25 of Our Favorite Mother’s Day Gifts (Including a Candle That Smells Like Cereal)

My mom is hard to buy for. She always says she doesn’t want anything. But, of course, that’s not true. (Mom: I’m not falling for it!) And with a lack of guidance, I go rogue. Often, I land on a great gift (she uses her Alexa in the kitchen all the time to set timers and listen to podcasts while she cooks). Occasionally, though, I’ll get a dud. For example, she never charges her temperature-controlled Ember smart mug, which entirely defeats its purpose. 

If you, like me, are looking for inspiration for Mother’s Day gifts, welcome. Below, you’ll find 25 kitchen-related Mother’s Day ideas that will put you squarely in the “great gift” category with the mom or parental figure in your life.

An Excellent Coffee Grinder

Breville The Smart Grinder Pro

$200 at Amazon $200 at Williams-Sonoma $200 at Sur La Table

I’ve owned three of our favorite coffee grinders (job perks, I know) and the Breville has been my favorite. It accurately calculates grind size and time and dispenses coffee grounds with very little chaff winding up on the counter. It comes in some fun colors, too, like Red Velvet and Olive Tapenade. 

A Candle That Smells Like Cereal

Mala Cereal Scent Candle Bundle

View on Malathebrand.com $21 at Etsy

This candle smells delightfully and subtly like Fruity Pebbles. The vanilla and cinnamon Milk + Sugar candle is stronger, if the cereal candle is out of stock. 

A Handy Organizer

Pipishell Bamboo Expandable Drawer Organizer

$40 $30 at Amazon $47 at Walmart $32 at Sears.com

“My mother appreciates the art of practical gift giving (I received deodorant and shaving razors last Christmas), so I always err on the side of unfussy, useful presents for her,” commerce editor Rochelle Bilow says. “A drawer organizer would be a perfect choice for her this year—she just renovated her kitchen!” 

Cutie Charcuterie

The Boardsmith’s Walnut Charcuterie board

View on Theboardsmith.com

Our favorite charcuterie board is handmade and oh-so-elegant, with contrasting stripes of wood. Snag some nice cheese, salami, and nice crackers to go with it.

A Subscription to Savor

Drink Trade Subscription

View on Drinktrade.com

I recently signed up for this coffee subscription and have massively enjoyed getting a new, freshly roasted bag of coffee delivered to my doorstep every few weeks. I’ll be getting it for my mom this year (don’t worry, she thinks this site is called Serious Recipes). 

Accuracy!

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

View on Thermoworks.com View on Kingarthurbaking.com

Whether your mom or parental figure likes to grill, roast, bake, or deep-fry, an instant-read thermometer will be their friend, ensuring accuracy for all. The ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE has a lightning-fast response time, automatic backlight, and a rotating screen. 

The Best Espresso Machine

Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine

$500 at Amazon $500 at Williams-Sonoma $500 at Sur La Table

My dad brings my mom a cappuccino in bed every morning, which is just incredibly lovely. Whether they’re making it for themselves or having someone do it for them, an espresso machine is the kind of top-notch, big-spender gift they’ll use daily. One of our favorite espresso machines is the Breville Bambino Plus. It’s easier to make good espresso with it than it is bad.

Cookies to Brighten Their Day

Levain Lemon Cookies

View on Levainbakery.com

I love Levain Bakery’s packaging: the blue ribbons cinch it for me. Their new lemon cookies taste like spring, have delightfully squidgy centers, and are tart, not too sweet, and loaded with white chocolate.

A Cake Stand (And a Cake…Maybe?)

Nashi Home Tonal Resin Cake Stand

$125 at Food52

If they’re a baker (or even not—these both make great display pieces!), a new, eye-catching cake stand may be the ticket. You could even make a cake and give it to them on the cake stand! They’ll be like “Oh, you made me a cake—thank you!” Then you can say, “I did, but the cake stand’s yours, too.” Lovely!

A Soft Place to Stand

The House of Noa Nama Standing Mat

View on Thehouseofnoa.com

A plushy standing mat is half decor, half highly functional investment. This one from House of Noa “reminded us of a memory foam mattress” and comes in a range of patterns and lengths. (You might want to measure their space beforehand!)

Cheese, Please

Murray’s Cheese Cheese Explorer's Club

View on Murrayscheese.com

Dairy fans will rejoice getting a gift of specially selected cheeses. A 3-month subscription is pricey, but you can also buy one-off curated boxes.

Nice Olive Oil

Herdade do Esporao Extra Virgin Olive Oil

$45 at Amazon View on Portugaliamarketplace.com View on Murrayscheese.com

Great olive oil doesn’t have to cost a lot–and this Portuguese brand is proof. It’s grassy, floral, and fruity. Tie a ribbon around the neck of this bottle and your gift is done.

Cute, Compact Wine Glasses

Big Night Wine Glasses Set of 2

View on Bignightbk.com

These petite, orb-like wine glasses are ideal for small pours, as well as cocktails. I have a set that I reach for over my full-size glasses. I love their colorful handles.

A Hydration Helper

Owala 40-Ounce Tumbler

$38 at Amazon $38 at Target View on Owalalife.com

I gave my mom an insulated tumbler to long-term test and she has been drinking more water because of it. A huge step up from her previous zero glasses a day! This model from Owala is one of the few I tried that didn’t leak and it has excellent cold retention.

A Sleek, Stylish Bar Cart

West Elm Mid-Century Bar Cart

$320 at West Elm

During the pandemic, my mom got very into making cocktails. I think any at-home bartender would appreciate this sleek bar cart with its wood construction and bronze details. I’ve owned this model for several years, and it’s a stunner that holds a stupendous amount of bottles (and bar tools).

Incredible Chocolate

L.A. Burdick Everyday Chocolate Assortment Box

View on Burdickchocolate.com

My colleague Grace Kelly and I ate ourselves sick testing boxed chocolates so you can have the very best (and so can Mom). L.A. Burdick’s chocolates were some of our favorites, with crisp chocolate outer shells and beautiful fillings. Also, look at these chocolate mice! Irresistible. “Take a gander at their chocolate chip cookies, too,” Grace says. “Baked on the day they ship, they have an ooey gooey ganache center that makes them a real treat.” Grace has been sending these as her go-to gift lately, and the giftees have been delighted.

An Easy Peasy Wine Opener

Peugeot Elis Touch Electric Corkscrew

$170 at Amazon $130 at Walmart View on Peugeot-saveurs.com

Our favorite electric wine opener opens bottles in a flash (you just have to press down on the cork to engage it). It’s also pricey, which makes it a great gift.

A Non-Alcoholic Mixer

Ghia Non-Alcoholic Berry Apéritif

$38 at Amazon View on Drinkghia.com

This Berry Ghia is tart, juicy, and not at all bitter. I love mixing it with seltzer and loads of ice. Its pink and purple packaging is adorable, too.

A Handy Holder

Tilisma Wooden Cookbook Stand

$36 at Amazon

If Mom uses cookbooks regularly, a stand that keeps a book upright and on their selected recipe is a thoughtful present. No more having to prop open the page with random kitchen objects!

A Mighty Mortar and Pestle

Nuova Marmotecnica Mediterranean Mortar and Pestle

$323 at Etsy

You could call this mortar and pestle beautiful…and you’d be right. Its smooth, marble interior and wooden pestle excels at making super-smooth sauces, like pesto.

Slamming Seltzer

Aura Bora Juicy Bundle

View on Aurabora.com

Honestly, I’d be thrilled to receive this seltzer as a gift. The flavors are spectacular, and this bundle includes two of my favorites (for those wondering, my other top picks are Pineapple Holy Basil and Grapefruit Elderflower). For the adventurous, the Flavor of the Month subscription is also wicked fun.

Steak! Knives!

Material Table Knives

$90 at Materialkitchen.com

Our favorite steak knives slice like butter…and look good doing it. The ones from Material have pastel-hued handles and come with a wooden block for storage. 

An Affordable Paella Pan

Garcima 13.5 Inch Pata Negra Paella Pan

$44 at Amazon

My dad’s the paella maker in our family, but if yours is different than mine, then this sturdy paella pan works great indoors and on the grill. Pair it with a bag of bomba rice.

Stellar Spices

Burlap and Barrel Fundamentals Collection

View on Burlapandbarrel.com

Burlap and Barrel sell some of our favorite spices. “My favorite cinnamon of all time (and yes, I do keep a running list) is the cinnamon verum from Burlap & Barrel," Rochelle says. This set doesn’t include that particular spice, but it does have their Royal Cinnamon, which is also excellent. 

A Colorful Tortilla Press

Masienda Tortilla Press

View on Masienda.com

Our favorite tortilla press comes in eye-catching colors like pastel green Espuma and bright yellow Elote. Plus, it makes the best, thin tortillas. No form over function here!

FAQs

When is Mother’s Day this year?

Mother’s Day 2024 is on Sunday, May 12th. 

What day is Mother’s Day? 

Mother’s Day is always on a Sunday. Specifically, this year, it’s on May 12, 2024.

Why We’re the Experts

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the senior commerce editor for Serious Eats. She’s been with the site since 2021.
• Riddley previously worked for America’s Test Kitchen, Food52, and EatingWell.
• She’s written our reviews of dinnerware sets, air fryers, and more.