Gift Ideas for Great British Baking Show Lovers

Need some beautiful Christmas gifts for a baker? Here are ten gift ideas for someone who loves English country style, beautiful baking scenes, and faithfully watches the greatest television show.

Aren’t we all Great British Baking Show lovers? Yes, we are. Many gifts tailored to the show’s fans are cheesy and adorned with silly phrases. But people who love the Great British Baking show like pretty things and baking, not goofy sayings.

So, this list has been compiled with this in mind. (They are also often gardeners and may enjoy some of these gifts for gardeners!) Everything is pretty and practical, not cheesy. Santa would be happy to deliver any of these goodies to the baker in your life.

1. Reusable Piping Bags

You will see bakers on the show using these blue piping bags frequently. It’s amazing how stiff they are, and they stay open for you to load them up with meringue, batter, or anything else that needs a lot of room. The little disposable ones are fine for small amounts of frosting, but for anything more substantial, go with these. I use them for piping meringue on my Key Lime Pie and baking whoopee pies.

Set of Three Reusable Piping Bags with Different Tips

2. Mason Cash Mixing Bowl

You know the one. The quintessential Mason cash bowl you see in almost every episode can be hard to find in stock. But any Mason Cash bowl has that same English country kitchen feel and will be loved and appreciated. Besides the classic “Cane” line, you can get the British baking feel with the strawberry bowl, green apple bowl, or Woodland Forest bowl.

Here’s the classic:

Mason Cash Cane Mixing Bowl

3. Lame For Scoring Bread

Anyone who loves the Great British Bake Show appreciates beauty. That means that a tool that basically has one function, to make bread pretty, will not be wasted on them. It also means you can’t be getting them any old plastic lame. It has to be pretty itself.

Walnut Lame

4. A Scoop for Cookie Dough

I’m not sure I’ve ever actually seen anyone use this on the Great British Baking Show. But it is such a handy kitchen gadget I just had to use, and it’s perfect for those of us who like things to be “just so.” If you can get the baker on your list a complete set of cookies of different sizes, that would be all the better. I use them for meatballs, scones, muffins, and anything I want to be equal in size.

One word of caution: Amazon sells nothing with a turning gear. They only carry the kind with springs, which will eventually break. You’ll want to head over to King Arthur Flour for this one. I have this set and have used and abused it for years (even using it for ice cream!) and putting it through the dishwasher.

Cookie Scoop Set of 3

5. Bannetons

Bannetons, or proofing baskets, help shape your bread during a long rise. They are especially useful for artisan sourdough bread. Another benefit is they look beautiful in the kitchen. A true baker would love a round and an oval shape. One of these plus a lame would be perfect for someone who loves the bread episode in every season of the Great British Baking Show.

Round Banneton

6. Red Gingham Tablecloth

The aspiring British baker in your life will be familiar with the “Gingham Altar,” where contestants place their baked goods to be judged. A charming red gingham tablecloth will give you the country look without the intense anxiety.

This tablecloth is sized for a picnic table and is 100% cotton.

7. The Village Baker’s Wife Cookbook

Okay, this one is probably my favorite. It’s also tricky to get your hands on because, when I am writing this, it’s out of print, except for the Kindle Edition. But trust me when I tell you that it is an amazing cookbook. It has recipes for all those tempting and beautiful things you see in the pastry case and simpler things like cookies and brownies.

But what will tickle any Great British baking show lover is its recipes for some of the more bizarre things made on the show. There are recipes for Kouign-Amann and fougasse. There are also tutorials for British baking basics like pastry cream and croissants.

Don’t be ashamed to give a used copy of this book to a special someone on your Christmas list. But if you can track down a reasonably priced new one, all the better.

The Village Baker’s Wife in hardcover

8. Paul Hollywood Style Bread “Proving” Bags

Does anyone else think it’s weird that they call bread “proving”? I guess it’s technically correct. But anyway, during the “proving” stage, these amazing bags are always shown to seal up the dough but don’t touch the surface at all. I am still using greased plastic wrap as a silly American. But I would love a set of these.

Set of 100 Proving Bags

9. A Country-Style Apron

You can find a lot of “funny” aprons themed around the Great British Baking Show. These are terrible gifts for show lovers because they are cheesy. The show is all about beauty with a country and slightly granny aesthetic. Joke aprons don’t work. This floral is pretty and has an old-fashioned feel, just right for your British baking friends.

Floral Cotton Apron with Pocket

10. Pretty Dessert Plates

Any serious baker needs a set of dessert plates. They should be pretty but not distract from your beautiful baked goods. These perfectly fit the Great British Baking Show aesthetic and come in this pretty robin’s egg blue or white.

Lenox Perle Accent Plate

So there you have it!

Even though these are inspired by GBBO, they are great for all bakers.

That is very sad if you are the only one you know who loves the Great British Baking Show. Make sure whoever is shopping for you sees this list!

Merry Christmas!