Professional cake decorating equipment makes innovative decorations a reality. Airbrushing equipment, unique icing tips and sculpting tools are just a few of the many tools to create inventive cake designs. The cake decorator that can offer the latest designs and styles for special occasions must have the right supplies. Unique sculpting techniques, airbrushing and vivid color combinations are examples of new innovations in cake decorating. The cake decorator who has cake equipment or tools to sculpt or airbrush a cake attracts new business.

Find supplies for your cake decorating business to deliver simple cakes or elaborate designs. With flavored fondant and cake decorating tools such as pedestals, plastic or metal icing tips are fundamental supplies for cake decorating. Utilize professional bakery tools such as turntables and tool caddies to make your decorating easier. The cake decorating industry is constantly changing. Use the following information to purchase the supplies for cake decorating equipment necessary to stay competitive.

1. Locate current and pioneering cake equipment from trusted vendors.

2. Find cake decorating supplies that are affordable yet quality equipment.

3. Order in bulk to save on your cake decorating supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the latest cake decorating equipment at trusted vendors

Locate your bakery decorating supplies at vendors that have a trusted name in the business. A dealer that has a notable name usually has years of experience and expertise in locating all of your cake decorating needs.

I recommend: Wilton is a famous name brand product supplier in the cake decorating industry. Find most of what you need through their vendor. Oasis Supply carries a multitude of various manufacturers. Find all of your name brand supplies at their store.

Comparison shop and locate specials on bakery decorating supplies

Get the most inexpensive equipment while maintaining the quality your customers have grown to expect. You don't have to pay exorbitant prices on cake decorating tools to get quality products. Comparison shop for the discount deals without losing superior product quality.

I recommend: Kitchen Krafts has free shipping on all of their orders and has new product offerings at discount prices. Able Kitchen also has free shipping on orders over $195 and their pages set up by price so you can view within your budget.

Purchase supplies for cake decorating equipment in bulk

Buy your professional cake decorating supplies in multiple quantities to save on shipping and handling costs. Receive many of your supplies at one time to also save time on shopping and browsing equipment. Focus your time on knowledge of new designs rather than monotonous searching.

I recommend: Get bulk orders and live phone help with Lionsdeal. They even offer next day delivery and have over 50,000 items in stock to find what you need. Pattycakes is the largest distributor of hard-to-find cake decorating equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make a list of the cake decorating supplies you need before shopping to save time.

Providing your customers with decorated cakes, cookies and other pastries increases your niche in the bakery market, but to recognize a financial payoff, your production level must exceed the cost of your equipment and labor charges. Wedding cakes comprise the largest niche in cake decorating and require the use of professional bakery tools and a large assortment of cake decorating supplies.

Whether you’re considering starting a cake decorating business or expanding an existing bakery to include cake decoration, you’ll need to address:

1. The different kinds of cake decorating tools and their use.
2. The ability to create special effects that become your signature style.
3. Locating professional cake decorating suppliers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know your way around the different types of cake equipment

Starting out in the cake decorating business demands a working knowledge of the different kinds of cake decorating tools. Depending upon your desired production level, whether you choose to offer a wide selection of custom cake decorating techniques or a limited array of specialties, knowing your tools will make the process easier.

I recommend: Wilton, arguably the leader in the manufacture of a wide assortment of cake decorating supplies, also provides instructional courses. Ateco offers cake decorating tools to professional bakers.

Purchase professional bakery tools to create a signature style

Creating your own style of cake decorating techniques will set you apart from your competitors. With specialty cake decorating equipment, designed to impart a distinctive flair, you can develop product visibility through consistency.

I recommend: Professional bakery tools include equipment that provides a solid cake foundation to begin the decorating process. Agbay offers an award-winning cake leveler, guaranteed to produce consistently flat layers. SugarVeil produces intricate delicacies with an air powered icing dispenser for easy decorating.

Buy the right cake decorating tools for the job

The general rule of business is that the investment in needed tools should pay for itself within a set period, depending upon the cost and projected profit. This assumes that the bakery decorating supplies you purchase reduces labor hours and increases the product turnaround time. When you've determined that investing in new equipment will benefit your business, look for cake decorating supplies online.

I recommend: Many cake decorating supplies are available on the Internet from cake decorating suppliers. Depending upon your legal business status, you may qualify for a wholesale account. For a large bakery facility, consider major suppliers of baking, storage and production and refrigeration equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Train employees in one specialty of cake decorating to minimize training hours if your bakery is large enough to hire separate decorators.
• •  Limit your custom cake decorating techniques to insure consistent quality in your products.
• •  Subscribe to the International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) for the latest in new equipment and cake decorating techniques.

Gain industry knowledge of the latest innovations in cake decorating. Keep your cake designs fresh by improving your skill set. Cake decorating requires the right professional cake decorating supplies and skills. Update the equipment to decorate cake and expand the option to provide customers with a range of modern cake designs. As you learn new cake decorating techniques, it offers the opportunity for new customers and repeat business.

Attend a cake decorating program at one of many culinary institutes. Expand your education about using cake decorating tools and bakery decorating supplies. Taking different classes and workshops on cake decorating can inspire new ideas. Learn to use innovative equipment for cake decorating such as sculpting tools and airbrushing. The new skills can help build your reputation and cake decorating business.

1. Attend schools that offer courses on cake decorating.

2. Grow business and your customer base with the latest cake decorating techniques.

3. Learn about various cake decorating equipment and bakery supplies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate schools that offer basic techniques on using cake decorating equipment

Find schools that offers basic and advanced training in cake decorating equipment. The cake decorating industry has grown to encompass a group of customers that expect the very best. Know the basic techniques and equipment to decorate cake.

I recommend: Wilton has a school that offers all types of classes from master techniques to specialized programs. The French Culinary School offers a cake decorating program you can attend in New York City. Kendall College in Chicago offers certificate and degree programs in Baking and Pastry.

Attend classes to explore different uses of professional bakery tools

Attend workshops that have new and innovative ways to utilize cake decorating equipment. Build skills on the use of your existing cake equipment and cake decorating tools. Workshops and classes can give you new insight on cake decorating skills and designs.

I recommend: Michael's offers many different classes in cake decorating from basic skills to advanced. Marivis Sugarcraft Boutique has classes and seminars featuring different aspects of decorating cakes. Universal Class is an online course in cake decorating which also provides continuing education credits.

Gain new skills by using cake decorating equipment

Learn about the many types of cake decorating equipment. Bakery supplies range from a cake decorating stand to the latest cake decorating tips and icing bags. Use your new skills in cake decorating to offer your customers the cake designs they desire for special occasions.

I recommend: Suite 101.com has complete bakery and cake decorating information for creating cakes. Sugarcraft lists step-by-step lessons on fundamental techniques and cake decorating supplies for over 80 cake ideas.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Inquire with vendors about new products and techniques using cake decorating equipment.

To create an array of cake and cupcake designs to celebrate occasions from weddings to birthdays to holidays, you’ll need the right cake decorating equipment to get the job done. By keeping your knowledge of cake decorating equipment current, you’ll ensure you’re ordering the proper tools from wholesalers or bakery supply vendors. These tools will help you and your staff push the envelope when it comes to designing eye-catching looks with fondant, buttercream frostings and assorted condiments.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Icing dispenser

When decorating a high volume of cakes, an icing dispenser helps create intricate looks with less effort and mess. Most tools allow you to work with materials from icing to chocolate, and feature additional modules to work with sugar, batter and other condiments.

I recommend: SugarVeil offers details and cake decorating tips for its air-powered, hand-held icing dispenser.

Offset spatulas

Also handy for lifting small baked goods like cupcakes from baking trays, offset spatulas are ideal for spreading icing to create a pristine surface for cake decorations. With their long, bent blades, the spatulas make it easy to smooth soft frosting with less hand fatigue.

I recommend: See a selection of offset spatulas and a discussion of their possible uses through Fine Cooking.

Decorating combs

Also available in triangle and square versions, decorating combs make it simple to create textured looks in buttercream frostings. Find the edge design to suit the cake you're decorating and lightly drag the tool, also called a frosting comb, through the frosting to add ridges or waves.

I recommend: See decorating combs and decorating triangles and find tips on using them to create custom frosting looks through Wilton.

Cake leveler

A cake leveler allows you to smooth uneven cakes and create multiple layers with a single cut. The tool features measurement guides and blades that make it easy to create intricate layer cakes or tortes.

I recommend: Check out a video and description of cake levelers through the website of Agbay Products.

Silicone molds

Sculpting fondant icing to create detailed cake decorations is easy with silicone molds that allow bakers to simply press in the icing for quick custom looks. The easy release molds greatly reduce decorating time by eliminating the need to hand craft each flower or border.

I recommend: View a selection or silicone molds through Kitchen Krafts. Designs include pearl strands, drops, ropes and flowers, for example.

Cake projector

If your baking team is creating custom cake designs from client photos, for example, a cake projector allows you to impose the image on the surface to assist the replication. The projection can help with frosted designs or even detailed paintings on fondant.

I recommend: See illustrations and get additional details on cake projectors through The Bakers Kitchen.

Fondant

This cooked concoction of water, sugar, and corn syrup can be sculpted, poured over petits fours, or colored and rolled out to form a firm cake topping. It is essential to most cake bakers and decorators.

I recommend: Learn more about the three main kinds of fondant at Baking 911.