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The Time-Saving Kitchen Buys Every Parent Should Have This Holiday — And What To Make With Each

Meet the gifts you'll be glad you treated yourself to.

by Casey Clark

November 1, 2022

Whether you’re spending it with your kids, extended family, or close friends, the quickly approaching holiday season is bound to bring everyone together to unwrap presents and dig into their favorite dishes. The most intimidating part of hosting the festivities though? The insane amount of time and effort you pour into said dishes.

While your top-notch time management skills (and let’s be honest — a babysitter) will go a long way into getting your table party-ready, the proper kitchen gadgets will help you get the job done in record time. With just a few smart buys, you can make charcuterie board you’ve seen on social media and your fan-favorite frosted sugar cookies without spending all your time standing by the stove. (All the more time to devote to holiday movies and eggnog!)

Scroll on to discover the time-saving kitchen must-haves from Crate & Barrel that every host should have this holiday season. Plus, get inspired by all the kid-friendly recipes you can make with them.

Artisan Series Steel Blue 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

For those large gatherings, whip out this five-quart mixer that can make up to nine dozen cookies (!) per load. Its heavy-duty mixer spirals the beater to 67 touch points within the bowl — so your batter will be ready before you even hit the second verse of your family’s favorite carol. Go for a simple sugar cookie recipe like this one that everyone will love.

$349.95

$449.95

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Ascent A3500 Brushed Stainless Steel Blender

It’s essential to have a good blender on hand for all those yummy, crowd-pleasing holiday dips and spreads. This Vitamix model has laser-cut stainless steel blades for dicing to pureeing to blending. Put the blender to use by trying out this Fresh Herb Cream Cheese Dip — it’ll be a holiday hit for kids and adults alike.

$649.95

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Classic 7.25-Qt. Rhône Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Available in 15 colors, choose from one of these professional-grade dutch ovens from Le Creuset for all of your cooking needs this holiday season. Designed to keep foods warm and promote even cooking, this pan is ideal for soups, stews, and other favorite recipes. If your kids have a sweet tooth, you can make these seven layer brownies in this dutch oven and watch their eyes glow up.

$459.95

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Hatch Punch Bowl & Champagne Bucket

Made from cut crystal-inspired glass, this punch bowl and champagne bucket was made to entertain. Since it has a capacity of 270 oz, you can save time by making large-batch cocktails and mocktails — such as this alcohol-free Rudolph Punch that the whole family can enjoy. When the party’s over, you can even load the punch bowl into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

$69.95

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Salad Spinner and Chopper

We hate to break it to you, but, yes: You have to eat your vegetables, even during the holidays! Thankfully, salads have never been easier with this Chef'N Salad Spinner and Chopper. It does all the work for you by spinning, drying, and even chopping leafy greens. Put it to the test by whipping up this Roasted Beet and Apple Salad. (Bonus points for it featuring some red-and-green holiday hues!)

$39.95

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Monogrammed Serving Board

Need appetizers ASAP? This monogrammed food-safe serving board has your back, whether you opt for an easy meats and cheese spread or a kid-pleasing dessert board. The kids can even help create a holiday dessert charcuterie board, filled with yummy chocolate and other candies.

$49.95

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Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

If you don’t already have an air fryer, then let this be the year you take the plunge. This is the ultimate kitchen must-have for parents who do it all, whether that’s hosting holiday festivities or cooking everyday dinner meals. With 13 preset functions, this air fryer can toast, bake, roast, warm, and more for a quick meal or snack in minutes. Test it out by getting the kiddos together to create these simple apple fritters.

$399.95

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Slate Blue 10-Piece Non-Stick Bakeware Set

Crate & Barrel’s non-stick bakeware is a must-have for the holiday season. (The last thing you want is to be stuck scraping off those adorable gingerbread cookies you and the kids worked so hard on.) This set comes with baking sheets, a muffin pan, a loaf pan, cake pans, and cooling racks — all the essentials.

$129.95

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