Comments on: Basic cake decorating kit

By: Queen Mommy

Queen Mommy — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:32:00 +0000

I realize that this is a very old post, but I did want to mention that PVC (vinyl) is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). I wouldn’t recommend even using sanitized PVC all over something you intend to ingest.

By: Mariza

Mariza — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:21:19 +0000

I am so thankful I found your blog. This is really helpful. I am new to cake decorating and would like to invest in versatile pieces but have no clue what to buy. Thanks for posting this now I know what I need and what to buy without breaking my bank account. I am soo excited!

By: Louise

Louise — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:11:40 +0000

Kai: You use a dusting bag almost all the time when you decorate cakes ect. Use it to finely dust your work area before rolling out the fondant.

By: Kai

Kai — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:07:24 +0000

Pardon me as i am totally new to cake making…louise, what is the purpose of corn starch dusting bag? how to roll out the fondant using this dusting bag? hear from you soon, thanks =)
cheers

By: Louise

Louise — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:01:41 +0000

Chris: Yes a pasta machine is a great tool. I dont have one though but I am placing it on my whishlist.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:08:48 +0000

You can also buy a cheap pasta maker and run the icing through that for small items like cupcakes etc.

By: Brit

Brit — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:53:47 +0000

You are my hero!!!

By: Louise

Louise — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:15:06 +0000

Rebecca: Great tip. I just use a regular rolling pin and use a pair of guide sticks.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:16:24 +0000

I needed to purchase a rolling pin for making cookies/dough and I wanted something that would help to make sure the dough rolled out at the same thinkness each time. I searched the internet for adjustable rolling pin and I came across one that looked just like PVC pipe, it cost $159. Well, I wasn’t looking to spend that much for what I needed, so I went to home depot and made one myself. I bought a 2ft pcs. of 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe matched it up with a couple of end pieces that give it the right height and I had me a $159 rolling pin for $2.63, pretty nice!

By: Louise

Louise — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:05:19 +0000

Becky: LOL i can see I not the only one wondering if the leafs is botanically correct. Sounds beautiful with the TG pie. I have a Christmas book by Colette Peters and in that she paints a pie with I think its egg yolk mixed with gel paste. It looked soo gorgeous.

Great info on the powdered egg whites. Could you please tell me from wich store you got it from? Many have written for advise on that subject.

Susieshomemade: Great to hear

Maria C: Ohh yes lets not forget the blue mat and a good knife. THX.

Say: I dont know any stores in the Philippines. I know good stores in Australia that I know do send to Europe so maybe they will send to you?
http://www.earlcraftncake.com/ or there is from the US http://www.globalsugarart.com/

Tamera, JudyZ, Charlotte & Becky: I have never tried to use a PVC pipe. I saw on Sharon “sugar shack” blog a santa class with Bronwen Weber, where they buildt the skeleton of PVC pipes.
http://www.sugaredblog.blogspot.com/
On the food safety part, I have no clue. Well I dont think the health food dep. here would allow it. They are so strict with everything.

By: Siri

Siri — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:23:58 +0000

Thank you so much for this post! It was just what I was thinking of…

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:24:41 +0000

I have taken several cake classes, and they also recommend the PVC as rolling pins. You just need to clean and sanitize them.

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:15:03 +0000

PVC CAN be food safe. I bought a piece, sanded or filed down the ends to a very smooth finish, scrubbed it extremely well, then threw it and only it into the dishwasher to sanitize it. It works extremely well, and to be honest, the more I use it, the better it gets. I guess maybe the shortening has made it as smooth as the Wilton one. Plus it’s super super cheaper than the others!!

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:40:11 +0000

Thank you for a great list! I have some of the basic items but have been a little overwhelmed as to what else to add next without going broke. This is really helpful. Now to go shopping!

By: Adetutu

Adetutu — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:32:12 +0000

Thanks for the information.It is good to hear from you.Thanks.

By: JudyZ

JudyZ — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:40:52 +0000

Just a thought for Tamara using the PVC pipe for a rolling pipe. PVC is most likely not “food safe”.

Thanks,
Judy

By: arashade

arashade — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:21:34 +0000

am glad i found this site as a toutorial and a lesson class for me as a new starter.am gland that you are able to give out some lists for decorating.well i love wilson eguipment just that they are abit expensive.
afolashade.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:22:57 +0000

For a rolling pin , I tell my students to purchase PVC Pipe 1 1/4 inches wide from the hardware store instead of buying an expensive rolling pin. The Wilton rolling pin guides will fit the PVC. It’s amazing all the items one can find in the hardware store and the clay sculpting aisle when one has Cake on the mind.
Thanks for one of the greatest cake websites. Love your work.
Tamara

By: Say

Say — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:08:45 +0000

woooow!!! i wanted to have it all but i just can’t. there are very few stores who has cake decorating tools here in the philippines. not to mention that they sell it for thousands of pesos for a piece. i was wondering if there’s a store that you know who sells these things at a reasonable cost? thanks again for a really nice post. very much helpful for beginners like me.

by the way, the tools i have at hand are rolling pin, round, star and leaf tip, spring form pans, gel food color and 1 power dust color ( i agree with you, it’s really expensive), straight spatula.

By: Maria C

Maria C — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:04:18 +0000

This is awesome I would also add to that list the fondant work mat from Ateco, I could not live without it! And a good long sharp knife for torting and cleaning up the sides of your cakes

By: susieshomemade

susieshomemade — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:47:12 +0000

I have a lot on this list but some that I don’t. Thank for sharing that. It will really help me plan my spending.

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:56:09 +0000

Great post, Louise!!! I’m ready to go shopping. I also love the leaf veiner that you mentioned a few posts back. I got a really big one and use it for all sizes and shapes of leaves, regardless of whether it is botanically correct or not I’m going to try it on Thanksgiving pies this year. I usually decorate the pie edges with leaves cut out of pie crust dough. This year, I will emboss them!

Also, I keep meaning to let you know that I am now making IMBC using powdered egg whites. They are pasturized, and you don’t have use so many real eggs, wondering what to do with the yolks. (Guess you could make French Buttercream with them!) The powdered egg whites work fabulously. The brand I use is called Deb-El.