Constantly Cooking’s 2023 holiday gift guide

Tools and treats for those who like to eat and entertain!

I’m always delighted by the response to the gift guides featured on this site. A lot of work goes into testing and comparing products to be sure that what is recommended offers good value and durability, as applicable. This year’s crop of gift suggestions features a range of affordable items that proved to be either useful or delicious (or both). For additional ideas, you can also check out previous gift guides on this site, including the 2022 gift guide, the 2022 cookbook suggestions or the 2021 holiday gift guide.

The Spice Box

Are you looking to spice things up in your kitchen? The Spice Box by chef Emily Dobbs with stunning illustrations by Camilla Perkins is designed to transform your cooking by helping you unlock a world of flavour. This set of 60 beautifully illustrated cards comes in an attractive, sturdy box. The cards are divided into six categories – Hot, Sweet, Earthy, Aromatic, Pungent and Zesty, with each card focusing on a single spice, offering three to five ingredient pairings – including fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy – plus recipe suggestions. It’s an ideal gift for both novice and experienced cooks looking to expand their use of spices with confidence and success.

Cuisinart Basket Air Fryer

Cook everything from simple snacks to main meals with the versatile Cuisinart Basket Air Fryer. This countertop cooker is ideal for making crispy foods – and a whole lot more – in a healthy and speedy way. Five popular pre-programmed settings, a notification to flip food mid-way through cooking, and a convenient viewing window plus an interior light make it easy to air fry, roast, bake or broil foods of all kinds. The innovative ‘auto keep warm’ feature (140F) that kicks in at the end of a cooking cycle is particularly useful, as is the ability to cook at temperatures as high as 450F – in our testers’ opinion, it’s a standout in the ever-expanding air fryer landscape.

KitchenAid GO cordless kitchen vacuum

As part of its new suite of cordless kitchen appliances, KitchenAid is now offering a highly functional kitchen vacuum that’s scaled to pick up crumbs, coffee grounds and other dry messes in hard-to-reach kitchen spaces thanks to an expertly designed crevice tool. With its compact design, it can be stored easily on the countertop or in a drawer and it includes dishwasher-safe attachments. Best of all, the six products in the KitchenAid GO collection, including the vacuum, are powered by one removable, rechargeable battery for cord-free ease.

Vodkow’s ‘Almonte Friendship Series’ gift pack

When the founders of Dairy Distillery set up shop in Almonte, ON to make vodka out of a previously-discarded byproduct of the milk industry, residents and local businesses immediately embraced them, including local makers like Equator Coffee, Hummingbird Chocolate and Fulton’s Maple Syrup. To celebrate this support, Dairy Distillery has created the “Almonte Friendship Series” – a gift pack of four 250ml bottles of Vodkow cream liquor each featuring their local friends’ world class products, packaged in a cute, most-definitely-giftable milk carton.

handfuel snacks

handfuel, a Canadian company, delivers a great range of delicious snacks made with simple, wholesome ingredients. From top quality nuts and seeds to wild berries to Himalayan sea salt, premium, non-GMO materials are used across the entire product line. Every handfuel offering – from seasoned roasted nuts to nut mixes, nut clusters and more – is as irresistible as it is healthy and as a bonus, all items are gluten-free. Great for stocking stuffers, hostess gifts or your own personal holiday season (or anytime of year) energy booster.

Drinkmate instaFizz

Drinkmate’s instaFizz is the latest in sparkling beverage innovation – the first reusable bottle that can carbonate any cool beverage. Just insert a small, recyclable CO2 charger into the bottom of the Drinkmate instaFizz water bottle with its built-in silicone sleeve, twist the bottom cap and your drink of choice – from water to juice to kombucha and more – is instantly carbonated. It’s great for anyone who’s on the go and keen on staying hydrated. instaFizz also has a wide mouth opening for ice cubes or delicious additions such as lemons, berries, cucumber slices, etc.