We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A handy brownie dividing pan designed so you can flex on everyone at the holiday bake sale when you show up with your perfectly crisp-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside brownies all in uniform sizes and shapes. Those chumps with ordinary pans could NEVER.
Um, I'm obsessed with this pan. I make those gooey three-layer brownies that are cookie dough on the bottom, Oreos in the middle, and either brownie or Nutella on top, and I famously underbake them because salmonella doesn't apply to me. Which is to say, usually when I make these it's a big gooey mess and my friends have to dig in with a spoon and it's less inviting for guests to take one. With this tray it was SO easy to put the batter in, stick the divider on top, and bake individual small bars. it was completely nonstick, and it was easy to pull the divider out once everything was cooked. The uniform brownies were a huge hit at a party!
Get it from Amazon for $16.43.
2. A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper to make you feel like a golden god in your kitchen — this gadget lets you julienne, chop, spiralize, and slice vegetables in an instant and has a built-in storage container to hold the chopped veggies so you can pour them into a pan or dish without any mess.
Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets.
Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action.
Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $23.95+ (available in three styles).
3. Plus an electric potato peeler that's a must-have both for holiday meal prep and all year long. Not only does it effortlessly peel potatoes, but it can handle pretty much any peeled produce you throw at it, from apples to kiwis to oranges to tomatoes. (To be clear, though, your highest priority should *always* be mashed potato-ing.)
Starfrit is a small business that specializes in food and kitchen appliances.
Promising review: "Love it! It's light and easy to use. When I use a potato peeler I was always peeling too much potato with the peel. This blade is fine and only gets the skin, in seconds. Except for the 'poles' of the potato but I don't mind. It's easy to clean if you have a sprayer to just rinse off the spikes where you insert your potatoes. Small enough and doesn't take up much room." —yestfl
Get it from Amazon for $29.31.
4. A set of three dough presses in different sizes perfect for hand pies, dumplings, ravioli, calzones, empanadas, and truly any delicious thing you can think of that you want tucked into a pillow of warm carbs — this makes the process streamlined and easy so you don't have to sweat it.
Promising review: "This was a great purchase for the price. I was making empanadas and folding them by hand, which didn’t look too good. This set helps me cut them easily into circles and then easily presses them close. Consistent look each time! I like that there are three sizes in the set so I can make them according to my mood. Easy to wash and use. Would highly recommend for the price and functionality!" —Sox
Get a set of three from Amazon for $16.52.
5. A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey to instantly elevate every dish you make to "my compliments to the CHEF" level. You can add a pinch of sweet and a kick of spice to anything from pizza to salads to tacos to — be still my '90s bb heart — grilled cheese. Bonus: this makes an *excellent* hosting gift during the holidays, and an excellent addition to charcuterie boards!
Promising review: "Saw someone try this on TikTok and knew I needed it. It’s so good and sweet and spicy. I love it on fried chicken and even pepperoni pizza. It’s delicious." —Tricia
Check out BuzzFeed's review of Mike's Hot Honey for more info!
Get it from Amazon for $13.49.
6. A cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt perfect for holiday movie marathons — this is, in fact, a perfect copycat for that oh-so-savory buttery goodness you love to inhale before the previews begin. Not to be dramatic about popcorn on main, but this stuff is game changing.
Our family unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I've Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm.
Promising review: "I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite 'TikTok made me buy' item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don't need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time." —S Martinez
Get it from Amazon for $9.60.
7. A trio lasagna pan designed so that every single piece is a crispy "edge piece," and people in the family with different lasagna preferences can customize their own versions. (Sometimes you just gotta drown the whole thing in cheese, you dig me?)
FYI, you can 6,000% use these for brownies, blondies, and bread too.
Promising review: "As someone who has a child (now a teenager) that will not eat any form of cheese, this pan is amazing! I typically avoid making any food that has cheese mixed into it but now I can make him a section without cheese and the rest of us our regular cheesy goodness. Another benefit to this pan is how well the portions slice. One cut with the spatula gives you a perfectly formed square. Each section makes four regular-sized portions for our family." —TLC
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
8. A silicone baking mat for your sheet pan, so on days when the holiday festivities are popping, you can just slap a bunch of veggies and frozen goods down, drizzle them in olive oil, and shove them in the oven. Bonus: these are super easy to clean, so you won't have to deal with a mess!
Promising review: "I use these mats several times a day. They make cleanup super easy, which is really important in my hectic life. They wipe off easily with just water." —Tasia Lung
Get a set of two from Amazon for $14.28.
9. A compact electric hand mixer that will easily whip your creams, mix your doughs, and meringue your egg whites without causing a whole two-act-with-intermission production like its larger counterparts.
This beater has three speeds, and storage is a cinch — you can unhook the beaters and pop them on a storage clip on the side of the mixer, then slide it right back into a drawer.
Promising review: "I needed to get a new hand mixer after I lost one of the whisk parts on my super old one. I live in a pretty small house, with limited storage so I wanted something that wasn't going to take up too much space. I also wanted a solution to the lone whisk that I seemed to always lose. This was it! It is cute but also I love that the whisks attach to the body and the cord can be easily wrapped around it. I use it a lot and haven't had a problem in almost a year. I do wish that it had more speeds on it, but besides that I have no complaints." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three other colors).
10. A beginner-friendly fermenting kit complete with everything you need to "set it and forget it," so you can serve yourself lil' sides of pickled things with your dishes like a cozy farm-to-table restaurant, or bring them to holiday parties as an extra unique side.
Each kit comes with three fermenting lids with airlock valves, date setters, and an easy release tab, as well as an oxygen extractor. The lids are compatible with most wide mouth mason jars (you can snag two Ball mason jars on Amazon for $9.99).
Promising review: "I have now been using my Easy Fermenter for several months. I continue to be delighted with the results. My favorite recipes are a cabbage/carrot sauerkraut, and a blend of fermented peppers (some sweet, some hot). I have recommended these fermenting lids to many of my friends because they make fermenting foods so incredibly easy! You will NOT be disappointed." —K. Dixon
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (get this price by clipping the 40% off coupon on the product page).
11. A teensy mini waffle maker that will churn out adorably sized, perfectly cooked-through waffles in mere minutes. Psst — if you're waffling on the waffles, you can also use it for hash browns, paninis, biscuits, and even (gasp) PIZZA. If you can dream it, you can mini waffle it.
Promising review: "Saw it on TikTok and had to get it! I love waffles but I don't always remember to buy them so I love being able to make them super easily with this mini waffle maker. It's so easy and convenient for me because I didn't want anything that would take up too much time and space. It's perfect. I also used the waffle recipe provided by Dash and it's great!" —Ken
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 23 colors).
12. Plus a stuffed waffle maker to introduce you to the infinite glory of stuffing food into a pillowy warm carb — I'm talking jam, cheesy eggs, meats, NUTELLA (!!), pie filling, peanut butter, the whole nine yards. I'm truly shaking thinking about amassing this kind of breakfast power.
Check out a TikTok of the stuffed waffle maker for inspo!
Promising review: "I bought this after I saw a video on TikTok, so I had an idea about the yummy waffles I could make. First waffles were stuffed with apple pie filling. Second ones scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese. Just amazing!!! The only way you could make this better is to send a chef!! I definitely recommend watching a video on TikTok or YouTube to inspire you before you start!!" —Adirondackdarling
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
13. A bottle of truffle seasoning that honestly has become one of my only personality traits, to the point where I'm just like, begging you to try it. I should gatekeep this stuff so I can have it all to myself but it is such a delicious and satisfying and ridiculously affordable alternative to real truffles that I'm throwing the gates WIDE OPEN.
*wheezes in truffle* Okay, I bought this on a whim because there's a sushi place down the street from me that makes truffle avocado sushi rolls and I was like, I need these in my life, but I also need money to live. I decided to DIY it with a regular $4 avocado roll and this seasoning and the umami bliss of it all basically exploded my brain. Since then I've tried it on eggs, on burritos, on potatoes, on chocolate mug cakes, pretty much every sweet and savory thing I can think of. The best part is you really get an excellent bang for your buck — it's so flavorful that the first bottle lasted me for nearly a year of using it two or three meals a week for sushi, eggs, and baked potatoes.
Promising review: "Yes, I'm a truffle lover to begin with. And, of course, only a truffle is a truffle. But I gotta tell ya this delectable heaven-sent powder is one heck of a more versatile option. Utterly AMAZING on popcorn, in eggs, added to soups and sauces to layer flavors, veggies, PASTA...the list is endless (I think the only thing I haven't tried was sprinkling it on ice cream...although LOL). It is a bit salty, so I advise testing the waters first. But I just ordered my ninth and tenth bottle of the Truffle Zest." —Greengirl
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
14. A set of restaurantworthy shallow pasta bowls to make you feel like you're genuinely ~plating~ all your holiday meals with the fam — this is like a bowl and a plate had a very stylish, SUPER convenient baby for all your pasta and salad needs.
Promising review: "These bowls are great. I lived my entire life until now without owning shallow bowls. I’ve been eating spaghetti off of a plate like some kind of wild animal. My life is forever changed." —JessieMo
Get a set of four from Amazon for $32.84 (get this price by clipping the 10% off coupon on the product page; available in three colors).
15. A classically designed, bestselling bistro tile ~fromage~ platter for anyone whose favorite holiday activities include cheese, talking about cheese, and inviting friends over to socialize (but actually just to eat cheese).
16. A set of heat-safe microwave bowl holders — both kids and adults can pull this right out of the microwave with their bowl without burning their hands, *plus* use them to hold the bowl in their hands or lap while they're eating (presumably in front of the TV, as one does) without hurting your fingers. Soup season has OFFICIALLY COMMENCED!!!
Check out a TikTok of the microwave bowl holders in action.
Bonus — the insulation of these also keeps cold food like ice cream colder for longer (and helps prevent your fingers from freezing!).
Promising review: "Buy these for yourself and everyone you know. They are soft and fit a variety of sizes of bowls to put under them in the microwave and eat from. My kids love them. We bought some to gift to other people too, and I will get some for my son to use at college. Made of a heavy terry cloth that can be thrown right in the washer when needed. We used towels before under our bowls, but these cradle the bowls so they are easier to hold. We bought some bigger plate sizes too." —Heidi J.
Get a set of four from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five color combos).
17. A container of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust so absurdly delicious that all food will just become a mere canvas for putting Cinnadust on. Reviewers use this on everything from coffee to toast to yogurt to fries to popcorn to sweet potatoes to ice cream to — you know what, I'll let you decide on your cinnajourney for yourself.
18. A handy pancake batter dispenser and mixer to guarantee you'll get mess-free, beautifully blended, perfectly portioned pancakes every time. The silicone tip is even heat-resistant, so you can get up close and personal with the pan if you wanna flex some pancake art skills. Plus? Cleanup is as easy as shaking soap and water into it.
Promising review: "My 8-year-old is a huge fan of making pancakes. He saw this on TikTok and just had to have it. We absolutely love this product!! Easy to clean and use. I love that it’s an all-in-one. No more messy bowls, and he can squeeze out the perfect amount for his pancakes." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.44.
19. A jar of chili onion crisp basically designed to be lawlessly spread on any and everything — reviewers are obsessed with this blend of savory, crunch, and spicy flavors that add the perfect umami heat to everything from noodles to tacos to ice cream. (Also Santa's cookies, maybe??)
Fly By Jing is an Asian woman-owned business that specializes in sauces, dumplings, and spices.
Check out TikTok of the chili crisp in action.
Here's what BuzzFeeder Jonathan Mazzei says about this chili crisp: "I got this sauce as a gift, and I have been obsessed ever since I tried it. It combines the most prized Sichuan peppercorns with fragrant dried chilies, fermented black beans, garlic, shallots and more for a numbing, umami-rich flavor that has enhanced truly everything I've tried it on — without overpowering the other flavors. I've been struggling to find the right sauce to take my home-cooked dishes to the next level, and let me tell you, this is it! Plus, the packaging is super cute and thoughtful, and mine even came with a beautiful little zine that includes a breakdown of the ingredients, some amazing recipe ideas, and more!'"
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two sizes and an extra spicy version).
20. A set of porcelain ramekins to experiment with single-serving foods like mac 'n' cheese, quiches, and desserts, so you can inspire yourself to mix things up this holiday season by letting your plates take a vacation, too.
TBH, even if you don't cook something revolutionary in these, eating out of a lil' ramekin is an Experience (TM). Here are some fun ramekin recipes to try out if you take the plunge.
Promising review: "These ramekins are great! They are the perfect 4-oz size and look beautiful. I used them to make some creme brûlée and they came out so adorable. They come well packaged and are easy to clean. They bake well and are pretty nonstick. Overall I am very happy with my purchase." —adc.jdc.522
Get a set of six from Amazon for $15.49.
21. A sleek Beast Blender that's truly out here doing the most — not only can it blend smoothies and shakes, but you can use it to infuse water and blend dips and soups. Most importantly for anyone in a holiday state of mind, you can use this for homemade nut butters or cranberry sauces to make little gifts for friends!
Check out a TikTok of the Beast Blender in action.
Here's what BuzzFeeder Maitland Quitmeyer — who has used it to make crepe batter, thick smoothies, and crushed ice — has to say about it: "If you like to start your day with a smoothie, like whipping up not-huge amounts of blended sauces or soups, or just hate dealing with (and washing) a full-size blender, the Beast Blender really might be the perfect one for you." Check out her full review of the Beast Blender for more deets!
Get it from our Goodful shop for $148 (originally $168; available in three colors).
22. A two-pack of TikTok-famous Dan-O's seasoning, a low-sodium, hecka-flavorful option for your holiday grilling made with dried herbs, citrus, and granulated onion and garlic that reviewers love to jazz up everything from fish to beef to eggs to veggies.
Dan O's Seasoning is a small business established in 2017 that gained popularity after taking to TikTok during the pandemic, where the company now has 4.3 million followers with plenty of droolworthy food content.
Promising review: "I became interested in this product while watching TikToks. I have been adding it to so many things. I use it in spaghetti, on fish, and one of my favorites is to add it to popcorn. My husband had to ask why my popcorn smelled like steak. I love the fact that it is low sodium as well. I am not a fan of extra salt and most foods already have plenty of salt but need some seasoning. This should be your go-to seasoning." —Heartcri
Get a pack of two (one original, one spicy) from Amazon for $13.99.
23. A stain-resistant nonstick sectioned skillet with five compartments basically designed with decadent holiday breakfasts in mind. Now instead of deciding on one dish, you can cook a bunch of little ones at once! Life is a charcuterie board and we're all just living in it.
Bonus: it's oven- and dishwasher-safe!
Promising review: "Now that I have cooked a few meals with this pan, I can honestly say that I will no longer be needing all my other pans. It just does it all. Cooking several ingredients at the same time and then infusing them together to mix the flavors is something that I have never been able to do before. Keep the pan at a medium heat to always get the best cook, because foods cook differently, and you can take your time in preparing your meal. I recommend this to pretty much anyone who likes to cook and mostly to the ones who dread it!" —Dan S
Get it from Amazon for $55.01.
24. A set of individual bagel molds designed to let you boil *and* bake your bagels, so you can DIY some deliciousness in the comfort of your own home. (You can make some cranberry or pumpkin ones for an extra holiday vibe!)
Promising review: "This thing made the world of difference in making my bagel. Before using this, my bagel used to get stuck to most pans. However, the first time I used this, my bagel came out perfectly and it was so easy to release. I'm in the process of getting another set. I highly recommend this item if you want to make your bagels bake easily." —Paulo
Get a set of six from Amazon for $29.95.
25. A kitchen blowtorch you might have a hankering to own if you have also been watching cooking tutorials on TikTok — this little bb is perfect for crisping up everything from fruit to the tops of meat and cheese dishes to creme brulees to at-home s'mores.
Psst — you do need butane fuel to operate it!
Promising review: "This little gadget is really great for the price. It is pretty to look at and has a nice weight and hand feel without being too heavy or bulky. Easy to fill, just remember to buy your butane! Has a gauge to turn flame up or down. The best thing is the ignite button. I have one of those long Bic lighters, and it takes two hands to get the thing to light! The Kollea torch is super easy! Great for someone who doesn't have a lot of finger strength. It crystallized the sugar on my grapefruit nicely and made it super juicy, yum! Looking forward to using it with my painting projects and other culinary adventures!" —SeeksTruth101
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
26. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, a classic cookbook so trusted and time-honored that it's now in its 30th anniversary edition. This features beloved standard and unique twists to Italian recipes designed for any reader to enjoy, whether they're a cooking newbie living alone or a seasoned chef feeding a full family. This book is truly an investment both in learning new cooking skills *and* delighting your palate for years to come.
Promising review: "This book has only been with me a couple of weeks, but already I have made six of the recipes and have dozens of others I want to try. I own a copy of The Silver Spoon, but this book surpasses it in every way. Hazan doesn't just give you recipes — she gives us the spirit of Italian cooking. She shows us how to love the ingredients we are using and teaches us how to understand that putting them together as she does, we don't create a 'dish,' but rather, something we have put a bit of ourselves into, to share with those we care about. This is probably the best book we will ever have on Italian cooking. It sits on my shelf right next to The Joy Of Cooking. Don't buy this book, treasure it. It's that good." —Laura Anne Scaife
Get it from Amazon for $19.98.
27. A rotary cheese grater so you can add a lil' cheesy something to every one of your dishes without that bone-crushing 20 seconds of silence after the waiter at Olive Garden starts grating and says, "Say when."
Promising review: "I love it. My family loves it. We used to use a hand-held flat cheese grater. It took forever to grind enough cheese out of that thing. This little jewel cranks out grated cheese. We tried all sorts of hard cheeses just to see the thing work, then froze some soft cheeses to see how they worked. Now we mix our cheeses just because it is so easy to do. Asiago/Parmesan rock fish? Simple. Pretty neat. It works. It's cheap. Easy to clean. Handy as hell. Buy one." —Aranhas
Get it from Amazon for $22.95.
28. A "Gracula" garlic crusher, because you know what? If a 108-year-old vampire lurking moodily in the trees in the Pacific Northwest isn't going to fall in love with you and grant you immortality, one might as well make your life in the kitchen a little easier.
Promising review: "I love this little guy. I found him on a BuzzFeed list and had to have it as soon as I saw it! I’ve minced as many as five cloves in it in seconds. It’s a little tricky getting all of the garlic out once minced (I use a silicone basting brush to get most of it but I always use more than the recipe calls for anyway so it’s not a deal breaker). Cleanup is a breeze because he goes right in the dishwasher!" —Barbie
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (clip the 20% off coupon on the product page for this price).
29. A DIY cheese kit perfect for a holiday friend date — this has everything you need to make four batches of farmer cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour.
Urban Cheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all).
Promising review: "These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." —amyleannbohner
Get it from Urban Cheesecraft on Etsy for $21.
30. A set of mismatched silicone cupcake baking cups because the only thing better than having a holiday cupcake decorating party is having one with fun shapes. This set of 36 reusable cups comes in nine shapes including stars, hearts, mini Bundt cakes, and roses. ⭐️ ❤️ 🌻 🌹
Psst — people also love these for soap and bath bomb molds!
Promising review: "These are amazing!! I just started using my air fryer again and needed something to bake my muffins/cupcakes in. I bought these not knowing what to expect for the price. I was beyond impressed!! They are absolutely wonderful. I made muffins and it was a breeze. The muffins popped right out. Clean up is a breeze. I use warm water and a new toothbrush to clean it because of ridges. I am upset with one thing — I should have bought two sets, I love them so much!!!" —swyatt
Get a set of 36 from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two color schemes).
31. A "Bacon Bin" so all the grease left over from your bacon has a home (read: does not clog your unsuspecting sink). Then you can easily store it in the fridge to cook with later, whether you're frying up bacon-greased veggies, burgers, or even (be still my baconified heart) grilled cheeeeeese.
Check out a TikTok of the bacon bin in action.
Talisman Designs is a small business that specializes in at-home cooking and entertaining products.
Promising review: "This thing is awesome. Big enough to hold plenty of grease without taking up a ton of space. I keep mine in the butter compartment of my fridge next to the butter. I poured the grease right from the pan, still very hot right into it, and popped the lid on and put it in the fridge. Next time I needed some grease, I scooped some out with a spoon, no muss no fuss. Much better than the glass jar I was using." —John Dollard
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
32. A heat-safe, durable pizza stone so you can go ham baking decadent pizzas and breads with the *chef's kiss* perfect amount of crispiness without the edges or bottom getting burnt or unevenly cooked.
Promising review: "Absolutely awesome way to cook either a homemade pizza or a frozen store bought pizza! If you’re sick of your pizzas not cooking fully and/or correctly, I highly recommend this product!! It’s oversized surface makes cooking any size pizza extremely fast and easy!" —Calvin W Bulford
Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in three sizes).
33. A rapid defrosting tray that uses the thermal conductivity of aluminum to thaw frozen food faster to save you a whole bunch of prep time, so you can start throwing patties or veggies on the skillet for holiday meals in no time.
Promising review: "I was a little concerned this was going to be one of those gifts that were hyped up but it’s not. It’s not going to thaw a huge chunk of meat in an hour but I have thawed a chunk of chicken in a few hours. The product itself isn’t very thick which I like as it doesn’t take up a lot of space for storage. It doesn’t warm up, but pulls the cold from the meat, which makes the product thaw (like putting meat in cold water to thaw it faster and not cook it)." —Savannah A.
Get it from Amazon for $19.98.
Rolling up to the company party with your brownies all precut in their pan like:
