Cake Decorating Tips And Tricks

List of Cake Decorating Tools & Materials

14 Tools & Materials Every Cake Decorator Should Have

Get my free e-book guide on the 14 most useful tools and materials I think all cake decorators should have.

This is a list of tools and materials that Serdar Yener uses to decorate cakes. We will be adding more tools and materials to this list over time.
Please note: Some of the items below contain affiliate links to purchase them online.

An airbrush is one of the most essential tools a cake decorator can have. Being equipped with an airbrush opens a world of creative possibilities for your cake decorating projects.

Hand Towels

Ensure fibers are not loose.

It is always recommended to have both a wet towel and a dry towel for just about any cake decorating project. Doing this helps re-enforce a 'Clean as you go' culture that ultimately results in cleaner artwork.

Used for:

Cleaning & Storing

This can also be called Cling wrap (UK), cling film or glad wrap (AU). In the world of cake decorating, plastic wrap can be very useful for a lot of different purposes. For example, when carving 3D cakes, it can be used to further emphasise contours by allowing indentations with an object.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Cleaning & Storing
Layering, Masking & Carving

Available in bags, sheets or rolls, cellophane has a lot of convenient purposes. For Chef Yener, one of the most common uses for cellophane is to make piping bags.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Piping
Cleaning & Storing

Aluminium Foil Shop Online

Thicker is preferred.

Also spelled Aluminum, this thin metal sheet has many uses. Apart from the general purpose of storing food, Aluminium foil can also be used to make moulds for realistic chocolate rocks (for example).

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Cleaning & Storing

Set of Knives Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Cutting
Layering, Masking & Carving

Preferably large, stable and sharp.

A pizza cutter (or pizza wheel) can be used to cut shapes out of rolled fondant, pastillage or modelling chocolate.

Modelling Tools Shop Online

Minimum of 8 pieces recommended.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding

Marzipan Knife Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Cutting

Powder Shaker Shop Online

Preferably with small holes.

Also called an icing duster, it can be used to easily sift fine powders such as icing sugar, cocoa powder, corn starch or flour etc.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Rolling

Preferably with no scratches or dents.

Oil Cooking Spray Shop Online

Colour should be as light as possible to prevent discolouration in the fondant or pastillage.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Rolling
Baking

Set of Scissors Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Cutting

Round Nozzle Set Shop Online

Small Brush in Water

Ensure that brush bristles are not loose.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Digital Scale

Preferably with 1 gram increments.

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Styrofoam Block Shop Online

If cutting from a larger piece, cut with a very sharp blade to prevent loose bits of styrofoam floating around. Alternatively you can use a foam cutter (very hot wire) to cut styrofoam to size.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Set of Brushes Shop Online

Used for:

Painting
Gluing, Joining & Holding

A piece of wood coated with fabric and temporarily covered with cellophane to keep fabric clean until the cake is complete. For more information, watch our tutorial on how to cover a cake board with fabric .

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Confectioners Varnish Shop Online

Used for:

Accessorising & Enhancing

Almond Dragees Shop Online

Used for:

Accessorising & Enhancing

Liquid Food Colours Shop Online

Primarily used for airbrushing.

Thin Cardboard

A thin card board like the ones that make a white cake box, a post card or a business card.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding

Flat Tray

A strong flat tray that doesn't bend which is about 2mm or 3mm thick. Can be aluminium or plastic. Should be light in weight.

Used for:

Cleaning & Storing
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Chef's Blow Torch Shop Online

Offers a variety of uses including caramelizing sugars, browning meringue or creme brule. Serdar mainly uses it for Isomalt work.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Baking
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Microwave Oven Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Latex Disposable Gloves Shop Online

Disposable food safe thin latex gloves.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Cleaning & Storing

Gel Food Colours Shop Online

Chocolate Melting Pot Shop Online

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

Icing Spatula Set Shop Online

Used for:

Layering, Masking & Carving

Needle or Pin

Serdar often uses a needle or a pin to remove air bubbles from underneath the fondant when coating a cake. They can also be used to pick up very small objects when decorating.

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Rolling
Cutting
Accessorising & Enhancing

Kitchen Thermometer Shop Online

Used for:

Baking
Measuring & Constructing

Chocolate Egg Mold Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Baking

Water Spray Bottle

Used for:

Painting
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Disposable Pastry Bags Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding

Disposable Pie Pans Shop Online

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding
Baking

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Rubber Bands

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

Fondant Smoother Shop Online

Used for:

Accessorising & Enhancing

Measuring Tape Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Flexible Scraper Shop Online

Used for:

Baking
Layering, Masking & Carving

Stainless Steel Scraper Shop Online

Used for:

Baking
Cleaning & Storing

Set of Scrapers

Threaded Rod (8mm) Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Hexagonal Nut (8mm) Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Milk Board Circles Shop Online

Very thin cardboard that is poly coated on both sides.

Used for:

Cleaning & Storing
Layering, Masking & Carving

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

Edible Marker Pens Shop Online

Set of Pliers Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Round Cutter Set Shop Online

Aluminium Wire Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

A4 Paper

Ribbed Rolling Pin Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Arc Welding Kit Shop Online

Optional depending on whether you are building the internal construction yourself. Here's some helpful video's if you want to weld the construction yourself.

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Set of Cutlery

Used for:

Modelling & Moulding

Long Tweezers Shop Online

Long tweezers are recommended to use when joining small sugar parts.

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

A4 Plastic Sleeves Shop Online

Also known as sheet protectors. Very useful for piping.

Basic Stationary

Pencil, eraser, ruler, sharpener etc.

Corrugated Cardboard

Great for placing sugar items to dry. Easy to move around.

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

Lollipop Sticks Shop Online

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

A power drill along with a set of drill bits and screwdriving bits. Preferably cordless.

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Used to cut threaded rod.

Used to cut wood in different shapes.

Used for:

Gluing, Joining & Holding

Steel Sharpening Rod Shop Online

Used to find the centre of the cake through the base/board.

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Adjustable Wrench Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing
Gluing, Joining & Holding

Safety Glasses Shop Online

Used for:

Measuring & Constructing

Particulate Respirator Shop Online

Used to protect lungs from sawdust and other hazardous particles.

Used for:

Cutting
Measuring & Constructing

Often used to create pillars between cake tiers. Can also be used within the cake to provide extra internal support. Serdar often uses a PVC pipe to roll fondant.

Used for: