. You could go with a cheaper, plastic one, but they can be flimsy. This thick wooden one takes a bit more care but will last long after you upgrade your kitchen. To clean it, wash it with dish soap. Every few weeks, scrub with half a lemon, baking powder, and salt. Rinse with hot water, let dry, and rub with mineral oil.
20. BINO Bakeware Nonstick Cookie Sheet Baking Tray Set 3-Piece, $33
For baking, roasting, and broiling, every cook need a good sheet tray set. This one is non-stick (our preferred material) and comes in a very cute black-speckled pattern.
21. Ceramic Egg Spoon Rest, $10
This spoon rest is adorable. It will keep all the spoon-y mess inside the sunny-side-up design.
22. Concrete Salt and Pepper Cellar with Lid, $13
Get salty with a salt cellar. That's just a fancy term for a small container for salt that sits within arm's reach of the stove. Pinch and season away!
23. Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6QT Enamel Dutch Oven, $69
A Dutch oven is a little bit of a splurge, but it's another item that can last for decades. We love the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore collection because it's affordable, comes in several muted colors, and is very durable. Plus, it'll likely be on sale for the holiday season!
24. 18-Jar Acacia Wood Spice Rack, $65
You could keep your spices tucked away in a cabinet, or you could have them beautifully displayed on your counter at the ready for seasoning. You'll easily be able to pull out any labeled spice and know when you've run out. And this one comes with the jars and spices!
25. Poliviar French Press Coffee Maker, $40
Your food-loving friend probably already has a coffee maker, maybe a single-serve Keurig. But why not upgrade their caffeine game with a really good and sleek French press? This one comes in several modern colors and will make a sediment-free, aromatic cup of coffee every single morning.
26. Desert Cactus Melamine Serving Tray, $20
Looking to make hosting a little easier? This gorgeous tray is aesthetically pleasing for a college crowd and is easy to clean with its dishwasher-safe material.
27. Floral Just with Spout, $60
Fill this cottage-core jug with wine, water, a batch cocktail, beer, or whatever else you are sipping on during your next gathering.
28. The Fishwife Smoky Trio, $33
Tinned fish is having a moment. Celebrate with your friends with this trio of Fishwife tinned perfection. It comes with smoked rainbow trout from Idaho, smoked albacore tuna from off the Pacific coast, and smoked Atlantic salmon from Norway. Add in some crackers and a bow, and the gift is complete.
29. Garlic Hand-Painted Wood Veggie Stud Earrings, $15
These are beyond adorable. Any food-loving person is going to wear these daily. But if this design isn't their thing, the Etsy brand also sells similar designs in tomato, blueberry, pomegranate, and more.
30. Croissant Candle, $13
"Un croissant, s'il vous plaît."
Coming right up! In candle form, that is.
31. Food-Themed Chopstick Rests, $3
They need a place to put their chopsticks. Why not make it a really cute, food-related place? There are 16 different foods to choose from, from persimmon to toast.
32. Linen Embroidered Table Cloth, $38+
Got a Gen Z foodie friend who loves to host? This delicately embroidered tablecloth is a personal gift that will add a layer of cottage core to their home.
33. Vintage Cheese Poster, $11
Everybody loves cheese. Why not display that love with a vintage poster?
34. Pierogi Ornament, $10
The tree has never looked this delicious.
35. "Meats" Hat, $50
Nope, that's not a Mets hat. That's a "Meats" hat. It's only for the biggest fans of prosciutto, hot dogs, pastrami, pork souvlaki, and meatballs.
36. White Tree Trunk Winter Mushroom Cake Stand, $25
If your bestie is a baker whose apartment is decked out in cottage-core aesthetics, this cake stand could not be a more perfect gift.
37. "To Start" Print by Libby Haines, $41
Libby Haines has pages of her printed work on her website with tons of beautiful food scenes you'll want to have in your home. This one depicts grazing plates of olives, pickles, fish, oysters, and some boozy beverages.
38. Egg Candles - 6 Pack, $38
For the foodie obsessed with brunch, these half-dozen egg candles are a must. Each little egg smells like cinnamon vanilla and burns for more than two hours.
39. Horchata Candle, $19
Fill the whole house with the sweet, warming aromas of horchata. And after you've burned it all, you get a gorgeous mug to keep.
40. Raspberry and Orange French Macaron Baking Kit, $40
For the Gen Z foodie friend who loves to bake, give them the ability to make something truly out of this world with one simple kit by Bake Eat Love. This kit allows you to make pastry-chef-level macarons. Other kit options include eclairs, Black Forest Cheesecakes, and more.
Happy holidays and enjoy all the food and foodie gifts that come with the season.
Note: This roundup was updated on December 1, 2023.