Like many of you, food is my love language and a Valentine’s Day gift for the cook honors the heart of my home. While there’s nothing wrong with flowers and chocolate, I would personally rather have a gorgeous new KitchenAid mixer, a beautiful cutting board, or even some special herbal teas, to help me create even more love in my kitchen throughout the entire year.
Just note I focused more on gifts that help bring a little love to your kitchen and dining spaces, as opposed to food gifts. Not that I’d ever turn down a good finishing salt or a delicious white truffle oil.
Above: Heart-shaped measuring spoons from Beehive Handmade
20 Valentine’s Day gifts for the cook in your life
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1. Heart Dinnerware Collection
I love love love this Heart Dinnerware Collection as a Valentine’s Day gift for the cook, or anyone who entertains. I would really use it all year long! But if you don’t need an entirely new set of dinnerware, consider the appetizer plates for desserts, snacks, or pre-dinner treats when you have guests over.
2. Red Electric Hand Mixer
We featured this Red Cuisinart Hand Mixer in our round-up of gifts inspired by Jennifer Garner’s Pretend Cooking Show, and it is one of my very favorite kitchen tools — but sadly, no longer available in red. Still, we found a comparable one from Kitchen-Aid that gets amazing ratings if you have to have red. It’s fantastic for those “smaller” baking projects that don’t require the stand mixer and help make the perfect whipped cream for homemade Valentine’s Day treats.
3. Red Heart Inlay Double Old Fashioned Glass
How fun are these Red Heart Inlay Old Fashioned Glasses from Etsy’s DaisyGees? Perfect for serving up a Valentine’s Day mocktail for the entire family. (Note: they’re a little different to the ones shown above — but even cuter.)
4. White Marble Heart Coasters
Not everything has to be red! These White Heart Marble Coasters from Pottery Barn add a sophisticated touch to your coffee table, and practical too.
5. Olivewood Heart Spoon
I am coveting this stunning Olivewood Heart Spoon from Williams-Sonoma, which may just be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the cook — even if it’s a Galentine’s gift for your dearest girlfriends.
6. Heart Towels
You can never have too many kitchen towels when you live in the kitchen, and these twill-woven cotton Heart Printed Dish Towels at Williams-Sonoma are made to last.
7. White Farmhouse Pottery Heart Dishes
This spoon rest shown is no longer available but similar looking — and more practical — is this set of Farmhouse Pottery Heart Dishes at West Elm. I might get the set of all three, they’re just so cute!
8. Olivewood Heart Cheese Board
A gorgeous Olivewood Heart Cheeseboard from Etsy’s Artisan Concept is the perfect base for the ultimate Valentine’s Day cheese board. Staying in can be sexy! (Even if we moms don’t always have a choice.)
9. Red Cast Iron Fondue Set
My kids love when I break out the fondue pot, and Crate & Barrel’s Red Cast Iron Fondue Set is affordable, and will get tons of use for an annual Valentine’s Day cheese fondue party. (The best kind of party IMHO.)
10. Le Creuset L’Amour Soup Pot
Check out this Heart-Dappled Le Creuset L’Amour Soup Pot! (Williams-Sonoma or Amazon), which is is such a sweet version of the cast iron kitchen essential. It’s a splurgey Valentine’s Day gift for the cook — and certainly one way to my own heart, ha.
11. KitchenAid Artisan Series, Matte Dried Rose 5-Quart Stand Mixer
This 5-Quart KitchenAid Mixer in Matte Dried Rose (from C&B or alternately, from Amazon) is swoon-worthy in its subtlety. Lovely.
12. Be Mine Valentine’s Day Apron
I really like the handmade Be Mine Valentine’s Day Apron — provided the message is “I love when we cook together,” or “I honor your passion for cooking” and not “make me dinner tonight.” Find it on Etsy.
13. Red-Fluted Melamine Batter Bowl
This Red Fluted Melamine Batter Bowl at Mayfair is a kitchen essential, especially if you plan on making Red Velvet Pancakes for breakfast on Valentine’s Day.
14. Dash Heart Mini Waffle Maker
Personally, I think this Dash Heart Mini Waffle Maker makes a perfect gift for tweens and teens in your life — or even for college students who don’t necessarily “cook,” but do have to feed themselves somehow. It’s super handy for making individual waffles for breakfast, or even a little grilled cheese for an afternoon snack.
15. Harney & Sons Valentine’s Tea
If your sweetheart loves a warm cup of tea on a cold February day, or something to sip while they cook, this lovely Harney & Sons Valentine’s Tea combines chocolate and rosebuds into a perfect blend.
16. Coffee Beans + A Red Milk Frother
Cooks generally can’t live without coffee, and if your beloved is among them — try a coffee bean subscription customized to your sweetheart’s preferences, and add this red hand-held milk brother made by Bean Envy for lattes for two at home each morning. (If you want to add in a Breville Espresso Maker just for fun, hey — be our guest. That would be one hell of a Valentine’s Day gift though!)
17. Hand-Thrown Organic Heart Mug
Skip the commercially produced mugs, and gift your loved one a handmade, wheel-thrown mug like this Creamy Little Heart Mug handmade by Woon Clay Art on Etsy. Might go wonderfully with that Valentine’s Tea!
18. Slow Burn Candle from Boy Smells
While you might not think of a candle as a Valentine’s Day gift for a cook, I highly recommend Boy Smells. Their fragrances are amazing, the all-natural, parrafin-free wax lasts a long time, and they can ever cover up less romantic smells that may interfere with your dinner. (Say, the teens’ dirty laundry bag?) This Slow Burn candle perfectly captures the smokey scent of smoldering love.
19. Spark Romance Faux Matchsticks
For a little fun, keep a box of these “Spark Romance” faux matchsticks in the kitchen to keep things spicy. Each one is printed with a prompt or activity to break up the routine, and rekindle connection. Sounds perfect for every couple with kids I know.
20. Heart-Shaped Pancake Spatula
Finally, if you want a really wonderful Valentine’s Day gift for a cook, we are all just so in love with this heart-shaped pancake spatula that’s handmade in Rhode Island by Beehive Handmade. (You might recognize it if you caught our list of 40 creative heart-shaped foods you can make for Valentine’s Day.) They also make the wonderful heart-shaped measuring spoons, at top. Because our other love language besides cooking: Supporting small businesses and independent makers.
