Little things

Williams-Sonoma and other local cooking shops carry all kinds of gadgets for your favorite foodies that are just the right size for stuffing a stocking this holiday season.

A “baker’s friend,” also known as a pastry scraper, keeps just the right amount of flour handy. It’s $9 at Williams-Sonoma.

A metal pastry blender used for cutting butter or shortening into flour for pie crusts costs $10 at Williams-Sonoma.

A spoonula with a wooden handle is half-spoon, half-spatula, and is perfect for scraping the last bits of batter off the mixing bowl. It’s $10.95 at Williams-Sonoma.

Whisks can make beating an egg a whiz. They range from $11 to $30, depending on the size, at Williams-Sonoma.

Wondering if your oven is at the right temperature? An oven thermometer can resolve that for $15 to $18. “Sometimes ovens aren’t calibrated as they should be,” says Lisa Rankin, assistant general manager of Williams-Sonoma.

Gluten-free flour may not sound like a glamorous gift but the gluten-intolerant lover of baked goods will appreciate it, says Rankin. A three-pound bag is $19.95. “I’ve made sugar cookies and no one knew they were gluten-free,” she says.

Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, $19.95, a box of Sprinkles cupcake mix or organic cookie mix by Bouchon Bakery will please any baker as well.