Saturday, September 6, 2008

Baking Equipment

Occasionally, I receive e-mails asking “…what type of pans do I use? What size tip did you frost that cupcake with?” And so on. Since the launch of The Cake Slice I have received a couple more than usual. I thought this would be a great time share all this info with you. For starters, I use a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for all my baking.




The pans on the left are 6x2 pans. They are perfect for reducing cake recipes. I bought them at Surfa’s a year ago. (Joy the Baker has wonderful post on Surfa’s.) I got all three of for less than $20 dollars. The pans on the right are Chicago Metallic Pans. I really heart this company. Their pans are nice, heavy, and reasonably priced.

These are also Chicago Metallic Pans. The square cake pan makes the best bar cookies and the loaf pan on top browns bread perfectly. Good sturdy quality pans.

Cake stands. So many choices. This particular stand was given to me by a friend. He said it's great because of the ball bearings, weight distribution, and this is where I stopped listening. I thought he was talking about a car or something. Who knew baking equipment could get all technical? All I know, is that it spins like dream.

This little piece of thin metal is my secret to smooth cake sides. You just press it ever so lightly against the cake, spin your cake stand slowly, and voila! Smooth perfect cakes sides.

My favorite tips are from Ateco. They are available in tons of sizes and shapes. And they start at $.99 (cents) and up. In the photo on top the center tip is a Wilton tip. Do see how small it is? That’s way too small to frost a cupcake with. I use the one on the left to get those perfect round swirls.
Finally, a star tip for fancy cupcake swirls. Again the small tip is a Wilton tip. As always, I use the largest tip to frost my cupcakes with. I hope this has answered any questions you had. If you have any other questions please let me know.

32 comments:

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Gigi, you and I own a LOT of the same baking equipment!! So fun :0)

Katie said...

Ohhh im so envious of your kitchen aid and your cake stands. You have some great baking equipment

Anonymous said...

I also love Chicago Metallic, everything I've bought of their has been top notch. I even got lucky and found a set of a loaf pan, square pan, and rectangular pan on sale for only $10 altogether- such a steal!

Rachel said...

That is some good equipment to envy for... I love the cake side smoother....haven't seen anything like that in my part of the town :)

Bunny said...

I have been looking for bigger decorating tips for awhile now and I'm so glad you posted this! I kept telling my sister that they make larger tips....somewhere because of the beautiful way you decorate your cupcakes, she just didn't understand what i was looking for. I want those nice big swirls! Thanks for posting this Gigi!! Now I know where to get them.

grace said...

so...will it be a problem if the only pieces of that equipment that i own are the cake pans? :)

Ann said...

Well, I LOVE all kitchen tools - so POST AWAY about those things, my friend! Love it.

LyB said...

Ooooh, I want that cake stand! And those pans, and... OK, I need some cake baking equipment ASAP! :)

Julie said...

Hi Gigi! Thanks for the tips. I have a question, for buying the frosting tips do you suggest buying them in a kit or seperatly? I have noticed at Michael's Crafts that Martha Sewart has a Wilton cake decorating kit.I have a few some old hand me down tips but was thinking of buying a good set? What do you suggest? Also, that cake stand looks so cool! Thanks!

Gigi said...

Dear Julie,

It's hard to tell at the beginning which tips you'll love and which you won't use at all. I think I would buy a modest kit (which is what I did a long time ago) and go from there. Making sure to keep track of which tips you own. And which tips you would like a larger size in.

I used to buy Ateco tips separately because Sur La Table used to sell them individually and in kits. Now all they sell is Wliton and I am forced to buy Ateco tips on the web.

I hope this helps.

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Thank you for this post Gigi! I heart my Kitchen Aid stand mixer as well.

Anonymous said...

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a must have for any kitchen! I love mine.

RazorFamilyFarms.com said...

Just found your blog and LOVE it! What an awesome cake stand!

Blessings!
Lacy

Razor

alexandra's kitchen said...

great tips and beautiful pictures. Do you recommend a place to buy one of those spinning cake stands? I recently attempted to make a wedding cake and realized how important one of those turning stands is. I love your site!

Gigi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gigi said...

The cake stand was given to me by Mr. Gigi Cakes. I asked where he purchased it and he said Williams Sonoma. He gave me the cake stand 2 years ago and hopefully they still carry it.

The cake stand is really heavy. I like this feature because I know my cake won't slide or slip. The "plate" comes off for easy clean up. I hope this helps.

Par said...

Got alot of baking tools to buy...:P

Honeyed Hashette said...

I want the cakestand.
I want the HUGE round tip.
I want I want I want.
This baking addiction is taking over my life.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

Do you prefer disposable bags or reuseable for piping frosting? I have yet to find a way that works for me (or maybe it's just my two left hands).

alexandra's kitchen said...

Great, thanks for the buying tip! I will check out WS.

marae said...

hee hee i love how simple your post is. "here are fab pans, here are fab tips". if you could see my baking closet, you'd be amazed...i have WAY too much of everything..! I am such a packrat. btw i love your cake sides...where did you get the flat metal thing? i have one but it's not that big.

marae said...

oh and i also buy my large tips separately...i only use about 2 of them religiously so i actually have three to four of those only. the set wouldn't work for me.

eatme_delicious said...

I haven't seen 6x2 pans anywhere. =( I bought some 4.5x2 though I haven't used them to make mini cakes yet. And I think the tips I bought are Wilton, not Ateco. Not that I frost cupcakes very often but I do admire yours so I will try out the Ateco, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Lynn:
I really love Matfer Nylon Pastry Bags. They are made in France and I purchase them at Sur la Table. They clean up well and retain no odors from previous icings.

Mara:
If you could only see my pantry. Full of baking supplies and odd shaped pans. I keep buying stuff and I ran out room years ago! The cake smoother was given to me by friend. When he finished culinary school he gave me all his baking supplies.

Eat me delicious:
Surfas has great prices on 6x2 pans. And I have never seen them anywhere else either.

Rosie said...

Gigi what a great informative post - just love your baking equipment :)

Rosie x

Joyce said...

Thanks for the tip on the Ateco tips! Wilton does not carry anything that large. I ordered them immediately, tried them last night and they are perfect.

Summer said...

That was really helpful...I always wondered what you used to get your cakes so smooth! Thanks!

Also, wanted to tell you I left you an "I love your blog" award on my blog. You always have such great ideas and recipes. Thanks!

Honeyed Hashette said...

Hey Gigi! I wanted to let you know I will make next month's cake. I still have family in from Houston. They have been here for over a week and two of them are wee little boys that want lots of attention from me. :)
I just wanted you to know I wouldn't be a cake slacker. :)

Have a good weekend.
J

abigail @ Paper and Cake said...

i need every piece of advice i can get! thanks for the info...

sunita said...

Such a lovely post...envy your kitchen aid ;-)...eyeing that cake smoother too :-)

glamah16 said...

I love Chicago Mettalic and Ateco!

Anonymous said...

Oooh I want that cakestand! I've no idea why, since I don't bake much cakes, but it looks exquisite :P