Professional cake decoration comes down to having the right tools close at hand as well as a steady hand and a good eye for detail. The best finishes start with professional cake decorating tools that you can rely on day in and day out.
Below are ten pieces of cake decorating tools worth stocking in any commercial kitchen, all part of our cake decorating supplies range at Creeds Direct.
1. A Confectioners Harp or Cake Leveller
A confectioners harp or cake leveller is an essential tool for every professional baker to get a level cake before you start putting icing on. It slices sponges into clean and even layers so the finished cake stands straight instead of leaning.
Our 57cm confectioners harp comes with two blades, and spare blades are sold separately, which suits kitchens producing tiered wedding and celebration cakes at volume.
2. Baking Rings and Hoops
Consistent shape is essential when you’re producing cakes to a professional standard. Stainless steel baking rings and hoops help create clean and even edges, keeping sponges, mousses and cheesecakes in shape while they bake or set.
Sizes run from large celebration cake rings down to small rings suited to individual desserts, so most kitchens can find the fit they need.
3. Flat Palette Knives
A flat palette knife is one of the most reached-for tools in any bakery for smoothing buttercream, ganache and ready-to-roll icing into a level finish. The flexible blade glides product across a cake without dragging or tearing it, which matters most on tall tiered cakes where every layer needs to match.
Our Victorinox flat palette knives come in blade lengths from 12cm up to 31cm.
4. Cranked Palette Knives
Alongside a flat blade, a cranked or offset palette knife is another must-have professional cake decorating tool.
The angled shape keeps your hand clear of the icing surface, giving far more control when adding fine detail close to the cake. Our German steel cranked palette knives hold a stiff, durable blade shape under daily use, with a wider trowel option available for bakers who also use it as a turner.
5. A Cake Turntable
A cake turntable makes decorating much easier, especially when you’re icing larger cakes or piping borders. Spinning the cake as you work lets you keep your palette knife steady and build an even coat of icing all the way round, rather than working in awkward sections.
Our plain cake turntable has a sturdy 32cm base at a comfortable working height, giving decorators a stable platform that will not wobble mid-icing.
6. Piping Nozzles
Different piping nozzles create different finishes, making them an essential part of any cake decorator’s toolkit. Plain nozzles are ideal for writing messages, outlining designs and filling macarons, while star nozzles are commonly used for buttercream swirls, shell borders and rosettes. Specialist nozzles, such as leaf, petal and grass tips, make it easy to create flowers, foliage and textured decorations. Keeping a selection of nozzles on hand gives you the flexibility to decorate everything from celebration cakes to cupcakes and pastries.
Our range of piping tubes covers plain, star and specialist shapes in nylon and stainless steel, and our inside guide to piping tools breaks down which nozzle suits which finish.
7. Piping Bags
Piping bags are just as important as the nozzles you use. Reusable piping bags are a popular choice for bakeries decorating cakes every day, particularly when working with buttercream, royal icing or other thicker mixtures.
Our piping bags come in a full range of sizes, making it easy to handle everything from intricate lettering to icing large celebration cakes.
8. A Depositor or Fondant Filler
If you frequently fill doughnuts, pastries or cakes all day, doing it by hand can be slow and messy. A depositor or fondant filler speeds up the process by dispensing the right amount of jam, custard, cream or ganache with every press.
Our metal pastry and fondant filler comes with its own stand, and holds a generous amount of filling, so you can spend less time refilling and more time baking.
9. An Icing Sugar Dredger
The finishing touch on many cakes and pastries is a light, even dusting of icing sugar or cocoa, and a dredger is the tool that you need for this. A holed top dredger gives a heavier, more definite dusting, while a mesh top dredger produces a finer, softer coating better suited to delicate patisserie work. Keeping both types on hand gives decorators more control over the finished appearance of your bakes.
10. A Cake Divider
Consistent portioning matters as much as consistent icing, particularly for bakeries selling cake by the slice or catering large events. A cake divider presses gently into the top of the cake to mark out equal segments before cutting. Our plastic double-sided dividers mark two different slice counts on the one tool, useful for bakeries serving different sized parties from the same cake.
Building Your Cake Decorating Kit
None of these tools need to be bought all at once. Most decorators build their kit gradually, starting with a turntable, a palette knife and a few core piping nozzles before adding levellers, dividers and depositors as demand grows. For a wider look at outfitting a professional kitchen from the ground up, our ultimate guide to professional bakery equipment and tools is a useful next stop. Whatever stage your bakery is at, our team can talk you through the right cake decorating supplies for your kitchen.
FAQs
What tools do I need to start cake decorating professionally?
To start decorating cakes professionally you need a turntable, a flat palette knife, a set of piping bags and nozzles, and a cake leveller to cover the basics. Most professional decorators then add a cranked palette knife, baking rings and a dredger as their range of work grows.
What is the difference between a flat and a cranked palette knife?
A flat palette knife has a straight blade, best suited to smoothing icing directly across a cake’s surface. A cranked, or offset, palette knife has an angled blade that lifts your hand above the surface, making it easier to lift decorations and work fine detail close to the cake.
