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Everyone needs certain baking tools and appliances in his or her kitchen. These are my recommendations after years of baking and trying different things! From silicon spatulas to my favorite piping tips – I’m sharing all my favorite Baking Tools that Every Baker Needs!
Baking Tools Every Baker Needs
I’ve been cooking and baking for so many years now, and I’m so excited to share my kitchen essentials with you guys! These baking tools and appliances always come in handy to me, and I couldn’t imaging doing what I do without them. Enjoy!
Measuring and Utensils
FOOD SCALE
One thing I simply couldn’t live without is my food scale. This OXO one is super easy to use and will show weight in grams and ounces.
MEASURING CUPS
When it comes to measuring cups, I have two sets that I use quite a bit. One is an OXO set that nests inside one another. It’s great for easy storing, but they are plastic, which is why I like this second set for things that might be heated.
MEASURING SPOONS
While I don’t have this exact set, these measuring spoons are very similar and I love the stainless steel and long handles.
This next set of measuring cups are glass and nice and simple. No nooks or crannies for things to hide it, just easy to use.
SIFTER
While I don’t use my sifter terribly often, this one is really nice to have when I need it.
CUPCAKE SCOOP
I use my cupcake scoop all the time. Every time I make cupcakes, in fact. This size is typically the perfect amount for filling my cupcake pans. Couldn’t live without it.
SPATULAS
My 9 inch offset spatula is my best friend. I use it to spread frostings and whipped cream onto cakes, spread my cake batter evenly into my cake pans, anything I can. While you can also find the larger 13 inch offset spatula, I feel like I have much better control with the smaller one.
I’m sure it won’t surprise you to know that I have about a million silicon spatulas. After using many, I now only buy spatulas with a stainless steel handle instead of wood (which discolors and wears down) and one without any ridges or anything on the actual head of the spatula. Batter gets caught in those little ridges and it drives my perfectionist self crazy. I’ve got several of these silicon spatulas and love them.
MIXING BOWLS
I’ve got two sets of mixing bowls that I like to use most. One is this KitchenAid mixing bowl set. The sizes are nice and I love the non-skid bottom.
My other set is these glass bowls. So many different sizes that are lovely and they are great in the microwave.
Baking Pans
The photos above are all clickable.
CAKE PANS
Above are the ones I use most – 8 and 9 inch cake pans, a 9×13 cake pan, a sheet pan and cupcake pans. If you’re looking for a recommendation for another size or shape, let me know. These are just my most used. As for a springform pan, I honestly can’t recommend one. They ALL leak, with few exceptions. I have one that doesn’t leak so I bought several more and brought them home, but when I tested them with water, every single other one leaked. The one I have that doesn’t is an anomaly. Instead, I have a method for preventing leakage and have actually been using this silicone pan and placing my springform pan inside of it when doing a water bath. It prevents any leaking and is easy to use.
CAKE BOARDS
Not a glamorous thing here, but I use these cardboard cake circles for all of my cakes. It allows me to decorate my cake on a turntable and then transfer it to the cake stand of my choice.
COOKIE SHEET and BAKING MAT
The next two go hand in hand. A good cookie sheet is necessary and a silicone baking mat to keep your cookies from sticking.
Stacking and Decorating Tools
CAKE LIFTER
This cake lifter is really nice to have when working with thin and/or tender layers of cake. You can move your layers around without fear of dropping or breaking them. A nice tool to have handy.
SERRATED KNIFE
A sharp, long serrated knife is wonderful for trimming and torting cakes. This one is definitely like having a samurai sword, but the sucker works. And if you want something a little smaller, there’s a smaller version there as well.
TURNTABLE
This turntable is inexpensive and works well. I’ve tried the more expensive options out there and while they are certainly heavier weight, they don’t necessarily work any better in my opinion.
SQUEEZE BOTTLE
If you have any interest in making chocolate drip cakes, you’ll want a squeeze bottle. It just makes life easier.
The photos above are all clickable.
Above are my favorite piping tips. The first four are great for piping frosting onto cupcakes or borders onto cakes. The piping bag shown is nice and big to hold all your frosting and is reusable. The last piping tip is what I use for
The photos above are all clickable.
These are my tools for frosting a smooth cake with buttercream. I use them all the time and love them. They are must-have items for me.
Additional Tools and Carriers
CAKE CARRIER
I couldn’t live without my tall cake carrier. I have 4 and regularly consider buying one or two more. However my favorite has been unavailable online for a while now. However, this cake carrier is a good option. And if you’re looking for something taller, I like this one.
CUPCAKE CORER
I have several filled cupcake recipes and don’t like dealing with a knife to cut those holes. This cupcake corer comes with two sizes, which is nice.
Appliances
I use my food processor all the time for grinding Oreos for crusts, making fruit purees, all kinds of things. This KitchenAid food processor is small and easy to store, which I’m a fan of.
My KitchenAid stand mixer rarely goes a day without use. I love it, naturally.
And there you have it – my favorite and most used tools for baking! I hope it’s helpful! If you ever need any other recommendations, just let me know. Happy Baking!
Sprinkles!
Some of my favorite sprinkles and mixes come from Sweetapolita!
I’m wondering about a link to your favorite cheesecake springform pan, please!
I need to add that! Here is the springform pan I use.
Tis looks great and I love the colour explosion! Can I please ask what brand of Gel colour you use as I am struggling to get bright colour
I’m thinking you meant to ask this question on a different post and recipe? I’m not sure which one you’re referring to, but I use both Wilton gel colors and Americolor gel colors.
Hello, I’d like to know which reusable icing bags you like best, as well as disposable bags? Thank you so much!
I always use Wilton brand bags.
When you are transporting a layer cake what box do you use?
I honestly don’t do a lot of that, but when I do take one of my regular 8 inch cakes somewhere, I just use the cake carrier mentioned above. Sadly, it’s been unavailable online for a while now. Sometimes I’ll see them in Home Goods though.
I need an 8″ square baking pan that is not non-stick, I have a problem with my cakes getting dry
and to brown in a teflon coated pan. Do you have any suggestions, I cannot seem to find one on the computer. Thanks
Rosa
Rhoda8ty@gmail.com
The correct cupcake scoop is the “Norpro Stainless Steel Scoop, 50MM (3 Tablespoons),” right? I’ve always struggled with filling the cups with just the right amount.
Yes, it is. And it works pretty well for me. But keep in mind that different recipes rise different amounts, so you may need less batter for some than others.
Hi! I noticed in some of your baking videos you use a hand mixer rather than your Kitchenaid mixer. Do you have a favorite hand mixer?
I use a hand mixer mainly for certain videos, but when baking and not creating videos I always use my stand. I actually think they mix better and more evenly. But if using a hand mixer, I would check out the KitchenAid ones.
Lindsay,
Thank you for the awesome list! Do you have a particular loaf pan that you recommend?
I have some KitchenAid 9×5 loaf pans that I use and really like.
I have been following ur blog I like it i an a high school teacher and a registered dietitian I teach culinary arts and the hospitality industry I use ur blogs and recipes with my kids at school I use other blogs also Your blogs are a great help in my instruction thank you. My suggestion to u is to put together small kits of the equipment items u use and sell them through ur blog. Maybe two to three items per month and this way the equipment especially the small hand tools can b acquired a little at a time and we only have to go to one place to order them. Well it is an idea
That’s a great idea! Thank you for following!
I love it when bloggers post these list of items they find necessary for baking 🙂 I am forever wanting to bulk up my collection of baking appliances and tools, so I often use these for reference. I was wondering whether you prefer to use reusable or disposable piping bags, Lindsay? I have a reuasable one (Fat Daddio’s brand) and it works wonderfully, but cleaning it thoroughly is nigh impossible. After using it two or three times, I noticed that it became greasy and stained and it smells just terrible. Do you have any tips on properly cleaning reusable bags? I’m seriously considering just dumping it and converting to disposable bags, because that seems like an easier, less frustrating option. Thanks!
Kind of depends. I have a handful of reusable bags that I use all the time when I’m using large amounts of frosting for cupcakes and frosting cakes. They can be a pain to clean, but I just do it really thoroughly by hand with soap and water. They do need to be replaced from time to time. That said, I love the disposable ones for smaller things like whipped cream and royal icing and when I’m feeling lazy LOL.
OK, thanks! 🙂
I have started baking and decorating as I’m still practicing im different nozzles and flower cutters. I’m enjoying every minutes. Also I need ideas to make flowers instead of buying too many cutters.