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5 local finds to start your holiday baking

Originally published November 9, 2016 at 9:22 am

Cool cooking gear to sprinkle the season with a little extra deliciousness.

By Sara Kennedy

ShopNW

Holiday baking season has begun, so break out the mixing bowls and turn on the oven. It’s time to stop dreaming about spiced breads, pumpkin pies and Christmas cookies and get to work.

Make the effort more fun — and even a bit more effortless — with these five local finds.

Pattern and Post Mid Century Tree and Snowflake Tea Towel ($24 at etsy.com/shop/patternandposy). Seattleite Carrie Narducci block-prints seasonal designs by hand on soft cotton tea towels to combine form and function.

This mid-century print can be had in classic green or red, or retro-chic shades like turquoise and chocolate.

Jane Domestic Apron ($40 at janedomestic.com). Protect your fall and winter knits from flour and icing with this locally made denim apron you won’t mind guests seeing you in.

It’s fully adjustable and features the company’s elegant fork-mark logo in gold.

Geeky Hostess Trees Natural Sprinkles ($6 at geekyhostess.com). The big trend in baking this year is heavy coatings of sprinkles. Make yours free of synthetic dyes and artificial ingredients with this Seattle-based line that also includes sprinkles inspired by Doctor Who and Harry Potter.

Geeky Hostess Trees Natural Sprinkles, $6; Pattern and Posy Mid Century Tree and Snowflake Tea Towel, $24

Art of the Pie: A Practical Guide to Homemade Crusts, Fillings, and Life ($35 at booksellers). Washington pie-making instructor Kate McDermott gives you all her tips, tricks and best recipes in this new cookbook. Conquer the fear of making your own crust with more than a dozen crust recipes, many of which are gluten-free.

Krista’s Baking Co. Salted Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix ($13 at kristasbakingco.com). More into the eating than the baking? Grab one of Seattleite Krista Nelson’s cookie mixes and you’ll always be ready for company or a cold day stuck inside.

There are molasses and sugar cookie varieties, among others, and this stand-out that includes local Theo dark chocolate and Jacobsen Salt Co.’s Stumptown Coffee flake salt out of Portland.

Jane Domestic