Keep decorating supplies together

One of the most frustratiung thing when you're in the middle of making a cake is not being able to find the tip or coloring you need. Because the tools for cake decorating can be many and varied (and completely addictive) here are some storage solutions. First, so you can keep those tips in order, there's this tip saver case. It comes in two sizes. The small one will hold 26 tips, and two flower nails. The large case holds 52 of your standard-sized tips and two flower nails. These cases do not include the tips, though you can buy full cases including the tips here.

The beige and red tool caddy has a lift-out tray that holds 48 tips and 12 color jars, with lots of room for pastry bags, spatulas and more underneath.

Then there's the ultimate tool caddy. This caddy has room for 36 tips, lots of color jars, room for spatulas, pastry bags, and many other things with three levels of drawers to keep it all organized. This caddy doesnt include any supplies, but it won't take much work to fill it up!

Just getting started, or have a family member who wants to start decorating cakes? This 50-piece tool caddy could be right up your alley. It includes a variety of tips, colors, tools, and a beginner's guide.

Or, if the contents of the last caddy aren't enough for you, check this 101-piece set out. This set comes with more colors, tips, couplers, spatulas, and other useful supplies. Among other things, it includes a cake leveler, butter and white vanilla flavorings, bake even strips, and a fondant smoother. This is a great deal, since the individual items would cost far more than this if purchased separately.

To learn more about these items or to see what else we have available, check out our Website.

Make the Most of Your Brownies!

Have you ever wanted to do something just a little different with your plain-Jane brownies? Now there are lots of fun ideas and products available to make your brownies special. First are these great dusting powders. This one is pink, but these colored powdered sugars are also available in green and blue.

Don't have a way to make designs with your dusting powder? These stencils will make the job a snap!

And if you want to make spreading the dusting powder simple, this sugar shaker is perfect for the job! It even features a fine mesh opening to keep unsightly chunks away from your brownies.

If that's not your bag, you can always use these simple flavored drizzle icings. They are available in mint, vanilla, or peanut butter.

If you'd rather use a standard chocolate frosting, but want to add something special, you might consider these crunch sprinkles. this one is Cookies & Cream, but this product is also available in mint brownie.

If you need even more fun ways to show off your treats, consider cutting them into different shapes. This heart shaped cutter is perfect for Valentines, bridal showers and more! Other cutters are available in a funky triangle cutter, or mini shape!

Alternately, you might check out this brownie treat cutter for a wavy look to your brownies.

For more great ideas, check out the Brownie Fun book!

Simplify Pastry Making

Today I'm highlighting three more of the Wilton Better Baking Tools. This time we'll focus on tools designed for making pastry. All three of these items come with comfortable, ergonomic handles and are completely dishwasher safe.

This pastry blender is unlike anything else I've ever seen. Not only does it come with a cleaning rake or clip on the side that slides around the wires to loosen or remove butter when it begins to gum up the wires, but the wires themselves are different The two outside wires and the middle one are thicker to easily cut through thick pieces of butter or shortening. Then there are two thinner wires on each side of the middle wire to help blend finer pieces of butter into the dry ingredients. There's even a note on the back of the package that suggests using chilled butter makes for a delicate and flaky crust.

In my own experience, you can blend the dough as much as you need to before adding liquids to your pie crust, but once you add the water, vinegar, and/or egg, mix only until the dough is evenly moist to prevent the crust from coming out tough.

The pastry wheel has stainless steel blades in both straight and scalloped shapes. This allows you to shape your pastry however you like. This tool also boasts an easy rolling axle and the smooth wheel works great for cutting pasta as well!

I've always used one of those cheap pastry brushes to spread oils or butter mixtures at home. It works, but it doesn't clean up as easily as I would like. The Wilton Silicone Pastry Brush is wonderful. Instead of round bristles, these silicone bristles are curved to make channels that hold liquids. The bristles and lower end of the brush are heat resistant and can handle temperatures up to 500 degrees without melting!

To learn more about these great products and see what else is available, visit our Website.

Great Tools Simplify Baking

As part of my Tools of the Trade series, I'm covering a few fun products today that can simplify most any job.

First is the Twist 'n Measure measuring cup. This versatile tool has a rotating dial on the bottom that allows the user to adjust the size from 1 cup, through 3/4, 1/2, 13/, 1/4, and even an 1/8 cup measure. This cup is dishwasher safe on the top rack, and the dial can be removed completely for cleaning. It can even be used for liquid ingredients!

Do you love to decorate cakes? This cake lifter slides easily below cakes up to 16" so you can lift and move them from one surface to another. It's fine-chiseled edge won't damage cakes. It is made from durable, easy-to-clean stainless steel, is dishwasher safe and the non-slip comfort handle is precisely angled to lift heavy cakes with ease.

Wilton's Silicone Oven Mitt is a great asset to any kitchen. The high-heat silicone will protect your hands from heat and steam in your kitchen or at the grill. It withstands temperatures up to 500 degrees! Both the inside and outside of the mitt are textured to improve grip on heavy pots and pans and the mitt is designed to fit on either hand. The non-porous surface of the mitt resists staining, and is totally dishwasher safe.

To see these or any of our other great baking products, visit us at our Web site.

Simplify Decorating in the Round

Bake even strips area great option for those looking for a nice, even cake height. Because they keep the sides of the cake from cooking too quickly, they help larger round cakes to bake flat on top with a nice moist consistency all the way through. You simply attach wrap the strips around the pan before placing it in the oven. They are oven safe.

They come in large and small sizes. The package of large strips has enough for a 10", 12", 14" and 16" pan. The package of smaller strips comes with two strips, one for an 8" pan, and one for a 9" pan.This revolving cake stand can make most decorating projects simpler. It lifts cakes three inches off the table and with an 11-inch width, easily accommodates a 10" round cake. With a smooth ball-bearing mechanism, this cake stand will turn in either direction.Have trouble getting your icing smooth? A metal spatula may be just the thing. This 15" option has an angled blade and contoured handle, but straight blades in 11" or 15" lengths are also available.

Great Tools for Cake Baking

Every activity has certain tools that make the job easier. For a carpenter it might be a hammer or drill, a writer might need a laptop or AlphaSmart, and many medical professionals can't work without a blood pressure cuff. But if you do much baking, here are a few great tools you'll wonder how you ever lived without.

A cake leveler like this can make the difference between a cake that forms an inverted bowl, and one that is nice and flat on top. This tool has an adjustable height up to three inches high and eighteen inches wide. Simply twist the feet to lock the height at the desired place. We also have a smaller one that is great for cakes up to ten inches wide and two inches tall. This is a great help when making torts, too.
Among our other whisks and spoons, this Cyclone Whisk has a silicone coated central spiral that adds more air to batter than a traditional whisk. The silicone coating makes the whisk easier to clean. It has an ergonomic handle for easier gripping and sturdy wires and a large head for more versatility. It is also dishwasher safe--two of my favorite words.

This 12" rolling pin not only boasts a great easy-clean non-slip surface, but it's dishwasher safe. In fact, it's the only rolling pin on the market that is fully submersible. The smooth-action roller, and the push-button release on the handles are added benefits available only in the Wilton Rolling Pin. The smooth surface of the barrel makes it perfect for rolling fondant or dough. A must-have for every kitchen!
Stop by our Website to see what other great tools we have available for the dedicated cook!