ON MATTERS OF TASTE
Crack pie from Milk Bar
Skip the pumpkin and upgrade to Milk Bar’s crack pie, a sinfully sweet and rich sugary confection with a toasted oat crust. Christina Tosi’s L.A. flagship opened in September, with the baker’s signature cookies, cakes and soft serve also available at the Melrose Avenue shop. Order online for pickup in store or just walk in. $46. milkbarstore.com
Chocolates from Compartés
Chocolate meets art at Compartés, where truffles feature vibrant designs and the chocolate bar packaging is as fun as the flavors inside, such as Blonde Bombshell (strawberry Champagne dark chocolate). Visit the flagship at Westfield Century City, its store in Brentwood or shop online. Holiday truffles 20-piece collection $59.95, chocolate bars $9.95-$11.95. compartes.com
Crusoe spiced rum from Greenbar Distillery
Greenbar makes all of its spirits, except for tequila, at its Arts District distillery. Grab a bottle of Crusoe spiced rum, great for adding a boozy splash to your favorite holiday drinks. Visit the distillery to buy and for tastings and tours; its products are also sold at retail stores. $32.99. greenbardistillery.com
Olive oil from Gjusta
Chef Travis Lett’s perennially packed Gjusta in Venice boasts a sizable marketplace with takeaway jams, housemade hot sauces and nut butters. The marinated olive oil is made with chili, garlic and herbs and bottled in pretty, hipster-approved apothecary-style jars. $13.50. gjusta.com
DKAs from Dominique Ansel
Dominique Ansel’s famous cronut needs to be consumed within hours of purchase, but the DKAs — his take on the kouign-amann — have a better shelf life. The bakery at the Grove sells them individually or in a box of four. Box of four DKAs, $23. dominiqueansella.com
Duff ’s Cakemix
Express your creativity decorating cakes and cupcakes like a pro at celebrity baker and Food Network star Duff Goldman’s (“Ace of Cakes”) shops in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Tarzana. Treat the adult — or child — baker in your life to a sweet design experience including cake or cupcakes, design tools, toppings and expert guidance. Gift cards start at $40. giftbar.com
Mixing pour bowl
Based in East Los Angeles and inspired by his rustic Vermont heritage, Sheldon Ceramics is a pottery studio run by ceramicist Peter Sheldon. Among the many distinctive handmade pieces, Sheldon offers a stoneware clay mixing bowl perfect for everyday use or display and measuring 10.3 inches in diameter and 4.25 inches high. $165. sheldonceramics.com
Infused sugars set
Please the sweet tooth in your life with a set of infused sugars, perfect for everything from flavoring coffee to incorporating in scones, cookies or topping a deep-dish pie. Made from raw sugar cane, the set includes nine naturally infused flavors with flavor possibilities including ginger, wild blueberry, raspberry, vanilla bean, clove, toasted coconut, dark cocoa, espresso and strawberry sugars (alternate flavors include cinnamon, habanero, salty-caramel and sweet onion sugars). $50. spicestationsilverlake.com
Laura Ann’s jams
Whether you’re looking for the perfect topping for a batch of fresh biscuits or considering items to accompany a cheese platter, Laura Ann’s jams are always handy to have on hand. A former punk rock drummer turned artisanal jam-maker, Laura Ann Masura is known for her creatively flavored jams — flavors include everything from bourbon blood orange marmalade to wild blueberry almond — originally inspired by farmers markets and trips to area farms. A four-pack gift box contains your choice of flavors along with a handwritten note. $34.99. lauraannsjams.com
Neighborhood cutting board
You can customize this tempered glass cutting board to showcase any L.A. neighborhood for an extra special touch of home in the kitchen. $50. uncommongoods.com
Hipcooks cooking class
Hipcooks offers classes in everything from dim sum to sushi, to pasta and Thai. And you can attend a class in West or East L.A., Woodland Hills, Orange County and San Diego. $75. hipcooks.com
Hedley & Bennett Vans x HB apron
If you're a cook in Los Angeles, you should have a Hedley & Bennet apron. And the L.A.-based brand has a stellar apron made in collaboration with local company Vans. $85. hedleyandbennett.com
Celebrity spatulas
No Kid Hungry chef spatulas features spatulas designed by L.A.’s Gwen Stefani, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and more. And we know cooks need a dependable spatula. Why not buy one for a good cause? Proceeds from the No Kid Hungry spatulas benefit the organization. $13.95. williams-sonoma.com
The sky’s the limit
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Serving platter
All the ceramic work from Knotwork is made by Los Angeles freelance industrial designer Linda Hsiao, who creates small ceramic and wood work. Her rainbow oval serving platter is the perfect gift for your favorite host or hostess. $240. knotwork.bigcartel.com
Tote it all
Whether you’re going to the farmers market or Whole Foods, everyone needs a dependable tote bag. This Rewilder Cornerstone tote is made from 100% salvaged beer filter cloth and climbing ropes from local gyms. And the brand makes everything at its studio in Los Angeles. $128. rewilder.com
Comal
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Bamboo steamer basket
williams-sonoma.com
Mochi ice cream kit
For the baker who has not forayed into mochi making, UCSB alum Carley Sheehy’s DIY Mochi Ice Cream Kit introduces the process and includes basic ingredients, tools and instructions (ice cream not included). There are options for two colors, and you choose your own favorite ice cream. $30. globalgrub.com
Exotic fruits
Do you know a baker looking to expand a repertoire of fruit tarts and pies? Vernon-based Melissa’s Produce offers a subscription service of exotic fruits. The 12-month option includes a Melissa’s Deluxe Exotic and Tropical Fruit Basket as the selection for the first month. Each month features a seasonal item. A three-month subscription is $123.95. melissas.com
Pure chocolate
In Culver City, artisan chocolate maker Patricia Tsai stone-grinds cacao beans the way the Mayans and Aztecs did it more than 2,000 years ago. Pure chocolate for baking is available in bars, nibs or powder and is dairy-, soy- and additive-free. Bars start at $8. chocovivo.com
Learn something new
Feed someone’s inner baker with a class at Santa Monica’s Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savories. Topics such as breads, cake decorating, macarons and pies are addressed in single classes or as part of a series. Professional-level classes are available as well. Gift certificates never expire. Three-hour classes start at $85. thegourmandiseschool.com
Daily bread
For your friend the bread baker, the Ultimate Bread Baker gift basket from Pasadena-based artisanal millers Grist & Toll comes with three seasonal bread flours, a dough whisk, a banneton, a flour sack and a lame for scoring as well as three bread recipes — in case your bread baker friend doesn’t have enough recipes of their own. $100. gristandtoll.com