Decorating cakes is an art that requires some degree of skill. Cake decoration kit education and training can help you to design masterpieces that you never dreamed you could accomplish. No matter whether you are decorating cakes for fun or for pay, using kits for cake decorating is key to your craft. With an array of attachments and designs, cake decorations kits can be confusing without some additional instruction.

Whether you are a hands-on learner or learn better by doing your own research, there are resources out there for you. Consider the following when looking to further your cake decoration kit education and training:

1. Numerous resources can be found online to learn about how to utilize cake decorating kits.

2. Cake decorating classes can offer a collaboration of ideas and skills.

3. Specialized publications can allow you to keep up with future cake decoration kits education and training.

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

Find online tutorials about cake decorating kits

Following step-by-step instruction or watching a video may be just what you need to get a jump start on using professional cake decoration kits. There are a wide variety of tools that appeal to every learner that you can find online to get your creative juices flowing.

I recommend: Old Recipe Book gives online instructions on how to use each instrument in your cake kits. You can find online tutorials and other cake decoration kit education and training explanations at Do-It-101.

Take classes on how to use professional cake decorating kits

If you learn better with hands-on instruction, taking an on-site class may be your ticket to elaborate designs. Hands-on classes will help you expand on what knowledge about cake kits you may already have and put it to use with industry experts who can help you to hone your skills.

I recommend: Wilton, a leader in manufacturing cake decorations supplies, outlines its cake decoration courses. The French Culinary Institute offers cake decorating as a part of their curriculum.

Subscribe to publications that are dedicated to cake decor supplies

Specialized publications will help you to keep up with new innovations and techniques in the cake decorating world. Hearing from other professionals or hobbyists may continue to encourage you to learn about the best ways to use cake decorating kits.

I recommend: The American Cake Decorating Magazine is a great resource for learning about professional cake decorating supplies and how to use them for your creations. Cake Craft & Decoration offers both instruction using cake decorations kits and sample projects to its subscribers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Try perfecting one type of cake decoration kit before moving on to another. For example, fully learning how to use a wedding cake decorating kit before trying your hand at birthday cake decorating kits may help you to develop transferable skills that will make you more successful in the end and avoid unnecessary frustration.
• •  Just as you can transfer the skills you learn from using one cake decorating kit to the design of another tasty creation, you can also use the tools in one cake kit for other designs. Cake decoration kit education and training will help you to become more creative in design as well as application of your skills.

Whether you're just starting a small baking business or need to expand your decorating tools for home or business use, a cake decoration kit is an easy way to get a range of decorating tools at a bargain price. You can buy cake decoration kits at most cookware or craft stores, or you can buy online from a number of specialty baking sites.

When searching for cake decorations, supplies for baking may be available either in beginner or starter kits or professional cake decorating kits. If you're buying your first cake decoration kit, look for additional instructional books for ideas, tips and other support as you begin to use your cake decor supplies.

When shopping for cake kits, consider the following options:

1. Look for beginner cake decorating kits for a basic set of tools;

2. Explore deluxe and specialty kits for more involved projects;

3. Shop for professional tools and bake ware to augment your decorating supplies.

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

Get a range of basic tools with beginner cake kits

Cake decorating kits typically come in a variety of sizes, with smaller piece sets for beginner kits and larger piece sets for more advanced cake decorating. A good basic set will include icing pouches and tips, food colors, stencils and other tools such as pans or spatulas.

I recommend: The Betty Crocker cake decoration kit includes a bargain 100-piece set with stencils and icing tips. Candyland Crafts sells kits at various levels from 18 to 100 pieces, which include icing bags and different sets of tips, and offers instructional books for sale separately.

Get specialty or deluxe cake decorating kits for special occasions

Kits for cake decorating also come with a number of decorating purposes in mind. You can buy a deluxe cake decoration kit with all the tools to complete your first custom project, or special-occasion kits such as themed birthday cake decorating kits that give you everything you need for a single cake decoration theme.

I recommend: Kitchen Krafts offers a deluxe cake decoration kit includes icing tips and baking tools, colors and an instructional booklet for how to mix icing colors for beginner quick start. The Baking Shop sells inclusive kits for specific holidays or occasions such as baby shower cakes or American flag cakes.

Get professional cake decorating kits and supplies beyond the basics

If you already have the basic cake decorations, supplies to bring your baking tools to the professional level are easy to find online from specialty cooking and baking retailers. Professional baking supplies include a wider range of specialty icing tips, more precise tools such as color syringes and tools for working with fondant icing, which is popular in professional baking.

I recommend: The Ultimate Baker sells a range of professional cake decorating kits for any purpose, including color pens, specialty tips, food colors or color syringes. Confectioner's Wares offers a range of professional baking and decorating products, including icing tip sets and food coloring sets, as well as tools for working with fondant.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're looking for professional cake decorating kits and having trouble finding an all-inclusive kit, consider buying a large beginner set and supplementing with a smaller kit of professional tools. Because professional tools are designed for experienced bakers, inclusive professional sets are hard to find, but easy to assemble yourself with several small kits.

Decorating a baked and cooled cake can be a fruitful and beautiful business. Whether you're marketing the goods for a large, nationally accredited business or a smaller company that perhaps you own, knowing the key terms to cake decorating kits can get your creative juices flowing in no time. You can make frilly flowers, decorative designs or fondant-covered masterpieces all with specific baking items. Keep the important terms below in mind when searching for specific tools and edible elements.

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

Gum paste

This sugar paste dough has a gum stiffening agent that makes it ideal for making handmade flowers or other three-dimensional decorations. This material dries hard and breaks easily, but can last as decorative elements.

I recommend: The Knot, which is one of the most-visited wedding websites, lists common wedding cake terms, including gum paste.

Piping techniques

These are the decorative details that enhance a cake. Many professionals use a pastry bag capped off with various metal tips, which spew forth different shapes and designs when the icing is added. Some popular forms are leaves, borders, basketweave patterns and flowers.

I recommend: Old Recipe Book lists the top six decorating designs created with the piping techniques.

Food coloring

Tinting frosting can provide more options for decorating cakes. Every colored frosting begins with white, and then you can add different amounts of food coloring with a food dropper or toothpick. It's best to mix enough of one color, as it is difficult to match the exact shade if you need more.

I recommend: Check out Wilton Industries and its description of food coloring.

Spatulas

This broad, flat utensil resembles the regular spatula used for everyday kitchen cooking. But the cake decorator kit spatula is helpful for multiple tasks in cake decorating.

I recommend: Wren's Cottage prides itself on being an online resource for the art of cake decorating.

Fondant

This sweet, elastic icing is made out of sugar, gelatin and corn syrup. Once draped over cakes, it provides a smooth surface on which you can place decorative elements. One aspect to keep in mind with fondant is that it should not be placed in a refrigerator, as it ruins the texture.

I recommend: Baking 911 provides a detailed explanation about fondant and how it compares to other toppings.

Buttercream icing

There are several different types of icing, and the most popular choice is buttercream. As a versatile and best-tasting icing, buttercream is smooth and creamy; it allows decorative elements to maintain their firmness. Made with a combination of sugar, butter and flavorings, buttercream icing is sometimes used for the filling, but it can melt in extreme heat.

I recommend: Check out the buttercream icing description used by Pattycakes Cake Decorating and Candy Supplies.

Consider buying a party cake decoration kit if you own a bakery or you just want to supply your employees with celebratory cakes you've decorated yourself. These kits make doing fancy decorating a lot easier and will have the special requests rolling in in no time.

Once you start looking for cake decor supplies, you will notice just how many cake decorating kits are available. It's easier to sort through them and determine the ones you want if you divide them into these three general cake decoration kit types and styles:

1. Children's cake decoration kits that contain some of their favorite characters;

2. Wedding cake decoration kits you can use to help people celebrate this milestone event;

3. General cake decorating kits that are good for almost any cake-requiring occasion.

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

Look at cake decor supplies for children's character cakes

There are few people that get more excited about cakes than children, which makes kids' cake kits a good investment. Kits that feature cartoon characters are very popular and are sure to get rave reviews and repeat orders.

I recommend: PastryWiz sells lots of character cake kits, including ones that feature Garfield, Bratz and Curious George. Party World has Thomas the Tank Engine, Pooh, the Little Mermaid and several more. Each kit is made to work with a standard round or sheet cake.

Consider professional cake decorating kits for wedding cakes

If you want to increase your profit margin, buy cake decoration kits for wedding cakes. These cakes often sell for hundreds of dollars and can help build a bakery business' reputation. Since wedding cakes are traditionally layer cakes, these kits come with pillars and stands for the tiers to help you easily make a classy cake.

I recommend: Look at Pfeil & Holing's wedding cake kits, which feature everything you need from tiers to toppers to make for an excellent cake presentation. Also look at A Birthday Place's wedding cake decorating kit, which comes with all of the above plus decorating cards, which help you determine how to ice your cake to suit the accessories.

Check out more general kits for cake decorating

General kits are your best bet if you want cake decor supplies just for the occasional cake to serve at an office function, or you would like tools you can use on most any confection you'd like to sell. These kits don't contain any specific decorations. Instead, they have frosting tips and other supplies to help you create your own design.

I recommend: Look at AsSeenOnTV's Betty Crocker cake decorating kit. It has 100 pieces, including tips, icing bags and stencils and comes in a plastic box to keep everything together. Once you've mastered the basic kit, you can try Kitchen Krafts' deluxe kit, which includes icing dyes, a cake spatula and fancy metal tips. You can use either of these kits in conjunction with the kids' cake or wedding kits to make your own letters, leaves and flowers.