The 15 Most Popular Baking Tools That Kitchn Readers Loved in 2021

Every baker needs a reliable set of baking pans, and this three-piece aluminum set from Nordic Ware is an Amazon top-seller for good reason. Included in this set is a quarter sheet, a half sheet, and a jelly roll, all finished with encapsulated galvanized steel rims to prevent warping over time. Our Kitchn editors turn to this set time and time again as the perfect hostess gift or as a holiday gift for our friends and family who love to bake.

Pie weights are essential for blind-baking pie crust and getting a delicious flaky bottom. These ceramic weights will not only prevent your crust from bubbling or cracking while baking, but they’re also super easy to clean. Just rinse them off in warm soapy water, then place them back in the handy storage container.

There are several food scales we love, but this one is extremely highly rated on Amazon with over 27,000 reviews. At just $20, this Etekcity Food Scale stands out because it comes with a stainless steel bowl instead of a flat surface. It’s designed to be able to easily read the screen with the bowl's tall walls, unlike the struggle with normal scales when you have a large bowl on top. You’ll instantly upgrade your baking in 2022 with this useful food scale.

We were amazed when we discovered this Cookie Slider from KitchenAid that lets cookies glide right onto your cooling rack in one swift motion. The surface is sloped and has amazing nonstick properties, so cookies, cookie bars, and even sheet pan dinners can slide off without any hassle.

Pre-cut parchment paper is the home baker’s ultimate shortcut. This set from Kana Lifestyle includes hundreds of cake pan sheets with easy-lift handles, half sheets, and quarter sheets. Plus, the parchment paper is entirely compostable and made from non-toxic materials like wood pulp and food-grade silicone.

This 9-inch pie plate has a generous lip, so you can showcase your crimping skills or create deliciously loaded pot pies. If you have any leftovers, you can keep them fresh under the lid, which has vents to allow airflow to keep crusts crumbly (not soggy!). Plus, the domed design won’t damage lofty meringues or frosting if you’re bringing a dessert to a get-together.

Ask anyone who knows their way around a kitchen: A multipurpose thermometer is a godsend, especially when it’s an instant-read digital model. This stainless steel probe will give an accurate read up to 572 degrees in three to five seconds for a pot of oil ready to fry, candy on the stovetop, or a steak on the grill.

If you think an offset spatula is just for frosting cakes, think again. Use this to push batter into the corners of pans and transfer a handful of cookies at once to a cooling rack. Beyond baking, you can use it to test the doneness of potatoes or other vegetables when grilling, lift crispy bacon out of a hot pan, and even flip pancakes or fritters.

No matter what kind of baker you are, baking sheets are a must-have. In addition to their namesake sweets, these pans are great for broiling salmon, roasting veggies, and more. This two-pack contains the same durable, warp-resistant Nordic Ware sheets mentioned at the top of this post, just in a smaller set.

You’ll never have to reach for the parchment paper again thanks to this genius silicone baking mat! It helps cookies brown evenly and slide right off the baking pan, which saves serious time and energy during cleanup. This mat is safe to use in high-heat ovens and low-temp freezers, and just a simple warm soapy wash gets it ready for your next batch of goodies.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the ergonomic handles on this rolling pin are unique. The grips will feel natural in your hand by not forcing you to turn your wrists and hands downward to roll the cylinder forward. And because the handles give you some height, you can say goodbye to your knuckles knocking on the table while rolling.

There's nothing as frustrating as a jumble of mismatched measuring spoons cluttering up your kitchen drawer. This brilliant magnetic measuring spoon set from Spring Chef is the solution we didn't know we needed. These double-sided spoons range from 1/8 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, so you can tackle any of your measuring needs hassle free.

If someone only has room for one sheet pan, this should be it. Made of aluminized steel reinforced with steel rods and then topped with a magical, nonstick coating, this baby looks as hot as the temperatures it can withstand. Kitchn editors have been using these for over a year now and haven't had a single warping issue.

Make seven-layer bars or thick, buttery shortbread — or that hundredth banana bread — in Staub's 9" x 9" baking dish. The included lid keeps your baked goods warm and contained, so there’s no mess if you’re bringing it to a potluck. Because what's more of a crowdpleaser than warm brownies?

It’s rare that we find a spatula that’s good at multiple jobs, but this lovely number from editor-favorite brand Material is special. It’s made from soft-edged silicone with just the right amount of flexibility. In other words? It can scrape, mix, and flip. It also happens to be the most attractive spatula we’ve ever seen. Snap up a few of these for the design nerds in your life — and grab an extra for yourself, too. It’s only a matter of time before they sell out again.