10 Amazing Christmas Gifts for a Cake Decorator
It’s the perfect time to buy Christmas Gifts. What to buy for a particular person is often the biggest question on ones mind. If you looking to buy something for a cake decorator I can help. Here are 10 amazing Christmas gifts for a cake decorator that I strongly recommend
Every year I indulge in this discussion on what to get as a gift!!
Last year my husband got me my Dinky Doodle Airbrush. Five years ago he got me my subscription to Paul Bradford’s Online School. Four years ago he got me my K-Mix. These were of course what I requested instead of jewelry. I LOVE jewelry and he knows it’s the key to my hear but as a new cake decorator, I found that cake toys had become my priority……. Ah well, it still is.
I think it’s a great time to think of what you want to give a friend or loved one for Christmas. I’m a big fan of books so often I will send friends some books or even cake toys like lace mats or molds to my cake friends.
10 Amazing Gifts for a Cake Decorator
1. Cake Mixer
Now if you have a cake person in your life – this is a must have!! I cannot tell what a time saver it is. It makes life so much easier. I don’t think I can live without my K-Mix or my Food Processor. They were both gifts that I got from my husband over the years. I like making life simple in the kitchen and cake room.
Now I have the Kenwood K-mix but the Kitchen Aid is also a very popular brand among cake decorators. Heck, the cake mixer is so important I have a whole post on it explaining what you should look for when buying one. read here The best stand mixer for a home baker.
2. The GIFT of Education !!
A Subscription to a School or a Video Tutorial. The most valuable gift I think?
Often among friends, we gift each other Video Tutorials as Birthday or Christmas Gifts.
5 years ago, my husband gave me this as a Christmas Gift!! A Subscription to Paul Bradford online school and today I am a member of Paul Bradford School, Yeners Way Cake Art School, SugarEd Productions, Avalon Cake School and yes, I do have close to 100 tutorials on Craftsy. Honestly; each and everyone is worth it. I have learned SO MUCH!! It has taken my cake decorating skills to where I am today. To me, the money spent on education is worth every penny. There are many online schools nowadays that offer a lot of options.
For me the three school that I always go to for anything cake are
- Paul Bradford online Sugar Craft School – They have a good selection of free tutorials too.
Read my review on what to expect with Paul Bradford School - Yeners Way Cake Art Tutorials/Subscription -and they too have a lot of free tutorials for cake decorators
read my review on what to expect with Yeners Way School - Craftsy is one place I go to for individual tutorials – just a one-time payment and it has great options to send someone a gift too!
They do have some good Free Classes too
But there are other online schools that offer tons for their subscription plus a section of free tutorials too!.
If you need more help deciding – you can read my post on which online school should I join.
3. Airbrush
A lot of the beginners think this is for advanced cake decorators and they need a lot of experience to start airbrushing. Not true!
Airbrush is like a little toy in the hands of an artist. Once you start using it and once you know the basics this little pen in your hand can create wonders. It will guide you in artistic places you have no clue existed in your mind. I speak from experience. I never thought I’d be able to airbrush the scenery. But I did and I’m no painter nor do I have any artist background.
The four most popular ones I know are Master Airbrush, Dinky Doodle, Clairella and Cassie Brown. I have a Dinky Doodle and a Magic Colours Airbrush. Though the Clairella is on my wish list. Shhh….. don’t tell my husband.
4. Pasta Maker
I bet you wondering why am I giving pasta make to a cake decorator? Well, it’s a true blessing to your hands. I roll a lot of stuff in the pasta maker. For one I don’t have to roll so much, plus the roller gives you a smooth even sheet. Making sugar flowers can be so easy because you can roll the gumpaste to a number one so smooth and with no folds and wrinkles.
I must admit it took me a while to get one myself because I never realized how easy it could make my life. I do make pasta but this baby does more cake decorating than pasta. Now you don’t need any fancy brand really. But you do need one that will handle some wear and tear. If you can afford it get the Pasta attachment with your K-mix or Kitchen Aid. I could not afford theK-mix attachment when I purchased mine.
5. Sugar Shapers
This is now the new modeling tool I think any cake decorator should have in her basic cake decorating tools. I use it almost ALL THE TIME! The yellow Dresden tool used to be my favorite tool and god knows how many of those I have broken.
This is now my new favorite. Good quality, excellent grip! you can use it when sculpting your cakes or when sculpting your figures. It is’ so versatile. In fact, I love using this so much I have a blog post about it. Cake Decorating Sculpting tools
You can buy the sugar shapers directly from Innovative Sugar works or your can find them on Amazon too. These come in sets of 4 but even one as a gift is worth it.
6. Books
No matter how many video tutorials are out there, books will always have a special place when learning. I have so many cake decorating and food recipe books I truly treasure. I still buy books anytime a great book is released.
Here are three recent books I think very highly about and would make great gifts. See My favorite cake decorating books here
This year’s most popular books have been – these three. I got the first two and love them both. The book from how to cake it is still on the wish list. Did you know that you can get FREE shipping to anywhere in the world using Book Depository?
7. Silicon Molds
These have now become the time savers to any cake decorator. Gone are those days when we spent hours creating intricate details painstaking a cutting or molding each piece separately. Silicons molds have become a true blessing. These can be very inexpensive to very expensive depending on what and which you buy.
Some of the good quality molds you will find are from Marvelous Molds, Katy Sue, Karen Davies, First Impression, These will last you longer and of course, is food safe.
You can pick there on Amazon at bargain prices during the holidays.
8. Cake Stands –
NO NO NO NO!! This is not a cake toy.. this is an obsession. Believe it or not. a cake decorator has a special place in her cake room for these – no matter how small her workspace is!
Cake stands are a cake decorators collective item. She can never have enough of them! NEVER! It’s like her collection of shoes; they are never enough. You can never go wrong with cake stands. Usually, we love them all.
9. Aprons – the cutest stuff!!
My most recent craze!! Flirty Aprons. I picked a cute one for my Rhea and she flaunts it with pride. They really do have a beautiful selection. These would be a great buy as a Christmas Gift. Such amazing designs – Perfect gift for any woman. I think!!
10. I saved the best for last.. my Calculated Recipe Collections
I think one of the most annoying things is having to calculate or figure out how much batter you need for your cake? Do I double? Some recipes it works well in some you end up with a totally different outcome.
I know!! Been there many times. My years and years of baking has led me to realize that you have to make a recipe test before you give it to your customer. ONE customer is all it takes to ruin so much hard work. So I have been making my own calculations and saving them over time.
Now I have put them in a folder just for you. So you don’t have to go thru the same disappointments and heartache I have been thru.
Some other suggestions would be
Rosemary
Thank you! I had no clue what to buy as a gift for a cake decorator. This was VERY helpful.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Rosemary. So glad you found my gift guide useful. I hope she likes your gift.