This Mother’s Day, I asked more than 50 women in my life — family, friends, coworkers, even our test kitchen team — what they actually want as gifts. And turns out, it’s not always another candle (though those are still welcome).
If your mom, grandma, or mother figure lights up at a fancy olive oil or sees cookbooks as treasure maps, this list is for her. I rounded up some of the best gifts for moms who love to cook — from splurge-worthy tools to sweet experiences you can share together.
Think: artisanal condiments, buttery-soft bakeware, cozy cooking classes, and a few surprises she didn’t even know she needed (but absolutely will love).
More Handmade or Experience Gifts for Moms Who Love to Cook
When I asked around, I kept hearing the same thing: Moms love being in the kitchen — but they also love when someone else makes it easier (or just does it for them). These experience gifts help her savor what she loves without all the prep or stress.
• A gift card to a local gourmet market
• Homemade infused sugars or salts (like vanilla sugar or rosemary salt)
• Sign up for a cooking class together
• Book a wine tasting
• Gift card to a favorite restaurant group nearby (this way they can try different ones)
• “Cook through a cookbook together” night — pick one, shop together, then cook a meal!
• Go help her plant a flower and herb garden (bonus: fresh basil and mint all summer long) (a lot of moms I talked to said they would love to be in the garden for the day and plant stuff together)
Cooking Gifts She’ll Actually Love
Tried, tested, and approved by moms, chefs, and food lovers alike
Mosser Glass Mixing Bowl
I’ve seen all the samples — and if I were to splurge, it would be on Mosser’s mixing bowls. Beyond beautiful.
Nielsen-Massey Floral Flavors Bundle
Ina Garten’s go-to brand — need I say more? Plus, it feels so perfectly "Mother’s Day." You could go with their classic vanilla bean paste or extract, but I love this floral baking set for something a bit different. Pair with some cute measuring spoons or a edible flower garnish.
Hestan Stainless Steel Bakeware
She might already have All-Clad, but does she have Hestan? This is my top rec from our shop if she loves to cook or bake. Truly the prettiest, highest-quality bakeware — think stove-to-table, luxe but super functional.
Heraclea Aegean Flavors Gift Box
If she loved getting Graza, she’ll flip for Heraclea’s high-quality olive oils and spices. Chef-y and gorgeous. I chose this sampler because I think it's a great way to give people a taste of everything, but they cheaper, singular bottles as well.
The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking Cookbook
Recipes from a mother-daughter duo, full of fresh, bright flavors. Bonus: they made lemon pesto pasta in our test kitchen and it was so good.
Dansk Butter Warmer
(Charming, photogenic, and seriously one of the most requested items from cooks and bakers I know.)
Kloo Cold Brew
Hands down the best at-home cold brew I’ve tried — mother-daughter-owned and perfect for making espresso martinis too!
Le Creuset Pie Dish
Heirloom quality and a total splurge-worthy gift for any baker.
Ayoh! Variety Condiment Pack
Tried these with sandwiches in the test kitchen— big fan! The Original is solid, but the flavored ones are where it’s at. Developed by cookbook author and mother, Molly Baz. For a cute set, you could pair it with one of her cookbooks.
Tove Wear Denim Skirt/Apron
Chic hostess wear alert: stylish and heavy-duty enough for serious cooking. Also a female-founded and led by some really cool mothers. You can also preorder their aprons (which I have my eye on) here
Rubirosa Pasta & Sauce Set
Iconic NYC spot. Their pasta + vodka sauce duo makes a fun pantry splurge that you could cook together.
Small Personalized Charcuterie Board
My parents use theirs constantly! Great size, easy storage, and a fun bundle idea if you add cheese and salumi. Customize it for an extra-special touch and to ensure they don't have one like it. Etsy has a bunch of options, or Amazon even has some with just a singular letter that's cute.
COASTAL Cookbook
One of my new favorites. Beautiful photography, west coast vibes, and a former Michelin chef. There's a section in the book about cooking with his kid at home — so sweet and personal.
Fresh Basil Plant
A fresh, summery alternative to flowers. Showing up with this duo in hand will make her happy. Plus: homemade caprese salads all summer long.
Keap Candle
I first found this brand while reporting a story on restaurant candles (it's in all the coolest wine bars right now)— 45-hour burn time and super strong but never overpowering. My mom always lights a candle after cooking to clear any lingering scents, so therefore I think it's a great gift for an avid cook or host.
Herb Scissors
For the mom who loves to cook and garden, these nice pruning shears are a cute gift. They're slim and great for snipping herbs or flowers from the garden.
Naomi After-Cooking Hand Scrub
A fun, luxe-feeling gift for post-cooking clean-ups — bergamot-scented, aka the luxury note behind Aesop and Le Labo soaps.
Maldon Salt Bucket
A bit extra but how fun to get a bucket of nice salt? It feels special and every good cook loves flaky salt.
Essential Yarn-Dye Dish Towels
Because you can never have too many — and these scream spring and summer.
Joolies Dates
Dates are everywhere right now — smoothies, brownies, homemade syrups — and these are the best. We're using them a bunch in the test kitchen. Plus, I recently learned that dates are also recommended for new moms and breastfeeding support. Go for the 2 lb box to really surprise.
Ceramic Salt Cellar
Perfect bundled with a Maldon bucket or a fancy salt sampler.
L’Occitane Soft Touch Trio Set
Post-cooking hand care — and honestly, I’ve never met a mom who doesn’t love a good hand cream and especially when it's from L'Occitane.
How did I come up with these?
I work in an office where I see hundreds (honestly, thousands) of kitchen and cooking samples pass through — from new releases to cult-favorite brands. I also talk to professional chefs all the time about their favorite bakeware, kitchen tools, and pantry staples, and I’ve interviewed tons of moms about what they actually want — not just what looks good online.
Plus, I love putting together gift guides.
If you have any suggestions or want to share your go-to cooking gift, drop them in the comments — I'd love to hear!
What's your go-to gift for Mother's Day? Or, what's the best gift you've received?
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