Hi, I’m Carol, an award-winning cake decorator and the creator of the award winning Sharp Edge Smoother tool. I have spent years building my cake business and collecting the cake decorating tools that help me achieve professional results.
Like many cake decorators around the world, I have lots and lots of cake equipment and decorating tools. Some are tucked away in a cupboard and only come out now and again, where as others are always at arm’s reach. In this cake hints and tips post, I will show you my 15 cake decorating tools that I cannot do without and explain why.
Whether you are a hobby baker or run a cake business, there are so many cake decorating tools on the market that it can be hard to decide which ones to buy. Being a cake decorator can be an expensive hobby, and if you take the step into running a cake business you will need some basic tools to get you started.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be this: always buy branded. Unbranded or counterfeit tools often break easily and may not even be food safe.
My Essential Cake Decorating Tools at a Glance
- Pasta Roller
- Cake Decorating Brushes
- Rolling Pin
- Stainless Steel Ball Tools
- Flower Foam Pad
- Texture Mats
- Pliers & Wire Cutters
- Scrubbing Brush
- Modelling Knife Tool
- Sharp Edge Smoother
- Cake Scrapers
- Paint Palettes
- Palette Knives
- Multi Circle Cutter
- Arkon Mount
Take Your Cakes to the Next Level with These Top Cake Decorating Tools
When I first had the idea about writing this post, I imagined that I’d have around 5 of my favourite tools to talk about. When I eventually put pen to paper, the list kept growing as I kept thinking ‘I can’t do without that either.’ So let’s get started.
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1. Pasta Roller to Get Your Sugarpaste Super Thin – One of my most used Cake Decorating Tools!
Ok, I know it’s not a cake decorating tool but it is an important piece of my cake equipment. I have had this pasta roller for around 10 years and I wish I had it longer! This small gadget is brilliant for getting flower paste super thin as well as sugarpaste especially for ruffles.
I would definitely recommend getting one of these, it will save you so much time rolling paste! They cost around £50 for an electric one (I’ll add links at the end of the post)
🔗 Here’s where you can buy it Electric Pasta Roller
2. Cake Decorating Brushes
How can a pot full of brushes be a cake decorating tool I cannot do without? The longer you make cakes, you will realise that a small selection of brushes won’t do all the jobs. You’ll need a couple sized brushes for gluing, as a normal sized one won’t be able to get to those tricky places. I have a good selection for painting, gluing and dusting.
There’s no need to buy expensive ones as you can often find a good bargain set in your craft store or even the pound shop.
3. Rolling pin for Fondant & Sugarpaste
I remember when I first started out making cakes and my very first rolling pin was a marble one. It wasn’t very big and I can’t even remember what happened to it. Anyway as you can see I now use a large PME one which is 20″ and a good weight too. The advantage of having a heavier rolling pin to a light one, is that you’ll roll the paste out quicker.
It’s a good idea to also have a smaller one for the smaller jobs that you’ll get to work on.
4. Stainless steel Ball tools
If some of you make lots of sugar flowers you will no doubt have a ball tool or two. When I first started out I had (and still do) the plastic one from FMM. As you go along your cake journey you will find out which cake decorating tools work best. The metal ball tools are heavier than the plastic ones therefore making it easier and quicker when flower making.
The set I have are from Purple Cupcakes and have been on the market for some years. I couldn’t be without these for sure.
5. Flower foam pad
Something else that I use a lot especially when it comes to making flowers. I use them for all sorts, shaping petals, ruffles and rolling bits n bobs. You can get different makes as well as sizes and don’t cost much. Again these are from Purple Cupcakes.
6. Stone/Textile texture mat
[This texture mat is one of many that I have got from Rachel of The Old Piping Bag I simply love it. It is one of the most used and I’ve created so many looks with it, its also saves me time. To me it looks like soft, fluffy wool which is perfect for clouds as you can see in the picture above.
7. Pliers and wire cutters
Ok I’ve slipped two items into one, I couldn’t help it. Lots of my tools aren’t labelled under ‘cake decorating tools’ however I use these a lot when making sugar flowers. The wire cutters are great for cutting florist wire and the pliers are great at holding the flowers when positioning onto cakes.
8. Scrubbing Brush
Now you’re probably thinking, why is a scrubbing brush in my ’15 cake decorating tools that I cannot do without’? This household object is brilliant for creating textures. The brush is a hard bristled plastic one that I got from a local store and didn’t cost much. I use it mainly for creating effects on cake boards which you can see in the pictures below. It’s also great for sand, mud and even the texture on Teddies.
9. Little white knife tool
This little white knife is most probably one of my most used cake decorating tools when I’m making models. I can honestly say, it’s brilliant and I have been known to have a paddy if I can’t find it! (Hubby will verify this!) I use it for modelling, smoothing out creases as well as creating textures.
It is part of a set that I have had for years that I saw advertised in one of Jan Clement-May modelling books. You can get the set now from Squires Kitchen and it costs around £16 (some other fab tools in it too!
The cream coloured one is a FMM knife & scriber tool – the closest thing to the white one.
10. Sharp Edge Smoother
Most of you reading this will know that I developed the Sharp Edge Smoother and there is no way that I could do without this, EVER! We all have favourite cake decorating tools and this is mine. It helps me achieve those super sharp edges and smooth vertical sides in minutes, saving me so much time.
This tool was developed after years of working with fondant in my professional cake studio.
Over the years, I’ve learned that while the right tool makes a huge difference, sharp edges also come down to technique, timing, and finishing methods. I’ve pulled together everything I’ve learned about sharp cake edges, including videos and tips, into one place for anyone wanting to improve their results.
11. Cake scrapers
As you can see below I have a couple of cake scrapers. The metal one is from Fabricake Sugarcraft Ltd that was in our goodie bag at the Cake Masters Awards night. I love it, it’s taller than most metal ones and not too heavy either.
The clear one came in a set of two, a short and tall one which is perfect for those extra deep cakes.
12. Paint Palettes
These paint palettes are in my 15 cake decorating tools that I cannot do without as they are a godsend. Like most of my cake decorating tools I’ve had them for years, in fact I have around 6 of them. Obviously they are great for when it comes to painting, (luckily not much of that happens here as I’m rubbish). I use them loads when I’m making sugar flowers. They are great for shaping the smaller flowers and for when it comes to making petals for the larger flowers.
I would highly recommend getting some of these and you can pick them up for around £1 – £2.I would highly recommend getting some of these and you can pick them up for around £1 – £2.
13. Palette knives
Having different sized palette knives is a must for any cake decorator and I certainly wouldn’t be without these for sure. The tiny I mainly use when making flowers as it’s perfect for flipping the petals over without damaging them. The other two I use with buttercream and ganache, you can never have enough of these.
14. Multi circle cutter – Ezi ruffle cutter
I wish I had one of these years ago as when it comes to making ruffles this is the tool you need. Gone are the days that I’ll spend hours (and I mean hours!) making ruffles. I can now whip up hundreds of ruffles using this multi cutter, I think I’d cry if I lost it. If you would like more information on the Ezi Ruffle Multi cutter please click HERE
15. Arkon Mount
Yes I know it’s not exactly a cake decorating tool or a piece of cake equipment but I love it. to be honest, if this went missing I would honestly miss it. It’s a great piece of equipment to have especially if you do any filming. I teach online and use it every time as it will hold both my ipad and mobile phone. When I’m not filming this is where I put them, it means I can talk hands free and they don’t get covered in icing sugar. I do hope you have enjoyed reading about the 15 cake decorating tools I cannot do without. The list could have been longer as I have so many great cake decorating tools. Maybe I’ll do a post another time on them.
Final Thoughts
Cake decorating doesn’t have to mean buying every tool on the market. Over the years, I’ve found that a small collection of reliable, well-used tools makes the biggest difference when creating professional cakes.
Whether you are just starting your cake journey or already run a cake business, investing in quality cake decorating tools can save time, improve consistency and help you achieve cleaner, more professional results.
If you’d like to learn more techniques and see how I use many of these tools in real projects, explore my online tutorials and cake decorating courses.
You can find most of the products on the Cake Stuff website.
My blog is also featured on the Feedspot website for bloggers
Til next time
Carol
Frequently Asked Questions About cake Decorating Tools
For beginners, focus on tools that make the basics easier and more consistent. Essentials include a good rolling pin, a set of basic palette knives, cake scrapers, brushes, and a handful of cutters or moulds for simple decorations. Starting with a reliable turntable and a sharp edge smoother will also help you achieve neater finishes as you practise your skills.
Not always. Some tools, like brushes or simple cutters, can be inexpensive and still work well. However, investing in branded, high-quality tools often pays off because they last longer, are more reliable, and in many cases are food safe. For items you will use every day, such as a sharp edge smoother or professional palette knives, spending a bit more can save time and frustration in the long run.
Professional cake decorators tend to use a mix of basics and specialised tools. Alongside essentials such as rolling pins, palette knives, and scrapers, they often use texture mats, ball tools for flowers, flower foam pads, and multi circle cutters for consistent shapes. They also rely on tools that save time and improve precision, such as cake levellers, turntables, and quality brushes for gluing and painting.
To start a cake business, you need tools that help you deliver consistent, professional results. Begin with core items like sharp palette knives, a reliable rolling pin, quality brushes, and a sharp edge smoother. Add tools that support your style of decorating, such as texture mats or multi circle cutters if you do a lot of flowers or ruffles. Investing in durable branded tools from the start will reduce replacements and help maintain food safety standards.
