well on a recent trip to michaels and an overload of 50% off coupons i decided now is the time to stock up on the little things honestly im so frugal that when i go to stores and see a certain thing i automatically think hmm i wonder if i have something i can use instead of buying that. like the large frosting knifes or the cake splitters or the fondant presses all of those little things i seem to write off i wonder if they would be helping me, so in your opinion what is your cant live without basics?

If by "large frosting knives" you mean the long metal spatulas, those are something I CANNOT be without. There are a lot of little cake "extras" that are unnecessary, but that is a basic tool that I think NO cake decorator should be without. A good set of straight and offset spatulas (both large and mini sizes) and a nice metal bench scraper (even a large metal spackle knife from home depot) are ALWAYS in front me when doing a cake.

A good sturdy whisk. and a rubber spatula

a bench scraper and a good rolling pin! (stay away from that Wilton large cake leveler and their tilting turntable!)

haha i looked at the tilting turn table and all i could think was how the hell does ur cake just not topple over the minute you tip it? I was looking at the leveler just because aparently i have an uneven hand the edges are great the middle of the cake ends up like a mountain range

I agree, stay away from the cake leveler, it does not work

I can't live without my Pampered Chef sugar shaker. It's perfect when I'm working with fondant. I also have to have my offset spatulas (no surprise there) and my bench knife (again, no surprise there).

I agree with pebblez87 - how the HELL to do you keep your cake from falling off of that thing?????

I can't do without my Fat Daddio's turn table, kitchenaid mixer and chefmaster food colors.

I just recently got the cake leveler and it worked fine! I had a nice straight tort, unlike when I tried to do it myself with a knife. Maybe it depends on the type of cake? Mine was a nice dense one (WASC).

hmm i have a few things but mainly i definatley couldnt live without my non stick rolling mat.. as i dont to use cornflour or anything when rolling out icing i have in 3 different sizes hehe..

and my angled spatula... this i only got a few weeks ago and i dont know how i went all these years without one.. it is the bestest thing ever lol.

and then finally my airbrush loving it since i learnt how and got the confidence to start using it last year...

What comes out every time I do a cake? My Agbay leveler, angled spatula, bench scraper, rollers for the Melvira method , and my huge silicone rolling mat!

What I can't do without is:

1) my vintage breadknife for leveling. It used to be my mom's from the '70's, and the blade is much longer and narrower than ones sold these days.

2) a little net bag I use to wash all the tips and couplers in the dishwasher.

3) mashed potatoes w/ real butter. Oh wait! That's for the what-I-can't-live-without-on-a-deserted-island thread.

I bought that tilting turntable a couple of years ago, and it actually works really well for me. The rubber surface keeps the cakeboard from sliding. I've done almost 50-60 cakes on it, some at quite an angle. I really like it!

The leveler works great for me. Theres no way i could get it level.

I love the tilting turntable too and never had a cake slip off. the rubber on top holds the cake board in place

haha love the mashed potatos comment for a minute i thought u were being serious ive heard people using instant mash as a way of moisture anyway , i think i also have an old bread knife its at least as long as a ruler and extremely thin

thank you all for your comments i always just stand in the aisle thinking i wonder if all these things are useful and now im getting my answers

I'm going after work today with the 50% off coupon and a list for a wedding cake that I'm working on.

Oh boy, oh boy....I'm like a kid in a candy store....

I have the large wilton leveler and have never had a problem with it.

But I can't live w/out my:

1. Kitchenaid Mixer

2. Airbrush - my bestest friend

3. My Ateco silicone mat...best $40 i ever spent.

I can't live without my:
Bench scraper
KitchenAid pasta (fondant) roller attachment
Ice cream scoop (for dishing cupcake batter or measuring shortening)
Magic Line pans
Americolors
Impression Mats
Sugarshack's DVD's
and of course, Cake Central!!

I can't live without my:
Bench scraper
KitchenAid pasta (fondant) roller attachment
Ice cream scoop (for dishing cupcake batter or measuring shortening)
Magic Line pans
Americolors
Impression Mats
Sugarshack's DVD's
and of course, Cake Central!!

I can't live without:

1. KitchenAid Mixer!!!!!
2. Off-set spatulas (both large and small)
3. Scoops for cookies and cupcakes (those make life so much easier)
4. Hi-ratio shortening for icing


I also have the large Wilton leveler and the tilting turntable. The leveler is great - never a problem. The turntable is fine, too, but I don't really use it all that much.

I have the turn table too and never had a problem, the leveler is another story. Worked the first few times, after that forget it, it was useless. Love my agbay.

I can't live without:
(1) My KitchenAid Mixer
(2) 18" Turntable
(3) Viva paper towels
(4) My tip organizer
(5) Angled spatulas
(6) Parchment triangles

I also *love* the ateco fondant work mat. (sometimes I still use a little cornstarch when rolling out...especially the stickier colored fondants)

Bench scraper

FMM ribbon cutter

Sugar gun

Kitchen aid mixer

big rolling pin

What I would really like to have? The agbay, edible image printer, airbrush, time alone.

skichic68 wrote:

2) a little net bag I use to wash all the tips and couplers in the dishwasher.



How do you get those bags to stay put in the dishwasher. I ended up getting something that's meant for washing baby bottles to wash my tips in. It's fabulous and I don't have to worry about it getting "lost" in my dishwasher.