To start, let me say that you can decorate a cake (and a BEAUTIFUL one even at that) with the equipment you can find with even the most basic kitchen equipment, so don’t despair if you don’t have the space or means to stock up on every cake tool. If you’re a cake decorator who is looking to invest, I’m breaking down which cake decorating tools I feel like are “needs” vs “wants” and why.
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Need to have cake tools
Here are the top 10 “need to have” cake decorating tools that I’d recommend any cake enthusiast prioritizes adding to their toolkit when starting out.
- Turntable – The great thing about turntables is that you can find it at any price point. They have inexpensive plastic ones (like this) and oftentimes even come in a kit with other items. Additionally, they have mid-range (like this) or high-end (like this) metal turntables that have a sturdier base and a smoother spin. This is so important for smoothing the sides of cakes, as it helps you go further with one continuous motion.
- Offset spatula – What is unique about an offset spatula (vs a straight one) is how the bent handle allows you to be able to frost and smooth on top of each layer of buttercream without your hand getting in the way and giving you more control. I use this EVERY time I decorate a cake.
- Lightweight metal cake scraper – If you are looking for smooth sides on a cake, a thin, metal cake scraper is a game changer. I started my cake decorating journey with the small plastic scrapers and graduated onto the Ateco 6″ tall scrapers (which I’ve repurchased so I have 3 on hand), which I highly recommend. I eventually evolved and splurged (after contemplating it for 2 years…) on the CakeByCourtney cake scraper set, which are 8″ tall; although this is not necessary, I am glad I did it since it is lighter and more comfortable than any scraper I’ve used yet,.
- KitchenAid stand mixer – Unless you’re making one cake every several months, a standing cake mixer is a GAME CHANGER. Having one helps you easily and painlessly ensure your cake batters and buttercreams are being whipped at the proper speed and length of time because less face it, there’s only so much we can do before our arms feel like they’re going to fall off. Additionally, it includes attachments like a paddle attachment which is so helpful for getting out air bubbles for buttercream. I know it’s an investment, but I use this for every cake I make so it’s definitely worth it to me. I use the 4.5 QT tilt-head mixer option, which I think has the best value for the price.
- Piping bags – I use 16” piping bags for all of my piping needs! From piping buttercream on cupcakes to cake tops or swirls to shells, these are so handy.
- Star piping tips – If I could only buy cake tips once, I would buy this set of piping tips from Wilton. The 1M is a very popular piping tip and with being able to pipe beautiful swirls, rosettes, shell-borders, rope borders, and stars with it, there’s no doubt why. Larger piping tips for swirls/rope borders give a more professional look, in my opinion.
- Americolor gel food coloring set – You can make any color you might need with these, so it’s definitely a purchase I’ve seen the value of.
- Silicon spatulas – You don’t realize how much you need these until you’re baking cake batter, whipping up a frosting, making a filling, or dying buttercream different colors. I purchased & love this set which has a variety of spatula sizes and even a little whisk (woohoo!).
- Cake boards – I use a cake board as the base for every cake. A 10″ cake board is wide enough for most cake boxes, but in general you’ll want your cake board to be at least 2-3″ wider than your cake.
- Digital scale – This is such a useful kitchen gadget, even beyond cake baking & decorating. This will help you be able to follow recipes so much more precisely and avoid the guesswork of measuring with cups.
Nice to have cake tools
Once you have your essential cake tools stocked, I’d recommend looking into these nice to have products to make your cake decorating experience easier.
- Squeeze / drip bottle – Can use for specific placement of drips or do a pour-over for curtain-style drips. There are inexpensive options (intended for sauces) from restaurant stores, Target, or Amazon.
- Cake leveler – You can level your cakes with a serrated knife and a steady hand, but this is definitely a very handy gadget to have since it stays level with your countertop as it slices through the cake.
- Cake lifter – Great for lifting fragile or soft cake layers. However, chilling your cake layers beforehand will give them added stability while stacking your cake.
- Bake even strips – You can always trim your cake to remove any excess browned areas or any domed tops if it bothers you. Additionally, any old cotton t-shirt or wrap can be cut into strips and used with safety pins to get the same effect.
- Light-colored cake pans – Any cake pan will get the job done, but having light-colored cake pans will result in more even-browning and therefore a more even-rise. However, you can always trim your cake to remove any excess browned areas or any domed tops.
- Piping tip organizer – Imagine dozens of 1 inch tall piping tips, all in the same color, rattling around in a random bag or drawer. Now imagine searching for a specific tip when you’re already elbows-deep in buttercream. Getting a piping tip organizer so you can find that one, very specific leaf tip when you’re looking for it makes decorating so much easier (especially if you organize them by number!).
- Acrylic disc – An acrylic disc has multiple uses such as 1) serving as a guide for level, straight cakes, 2) a reusable cake board, 3) a palette to mix colors on, and 4) a board to practice piping on. I get plenty of use from mine, but you could use a disposable cake board for similar purposes.
- Getting an extra KitchenAid mixer bowl was a purchase that I personally really valued, since it helped me be able to multi-task and feel like I have two stand mixers. This would be best for the heavy-user bakers who are mixing up multiple batches of fillings/buttercreams at once.
- Paddle attachment with scraper – This paddle attachment on the KitchenAid helps also scrape the sides of your bowl as it spins. Although it still does require a scrape-down every once in a while (the product can sometimes accumulate above the paddle line), it helps incorporate the ingredients better and is a great tool to get extra air bubbles out of buttercream.
- Palette knives / spatulas – These little offset spatulas come in varied shapes so you can create “paint” petals, leaves, and abstract designs with buttercream on your cakes. They also are useful for little detailing like removing buttercream accidents, loosening a cake from it’s cake board, and creating texture.
These are suggestions based on my personal experience, but everyone has their own unique preferences and needs! If there are any differing suggestions you have, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. 🙂
