The stunning cake decoration at the party forces you to end up purchasing a cake or make you determined to make something similar to it. It takes quite a lot of practice to master the cake decoration art. However, you can also make spectacular cake designs at home using the right tool.
With cake decorating equipment for beginners, you can create stunning designs on your freshly baked cake without doing much hassle. Even if you are an amateur baker or someone who occasionally bakes a cake, you can impress your family members as well as guests by showing off the nicely decorated cake.
In the article, I will introduce you to some essential decorating tools that you will need for this purpose.
Essential Tools Needed for Decorating Cake
You might be familiar with some of the equipment. Whether you used these before or not, there will be no issue while using it.
Piping Tip
Whether it Swirls, Scalloped edges, or piped words, you will need piping tools to create a sharp and stunning pattern on the frost of your baked cake. In fact, this is the most obvious tool when it comes to decorating cakes. It comes with a variety of tips for different designs.
If this is the first time you are going to use piping tools, the recommendation would be to buy a piping set. These tools are relatively cheaper. As a beginner, you will need to experiment with a lot of things using the piping tools, so investing in a complete set would be worthwhile.
Selecting one particular piping tip can be confusing as there are tons of options available.
How to Use?
Using piping tools is quite easy and straightforward. Consider inserting the tip into your pastry bag, and cut the tip. This will allow the piping tip to fit in the bag.
More so, take a spatula, and fill the piping bag with frosting, and then gently apply pressure on the bag to push the frosting out. You will need to hold or slightly move the tip, depending on the pattern you want to create.
Pros
- Quite easy to use
- A variety of tips create different pattern
- Fancy and professional looking decoration on cakes
Cons
- Each tip can only be used with one piping bags
- Tips aren’t good at releasing thicker and thinner frosting
- Inconsistent amount of frosting comes out when pressured improperly
- Frosting comes out in lumps
Icing Spatula
This particular tool doesn’t work the same way as a regular spatula. Icing spatulas are specially designed to make the icing on cakes smooth. The angled metal part of the tool makes the outer part of the cake sharp and smooth.
You will find a number of icing spatulas, but a cheaper and basic one will be more than enough for the task.
How to Use?
Be sure to angle the spatula away from you. Consider moving it around the cake by applying a gentle and constant pressure onto the frosting. This should move the frosting evenly.
You might need to go for several strokes. When you are done, be sure to brush the cake to smoothen its top layer of frosting.
Pros
- Cakes get a well finished and smooth edges
- Allows to sharpen and smoothening the frosting
Cons
- Angling the spatula is a bit difficult to get that smooth finish
- Can ruin the beauty of frosting and even strip it away if not angled correctly
Rotating Cake Stand
This equipment primarily serves two purposes. You can display your stunning looking cake, and also make the frosting smooth. As it’s a table that turns, you can decorate and smoothen the frosting without dealing with any unwanted and awkward movement.
How to Use?
Rotate the stand, and then start smoothening the frosting using a spatula to get an evenly finished layer on it.
Pros
- Makes frosting layer even and smooth
- Easy to use
- Prevents accidental moves even for an inch
Cons
- Not that much necessary equipment if your hand can do the work
- Requires a separate platter to place the cake on the stand
Food Coloring
Cake decoration is pretty much impossible without food colors. The plain white cake doesn’t create much appeal, whether it’s for kids or adults. Having a good colorwork on the cake gives it a desirable and fancy appearance.
As you are a beginner, getting a set of colors will provide you the freedom to experiment with different colors on cakes. You can create multiple designs using the colors as well.
You need to have a clear understanding of all food coloring types and their uses before you apply any particular color.
How to Use?
Most food colors are strong. Therefore, you need to be careful while using them. Add a little amount in the frosting, then mix. If you notice it needs more, be sure to add colors in small amounts.
Within a few weeks, you will figure out the exact amount of colors that your cake requires, and don’t need to waste much time adding little amounts.
Pros
- Cakes become more vibrant and beautiful
- Lasts for long time
- Can be used for frosting, fondanting, and writing on cakes
- Colors can be mixed to create unique color effects and shades
Cons
- Using too much food colors ruins the look of frosting
- In some cases, it can change the consistency of cake or frosting
- Creates a mess
Cake Lifter
When it’s about moving a cake from one place to another, whether the cake is decorated or not, it’s quite hard to do the job without any damage. Also, placing undecorated layers from the cooling rack to the cake plate isn’t easier either.
That’s where a cake lifter comes great handy. This equipment allows you to move a cake or cake layers without any trouble safely. The surface is large enough for a larger cake. Due to its nonstick surface, sliding under or off onto the final destination becomes much easier when you have this one.
When you don’t need to move the cake around, it will also prevent the cheesecakes from sliding off the pan’s base. If you use it for handling pizzas, large pancakes, or flipping quesadillas, consider hand washing the surface to maintain its nonstick layer.
How to Use?
Easily slide on the cake from the pan base, and move it to where you want it to place. Again, slide off the cake onto the final destination.
If the cake is a bit stickier, consider applying spray oil lightly on the lifter, the cake will slide on and off smoothly.
The lifter has an angular handle for providing good and balanced leverage to lift the cake. And of course, the handle has a well-secured grip on it.
Pros
- Makes sliding on and off the cake much easier and safer
- Enough space for a large-sized cake
- Can handle stickier cake without causing any damage to the layers
- Angled handle for good leverage support
Cons
- Not necessary if the cake is safe to move
- In case your handshakes or the lifter accidentally falls, the cake is gone
Final Words
Hope that the listed cake decorating equipment for beginners will make dealing with cakes and decorating them a lot easier and convenient for you.
Note that all equipment is for beginner level bakers; the more you bring variety in the cake collections, the more equipment and tools you will need. Consider spending money on these items as an investment.
In case you need to know how to decorate cakes with great perfection, be sure to check out these cake decorating ideas.