The holiday season is in full swing and our friends have been throwing some seriously good parties that have made us feel welcome and festive. And full! We’ve already eaten way too much because the food is so, so good—and there is more to come. The least we can do is bring a small token gift of our appreciation for their hospitality, so we’ve been eyeing these perfect hostess gifts for our friends who enjoy spending time in the kitchen.

That said, we still have presents to buy for our families and friends, too, many of whom also love to cook. For them, we’ve included a few gifts that are a little more extravagant. But just a little. There are many gorgeous gifts for cooks that don’t break the bank and we’ve got 10 of them, all under $50.

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Other Cool Mom Eats holiday gift guides:
* The best boozy gifts for drinkers, swillers, and tasters.
* 19 of the best food gifts for everyone on the list, from your foodie friend to hungry uncle.
* Gifts for the cook who has everything.
* Coffee gifts for the caffeine obsessed.

Handmade Cutting Board

Amy and Bill, the husband-and-wife duo behind AHeirloom, make these beautiful cutting boards (also photo at top) at their shop in Brooklyn. They are so stunning that our editor, Kate, ordered 4 more as gifts after she received their sample. If you love these as much as she does, you’ll need to order soon: Even those that aren’t monogrammed are still custom made, and there’s a two-week lead time. ($40, AHeirloom)

Hand-Dipped Wooden Spoon Trio

Any avid cook can always use fresh wooden spoons for the kitchen and this set of three hand-dipped wooden spoons (in white or gray) is a beautiful twist on a purely functional object. ($34, The Shop in East Liberty)

Teapot Trivet

This walnut teapot trivet will keep your counters or tabletop safe while you have your morning cuppa but, if you ask us, it would also look beautiful hanging on the wall while it’s off duty. It’s that pretty. ($45, Food52)

A Great Cookbook

Whether your friends are novice cooks or true aficionados, they’ll appreciate a good cookbook. Some of our favorites this year are the amazing family-friendly recipes in Brown Eggs and Jam Jars by Aimée Wimbush-Bourque, the tasty from-scratch dishes in Simply Scratch by Laurie McNamara, Anna Watson Carl’s inspiration to gather around the table with friends in The Yellow Table, and the secrets behind the mouth-watering meat at Franklin Barbecue by Aaron Franklin and Jordan MacKay.

Pretty Tea Towels

We have a tendency to buy our kitchen towels in bulk when we’re shopping at discount stores, because it’s so convenient and affordable, which is why a pretty tea towel from a creative, modern shop like Cotton and Flax would be a much-appreciated gift. Use it to wrap up a bottle of wine, and you’re really starting to speak our language. (Starting at $18, Cotton and Flax)

Cheese Plane

A pretty cheese plane is something we don’t think to put on our shopping lists, but when we have guests over and want to set out a cheese tray as an appetizer, we always wish we had one. This olive-wood-handled tool from Brooklyn Slate is beautiful and surprisingly affordable. So go ahead and bring it with a nice block of cheese to serve at the party. ($14, Brooklyn Slate)

Embossed Rolling Pin

For the friend who loves to bake, you have to check out these beautiful embossed rolling pins from Etsy artist Zuzia Kozerska-Girard. They make lovely sugar cookies or pie crusts, and they’re a gift that your friend can pass on to their kids and grandkids one day. We’re kind of smitten. Note that even though they’re ready to go, they do ship from Poland, so plan on a little extra transit time. ($42, Valek on Etsy)

Salt Pinch Cellar and Spoon

These pretty handmade salt cellars and spoons are designed for you to be able to stick your hand in for a pinch of salt or to use the matching spoon if you prefer to scoop. You can choose from a dozen or so colors, but we’re really loving that turquoise. ($32, Jeannette Zeis at Etsy)

Marble Mortar and Pestle

A mortar and pestle is another fun gift for someone who really loves to cook and is borderline snobby about using great, fresh ingredients. But you don’t have to spend a ton to get a good one. We were pretty shocked to find this beautiful marble set at West Elm for under $20. Whoa. ($14, West Elm)

Pretty Measuring Spoons

Just like wooden spoons, we think you really can’t have too many sets of measuring spoons in your kitchen. Especially if they’re as pretty as these blue ombre spoons at Pottery Barn. We’re kind of feeling the itch to start baking right now, aren’t you? ($19.50, Pottery Barn)

Other Cool Mom Eats holiday gift guides:
* The best boozy gifts for drinkers, swillers, and tasters.
* 19 of the best food gifts for everyone on the list, from your foodie friend to hungry uncle.
* Gifts for the cook who has everything.
* Coffee gifts for the caffeine obsessed.

Tags: christmas, fun finds, gifts, hanukkah, kitchen, kitchen tools and gadgets