Here Are the Best Cake Decorating Tools for Beginners and Experienced Bakers

How We Tested

We sent all of these cake decorating tools and sets to our baking experts for testing in their home kitchens. Each tool was put to the test by decorating a cake or cupcakes with actual cake and frosting, utilizing every technique and tool available. The tools were compared to each other, as well as to the professional standard. Stand-alone tools were tested alongside others while building and decorating desserts. Every piece of the larger sets was tested with the objective of creating a finished decorated dessert. After each and every product was tested, our experts gave us their unbiased opinions about what they liked and didn't like about each product, evaluating each on their design, performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, and overall value.

What to Look for When Buying Cake Decorating Tools

By Jenny Kellerhals

Buttercream Essentials

Most people start with piping tips, which are used with piping bags. Piping skills are at the core of professional decorating projects, and when mastered, will be useful far beyond cakes and cupcakes. From star-tipped cake borders to hand-piped roses, a set of pastry tips with different styles and sizes allows you to experiment with countless designs.

Couplers are two-piece plastic attachments to piping bags that allow you to easily switch the tip on a bag of frosting without emptying the bag. For cake designs that involve several different tips for decorating, couplers are incredibly convenient. 

A cake comb (sometimes called a scraper) is also an essential tool for a smoothly rounded cake. Some struggle to smooth the sides of a cake with a metal spatula, but a cake comb makes very quick work of it. Several cake combs have textured edges as well as a smooth edge for a variety of buttercream patterns.

Metal spatulas are narrow and long and come in several different sizes and two different basic styles. Larger metal spatulas are used for smoothing the frosting on the top of the cake, cleaning up edges, and lifting the cake off the board or stand. Smaller spatulas are used for detail work, smoothing out smaller portions of frosting, and picking up or placing decorative features on the cake. Metal spatulas come both flat and offset. Try out both and see which style is more comfortable to hold while you work. 

Fondant & Gum Paste Tools

Making an even buttercream frosting is the first skill to master when beginning cake decorating as a foundation for building the rest of the cake design. Instead of buttercream decorations, you may choose to wrap your cake in fondant for sculptural, pristinely smooth, or hand-painted finishes. When using fondant you’ll roll it out and lay it over your buttercream-coated cake. It then gets smoothed out with a smoothing tool that helps get rid of air bubbles and fits the fondant over every curve and into every crease of the cake.

Hand tools that help shape, slice, and texturize both fondant and gum paste are used to make figurines and floral decorations for your cakes. Cutters are available to easily create multiple petal shapes in large quantities.

For those who plan to use fondant often, there are plastic mats and rolling pins to make sheeting fondant easier. Rolling mats have cake measurements to easily judge the appropriate amount of frosting, with less sticking than rolling directly on a counter with a wooden rolling pin (although cornstarch or confectioner’s sugar is still recommended to reduce tackiness).

Versatility & Reusability

Many of the tools included in your cake decorating tool kit will last you for years to come, including the piping tips, spatulas, and couplers. Things like piping bags, cupcake liners, and any edible decorations are generally one-time use tools. Most kits offer enough of these disposable supplies for a handful of projects, but eventually you’ll need replacements. Replacements can often be found at grocery stores, as well as craft stores and, of course, cake and baking supply stores and online.

There are options for those interested in a more sustainable toolkit for multi-use versions of these tools. Disposable piping bags are convenient and make multi-frosting colors in a single project easy to handle, but polyester and silicone piping bags can be washed and reused many times with less waste. These reusable bags come in a variety of sizes and can also be used with couplers. If you also use piping bags for savory applications, it’s best to have a separate set for cake decorating to avoid any crossover scents.

Disposable paper baking cups can also be replaced with silicone cupcake liners for multiple uses. The silicone liners are brightly colored and help make your cupcakes look picture-perfect, but may not all come back to you if taken to a party or accidentally tossed in the trash after use. 

Materials

Many tools come in both plastic and metal choices, with the plastic tools typically being the less expensive option. 

Both metal and plastic piping tips will last you years if washed and stored properly, but each have their different advantages. Metal tips provide a sharper and cleaner piping pattern and usually come in a larger range of sizes and styles. If stored improperly, the tips or round body may be bent, making them slightly more difficult to use. Plastic tips will not bend easily, but often do not provide a crisp professional-looking piping pattern. Their sizes and styles are limited.

Spatulas and fondant hand tools also come in both metal and plastic choices. Metal or wood hand tools will last much longer than their plastic counterparts, but can be slightly heavier to use compared to the nearly weightless feeling of plastic hand tools. Some plastic fondant and gum paste tools also come in a wider variety of shapes to help you mold and texturize your projects. 

Additional Helpful Tools

While not absolutely necessary, there are a few more tools that will make your cake decorating projects easier and more enjoyable. 

A cake leveler is useful for those just starting out building cakes or for bakers who want a precision slice every time. While professional bakers use long serrated knives to slice their cakes into even layers, it takes practice to remove a cake top in one even motion by eye alone. A cake leveler looks a little bit like an archer’s bow or a large cheese wire, with a metal C-shaped handle that holds a cutting wire in tension. You simply pull the wire through your cake for a smooth, clean cut, which helps you to build your cake without the hassle of uneven layers.

A cake turntable will save you the stress of working around the sides of your cake, as the platter rotates on top of the stand bringing every side of the cake to you. Used in conjunction with a cake comb, you can have perfectly frosted cakes in minutes. Your hands and arms will thank you for saving them the extra stretching.

While some people build their cakes directly on a turntable, most people build their cakes on a cake board (placed on the turntable). A cake board is a circular piece of cardboard or foam, sometimes coated or covered with a colorful foil, that makes it easy to pick up and transport your cake with a little more support. Boards are available in a wide variety of sizes and chosen based on the size of the cake you’re making, usually allowing an inch or more of extra space between the cake and the edge of the board. For an 8-inch cake, you’ll want a 10-inch cake board for 1 inch of free space around the cake to work with. You will also purchase cake boxes based on the size of the board you’re using.

When it’s time to put all of your tools away, having a specific place to safely store them all is incredibly helpful. Kits that come with a storage case do the work for you, but if your kit doesn’t come with a specific case, consider buying a small toolbox from the art or hardware store that has different-sized storage sections in it. 

Juggling multiple bags of frosting doesn’t seem like it would be a problem until you actually have to do it. A piping bag stand, like the Wilton Cake Decorating Bag Holder, will keep your work area tidy and your different frostings all in one place to streamline your project. 

Price

An essential cake decorating kit is available for $20 or less, making a wide range of classic cake designs available without a large investment. If you’re just starting out, a kit is easier to purchase instead of guessing which tools to pick out individually. A kit that comes with a piping and frosting guide can also be helpful.

Most common cake decorating tools are inexpensive individually but can add up quickly when buying dozens of items at a time. Larger kits like the Wilton Ultimate Cake Decorating Tools Set save you shopping time and money since all of those tools sold individually would likely cost more than the bundled price. If your interest in cake decorating is expansive, a larger kit is absolutely worth the price.

Types of Cake Decorating Tools

Beginner Tools

A beginner set of cake decorating tools is a great place to start for those getting their hands dirty for the first time, or for younger bakers who want to explore baking as a hobby. Typically lower-priced, these kits are made with plastic tools, a small selection of metal or plastic piping tips, and a few disposable piping bags. Some may include a few additional tools like spatulas or cake combs to help you achieve satisfying results. 

Enthusiast & Home Baker Tools

A step up in quality, most baking and decorating tools fall into this category. Reasonably priced, professionals and home bakers alike stock up on multiple sets of piping tips and hand tools for both buttercream and fondant work. Stencils and leaf or petal cutter sets are still economically priced, but silicone molds and customized edible decorations can become more expensive. Silicone spatulas and whisks come in a variety of colors to match the color palette of your kitchen without sacrificing sturdiness.

Professional Tools

Professional tools tend to be heavier-duty, occasionally larger, and more expensive. At this level, most hand tools are metal with wooden or heavy-duty, heat-safe plastic handles. Brands like Ateco and Wilton provide a wider range of larger and more custom tools for decorating. In this category are also sturdier cake pans, ranging in size from 3 to 16 inches or larger. Once you’ve become the go-to birthday cake maker for family and friends, or you’re gearing up to make wedding cakes, it’s a good time to invest in this level of equipment. 

Brands

Wilton

Wilton cake tools have been a staple of creative home bakers for decades, providing character cake pans, tips, tools, chocolate molds, ingredients, food colors, and even cake decorating classes at craft supply stores before television shows made extreme cake decorating popular. As an authority in the baking industry, the very large line of Wilton tools are widely available and tailored to be easily used by home bakers and professionals alike. 

Riki’s Kingdom

Colorful baking and cooking kits are made specifically for kids’ small hands, including recipes to get cooking immediately. Each kit comes with actual kitchen tools, built for real cooking and baking projects. These all-inclusive tool kits range from $27 to $45.

Nordic Ware

Nordic Ware is known for its molded cake pans in beautiful designs, made with high-quality and long-lasting materials. Inventors of the original Bundt pan, decorative cakes have been the brand's signature for over 70 years. With a wide line of products that now includes attractive and sturdy baking and cooking tools, as well as kitchenware and professional baking equipment, Nordic Ware products are incredibly reliable at accessible prices. Most of the Nordic Ware products are also designed and manufactured in the U.S. 

Ateco

Ateco is a brand of professional baking and pastry supplies, although most of their commonly used products are readily available at kitchen and baking supply stores, and conveniently priced for anyone. Home bakers will find Ateco decorating sets, as well as round and shaped cutter sets, and the sturdy hand tools selection to be a huge convenience in the kitchen. When you’re ready to expand your set of decorating tools, Ateco offers professional tools to supplement your collection at reasonable prices. 

Vorcay

Exclusively sold online, VORCAY offers a massive selection of tools for an incredibly low price. The 188-piece Cake Decorating Set supplies you with everything you’d need for your first few projects except the cake itself. 

Maintenance

Some larger pieces included in kits may be machine-washable, but most of the smaller pieces should be washed by hand to avoid damage or getting lost in the dishwasher. Warm soapy water gets the job done, but if tools are especially oily or buttery, rinse and soak tips and tools in very hot water for 10 minutes to loosen the oils. 

Pastry tips will keep safe from damage in a small toolbox or case provided by the manufacturer. Make sure they are completely washed and dried before storing to avoid rusting. Reusable piping bags should be thoroughly washed inside out and left to air dry completely before storing to avoid molding. 

Growing Your Tool Kit

When you’ve mastered using your essential tool kit and want to tackle new skills, you may need to start buying tools individually. Experimentation is part of the fun, so choose sturdier versions of the tools you have and tools you may not have for different decorating techniques.

To really develop your decorating skills, you may graduate to luster dusts and metallic accents, or even invest in an airbrush for creative fondant cakes. If you’ve seen it done on TV or the internet, there are plenty of tools out there to help you accomplish it as well. 

Cake decorating supplies are more popular and accessible due to the rising trend of creative cakes. Colored fondants, custom silicone molds, and professional cake pans are all within your grasp. Just make sure you’ve got space to store them all once you start collecting them!

FAQs

What tool is used to spread icing on a cake?

There are a few different ways to spread icing on a cake, but the two most common ways are piping the frosting on with a pastry bag, or slathering it on with an offset spatula. When piped on, you have a few options. With a large round piping tip, or a piping bag with the tip cut off and no tip, you can apply the frosting to the cake starting from the base and circling the cake, moving up the cake with each band of frosting. Or you can apply the frosting to the outside of the cake, making a long zig-zag motion from the base to the top of the cake, all the way around the cake. You can also use a large flat icing tip, like the one found in the Wilton 39-piece cake decorating set, which applies frosting to your cake in large clean bands. Once the frosting’s on, you’ll smooth it out with an offset spatula or cake scraper. 

If you use an offset spatula to spread icing on your cake you can start by piling frosting on top of the cake, spreading it towards the edges, and then spreading it down the sides of the cake. You can also pick up frosting with the offset spatula and apply it directly to the sides of your cake, much like you’d apply spackle to a wall.

How do you keep a cake from crumbling when frosting?

Crumbs are inevitable when frosting a cake, but you can dramatically cut down on crumbs by stacking your cake to keep crumbs in, and applying a frosting crumb coat before the final layer of frosting. Before you stack your cake layers, you will need to level them to make sure your cake doesn’t lean or bulge. But slicing off the cake tops or dividing the layers opens you up to crumbs. The first/bottom cake layer should be situated with the bottom of the cake down, and the leveled cake top facing up. The top layer of the cake should be flipped, with the bottom of the cake round facing up and the leveled cake top facing down. That way all of the sliced-open sides of the cake are facing each other, and enclosed in the center of the cake. If your cake has three or more layers, all of the layers should be leveled, but the layers in the center can be used right side-up or upside-down as you like.

The next important step to keeping crumbs off of your cake is the frosting crumb coat. Once your cake is stacked, you’ll apply a thin layer of frosting to the outside of your cake, making sure to fill any holes, uneven layers, and covering any areas where crumbs may spread. Scrape off the excess frosting, creating an even cake surface, and then chill for at least 15 minutes to stiffen the frosting before applying the final layer of frosting. The cake at this point is called a “naked cake”, and is a popular style of its own. Chilling is the most important step in this process and cannot be skipped for an effective crumb coat. While your cake is chilling, make sure to clean away any cake crumbs in your workspace and on your turntable, to reduce the chance of crumbs making their way onto your cake. Do not reuse the frosting you used for the crumb coat if it has picked up any crumbs.

What is a baker's spatula?

We know, there are a lot of tools out there called “spatulas”, and many have a completely different purpose than the next spatula. You wouldn’t use a fish spatula to frost a cake, but a silicone mixing spatula is useful while mixing up cakes and frostings. But a baker’s spatula is another spatula entirely. Essentially, it’s a long, flat, metal spatula or “blade”, about an inch wide and eight inches long. It is not sharp, and typically has a rounded tip. There are larger and smaller versions, and all of them are useful when baking. The metal spatula itself is available as a straight spatula, or an “offset” spatula, where the metal blade extends from the handle, and then steps down to create an offset blade that is lower than the handle. Many people find the offset spatulas easier to handle on the flat surfaces of a cake without dragging their knuckles through the frosting. The handles are typically made of food safe plastic or wood.

What is the easiest piping tip to use?

A star-shaped piping tip is usually the first tip for beginner decorators to master. The tip is great for frosting cupcakes, making rosettes, creating rope and decorative borders, and piping decorative starbursts. A round tip seems simple to use, but can make minor piping mistakes more apparent because of its simpler shape, whereas the star tip easily hides small mistakes with its more complex pattern.

What can I use instead of a piping bag?

It’s bound to happen to you at some point. You thought you had everything you needed to frost your cake, but when you pull all of your tools out you realize you’ve run out of piping bags. The cake store closed an hour ago and you need a backup plan. In this case, you’re going to reach for the largest and sturdiest plastic resealable freezer bag you’ve got. If piping without a tip, you’re going to choose which of the two bottom edges is going to be the “tip” of your bag, fill the bag with frosting, gather the rest of the bag up around the frosting, and tie it off just as you would a regular piping bag. Snip the tip off the corner of the freezer bag and start piping. You can also fit a piping tip into the corner of the freezer bag before filling it with frosting, just make sure to cut the bag only as much as it needs to to allow the tip through, and know that the tip will never sit in the freezer bag as snugly as it will a piping bag, so some frosting may come out of the sides of the tip. It doesn’t hurt to put a piece of tape around the opening to help seal up the freezer bag and the piping tip.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Karen Resta is a writer specializing in food culture and history, cooking, pastries, and restaurants. She's also a former pastry chef and has traveled to Budapest, Kyiv, and Paris during their Fashion Weeks as a photographer and writer, always finding the best authentic pastries along the way. She now spends a lot of her free time baking at home and recommends quality within your given budget. Having the right tools available and knowing how to use them well (it can take practice, like anything else) makes all the difference, and she curated this list with that in mind.

Jenny Kellerhals is a professional pastry chef with extensive experience using professional and household tools. Jenny is based in Queens, New York, and thinks there are few things as indulgent as a moist chocolate cake covered in a rich chocolate ganache.