Red Velvet NYC

What's in the box: Each kit includes pre-measured ingredients for one dessert, a detailed recipe card and tips on presenting the finished treat.

Red Velvet NYC sells gourmet baking kits that come with pre-measured ingredients, an original recipe card and tips on styling the finished dessert. You skip the shopping and measuring and go straight to baking. The kits range from easy to ambitious. Chocolate truffles with cocoa and sugar ($32) are rated Easy, and French macarons with raspberry preserves ($34) are rated Advanced. A set of six cookie skillets ($49) is labeled gluten free. Since each kit shows a difficulty level, it's easy to pick one that suits your skills. The site also has kid-friendly recipes, a cookies section, a boutique and gift orders wrapped with a red bow. The company says its pastry chefs develop the recipes using local and specialty ingredients. There are a few gaps to know about. The site sells individual kits and doesn't clearly describe a recurring plan, so check before ordering if you want automatic deliveries. It also says it doesn't ship to some areas yet but doesn't list which ones, so confirm your address is covered early. The footer copyright still reads 2017, which suggests the site isn't updated often. Overall, it's a polished choice for occasional baking projects and gifts.