“Gluten is good.” So said Ben Franklin. Or was it Mark Twain? Alberto Tomba perhaps? We don’t really know and it doesn’t matter anyway, because gluten’s redeeming qualities are so obviously self-evident that it’s foolish to even debate the point. If you’re looking for unique gifts for gluten lovers, indulge your pastafarian with one of our 19 best gifts for gluten lovers.
The List: 19 Best Gifts for Gluten Lovers!
1. Gluten Tag Mug: It’s Always Oktoberfest Somewhere ($15)
This awesome original mug design from Etsy shop Abbys Design Factory comes in white or black and is quirky enough to get a laugh from even the most ardent gluten-free crusader.
2. Hand Crank Pasta Machine for Stronger Arms ($73)
There’s nothing like fresh pasta to turn a gluten lover into a gluten-crazed pastafarian. Once you’ve tasted the real thing – mixed, kneaded, and cranked by hand – you’ll never go back to the dried stuff.
3. “Sourdough Crust” Fine Art Print To Salivate Over ($89)
Bread may be the purest of all gluten delivery systems, having sustained gluten lovers through lean and fat times for centuries. This close-up fine art print by photographer Sharon Rowan celebrates the delicate and airy structure of a well-leavened slice of sourdough.
4. Stroopwafels & Coffee Subscription to Wake Up Right ($38)
Waffles have long been known to be among the most gluten-y food products around and the exotic stroopwafel is by far the tastiest incarnation. Place each cookie gently on top of a steaming hot cup of coffee to warm up the caramel insides before sinking your teeth into it’s densely packed proteins of pure sweet gluten.
This 36-pack pairs nicely with a monthly coffee subscription from one of our favorites, Brothers Coffee Co.
5. Back Pocket Pasta to Up Your Dinner Game ($25)
This inventive little cookbook expertly pairs pantry staples with fresh ingredients to yield quick pasta dishes with tons of flavor. There’s a brilliant photo alongside each recipe and a concise guide to pairing cocktails and wine with your tasty creations. If you like your Italian cooking unpretentious and affordable, this 2017 release is for you.
6. Vintage Pasta Print to Perfect Your Art ($20)
This classic poster from Etsy shop Vintage Posteria is the perfect cheat sheet for aspiring homemade pasta cooks. Maybe your nonna didn’t need a poster to crank out orecchiette and strozzapreti by the bucketful, but you probably do.
7. A True Pasta Pot to Cook Like the Italians ($130)
If you’re messing around with hot pads and carrying pots of boiling water over to the sink before dumping the pasta (and water) into a separate colander, you’re doing it all wrong. The Italians have perfected the art of removing the pasta from the salty starchy cooking water by simply building the colander into the pot. Ingenious!
8. “Pasta La Vista” Coffee Mug for Nostalgia’s Sake ($19)
Terminate the small talk around the breakfast table and get everyone to snap to attention with this crisp coffee mug featuring a witty piece of penne. Yellow Otter Studios is a newer Etsy shop with plenty of style and a ton of creative SKUs!
9. Solid Wood Pasta Rolling Pin That Lasts Forever ($29)
It’s hard to buy heirloom quality kitchen goods anymore. Search for rolling pins on Amazon and you’ll find a race to the bottom with everyone trying to undercut each other on price. Instead of spending twelve bucks for something made overseas, spend twenty-nine to get an awesome solid wood straight rolling pin made by hand in Mississippi. Pick walnut, maple, or cherry!
10. KBS Pro Bread Machine for Sandwiches Galore ($140)
The KBS Pro is only slightly bigger than a bread box, but bakes a perfectly golden two-pound loaf every time. If you’re looking for a high end gift for the gluten lover in your life, this just might be the one.
Whether you’re partial to whole wheat, white, or rye, the window on top lets you sneak a peek while the gluten does its job. The built-in fruit and nut dispenser is nifty too!
11. A Handcrafted Bread Scoring Lame for Swashbucklers ($20)
Anyone who bakes their own bread from scratch knows that it’s a real labor of love. The mixing and kneading eventually give way to the actual baking, but not before adding a quick slash to give the oven spring a nudge in the right direction. Achieve peak satisfaction with your work by upgrading to a handmade bread lame. You’ll make a perfect score every time.
12. Feast on Some Gourmet Granola ($29)
Most granola has oats and most oats have avenins, a gluten-like protein that’s just as tasty. Michele’s Granola uses only organic oats alongside sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, coconut, and a hint of Madagascar vanilla. Each batch is made by hand and tastes just as fresh as it did when first introduced at a Maryland farmer’s market a decade ago.
13. Reusable Bread Bag to Keep Crumbs At Bay ($20)
Peg and Awl have carved out a nice niche for themselves on Etsy, with exquisitely made bags of all shapes, sizes, and materials. This washable cotton bread bag is perfect for anyone who likes to bake and take. Keep your bread under wraps (and fresh) until it’s time to unveil to ooohs and aaahs at dinner parties and potlucks.
14. Oil Dipping Spice Kit to Travel by Taste ($39)
Julie Pedersen created this ingenious oil dipping spice kit to bring flavors from around the globe to your next dinner party. Whether or not she had gifts for gluten lovers in mind when she developed this concept is totally irrelevant! Mix and match the fifteen exotic herbs and spices with your favorite extra-virgin olive oils for fresh new experiences. Bread sold separately!
15. Beer Soap Sampler for Long Hangover Showers ($15)
The only thing gluten lovers enjoy more than a good late night beer binge is the long hot shower that inevitably accompanies the next morning. Don’t be caught without a fresh supply of suds! This all-natural 6-pack beer soap sampler makes an awesome gift for gluten lovers or anyone else who’s been known to sneak a beer into the shower from time to time.
16. Don’t Worry, Be Hoppy T-Shirt, Because It’s True ($24)
We’re pretty sure beer was top of mind for Bobby McFerrin when he chose to title his stupendous 1988 album Simple Pleasures. ‘Twas a time when beer was indeed simple: barley, hops, yeast, water, and nothing else! A lot has changed since 1988 but beer remains the most glorious gluten delivery system yet invented.
17. Night Out for Deep Dish Pizza ($20+)
Planning the perfect date is an under-appreciated talent. It’s also quite simple. Pick the night, call in advance to get a reservation, and then have a second place nearby in your back pocket for a potential nightcap. If you’re looking for gifts for gluten lovers, you can do a lot worse than Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Pair it with a local beer that’s made with plenty of barley for an incomparable gluten-feast!
18. A Trip to Italy, North or South is Up to You (Priceless)
If your other half likes their gluten with a side of butter, go north for rich risottos, creamy pasta dishes with prosciutto, and hearty stuffed ravioli. If breezy olive oils, fresh ripe tomatoes, and still salty clams are more your speed, then go south. Either way, there’s just no avoiding a daily gluten fix when you’re hanging out in the birthplace of pasta.
19. Test Tube Flights for Blind Beer Tasting ($50)
I have a good buddy that insists on doing blind taste tests whenever we’re visiting. These tasting sessions nearly always involve beers sourced from all over San Diego. Nine out of ten are some sort of IPA variant or “IPA-adjacent,” as he likes to call some of the more obscure brews. In any event, it’s a fun way to get our gluten fix for the evening. I reckon that he might enjoy this nifty test tube tasting set more than just about anyone else I know.
Know a good gluten gift that didn’t make the list? Reach out and let us know!