Wilton Blog - Ideas from Wilton

We all have certain kitchen tools and gadgets that we can’t live without, right? They make life in the kitchen easier and more fun. Some of my favorite cake decorating tools have been tips passed on by my friends and colleagues. We can all learn something by sharing our own personal faves!

My go-to tool for icing perfect cakes with super-straight sides is a little out of the ordinary, but it is truly a lifesaver! After I smooth the top and slather icing around the sides, I use the flat side of a Baker’s Blade to smooth out the excess. Keeping it at a steady 90° angle to the cake is easy because I can lightly rest the edge of the tool against the turntable while I spin it all the way around. A couple of complete turns around the cake, and it’s good to go! Just remember to use the flat side of the Baker’s Blade – the ruled side will leave fine lines all the way around it.

Parchment triangles are another can’t-live-without product. Once you learn to make that cone, they are a breeze to put together. I especially love them for piping that doesn’t require a tip, like handwriting. Cutting a tiny hole in the tip of a parchment bag allows for superfine cursive or very small printing, and I don’t have to clean an extra tip, or a piping bag. Double win!

My Perfect Height™ Rolling Pin gets a ton of use, too. Fondant and gum paste are my decorating media of choice, probably because I can’t draw at all! Instead of figure piping, I make cool designs by rolling out colored fondant and using cookie cutters or special fondant cutters. For a really special cake, I’ll even try my hand at gum paste flowers. No matter what kinds of decorations I’m making though, my Perfect Height™ Rolling Pin gets me off to a smooth start. It rolls over fondant, gum paste, and even modeling chocolate without cracking or tearing, and if you need a little help getting it perfectly level, the purple rings will guide you.

So, there’s a peek into my toolbox. What’s in yours?

Beth is the Culinary Specialist in the test kitchen at Wilton. She spends her days examining Wilton products to make sure that they are up to par, helping refine ideas for new Wilton items, and developing fun and simple recipes. The recipes on all Wilton bakeware and Wilton.com originate in the test kitchen, and it’s Beth’s favorite part of the job. Before joining Wilton, Beth worked as a cake decorator and pastry chef. She’s baked, decorated, and delivered hundreds of wedding and birthday cakes, and loves the idea that in some small way, her creations have played a role in so many celebrations. When she’s not in the test kitchen, you can find Beth cooking and baking for her friends and family, and dining out all over Chicago.