How to set yourself up for success when making celebration cakes for your friends and family
Making a celebration cake for friends or family is a rewarding way to share something special — but it takes more than just a good recipe. Here's what you need to know to execute a flawless cake for your loved ones.
Cake Boards: The Foundation of Your Cake
Cake boards are one of the most underrated tools in cake decorating. They provide a stable, clean base for your cake, making it easier to transport, decorate, and serve.
Why they matter:
Support the weight of your cake (especially for layered or heavy cakes)
Make it easier to move your cake without damaging it
Add a professional finish to your presentation
A turntable is a total game changer when it comes to decorating. It allows you to smooth frosting, pipe details, and apply decorations evenly by rotating the cake as you work — no awkward arm stretches required.
Why it’s worth the investment:
Makes smoothing buttercream or ganache quick and even
Helps create sharp edges and clean sides
Essential for detailed piping or fondant work
Our choice for size, stability, and smooth rotation!
If your celebration cake is multi-tiered or especially tall, support is key. Dowels help prevent your cake from sinking, sliding, or toppling by redistributing the weight from upper layers.
Why they’re essential:
Provide structural support in stacked cakes
Prevent leaning or collapsing during transport
Help your cake hold its shape over time
Tip: Use food-safe plastic or wooden dowels, and always cut them to match the height of your tier for a level finish. For a really tall or tiered cake, consider a central dowel through the middle for extra stability.
This is our choice, easy to cut, user-friendly, and strong!
Fresh flowers can instantly elevate a celebration cake — adding elegance, color, and a personal touch. But before you pop a bloom into your buttercream, there’s one tool you must have: floral tape.
Why floral tape matters:
Creates a food-safe barrier between flower stems and the cake
Secures wires or stems used in floral arrangements or toppers
Helps prevent sap or moisture from leaching into your cake
Even flowers that are considered “edible” should be taped and prepped properly before being placed on a cake. Floral tape is used to wrap stems or wires, then inserted into a flower pick or straw to protect the cake and keep everything hygienic.
Tip: Use green floral tape for a natural look, and pair it with floral wire if you’re shaping blooms or making arrangements. Always research whether your chosen flowers are safe to use near food, and avoid anything toxic or heavily treated with pesticides.This is our choice, easy to cut, user-friendly, and strong!
You’ve spent hours perfecting your cake — don’t risk smudging or damage in the final step! A good cake box keeps your cake protected, fresh, and easy to carry.
Why they’re important:
Prevent damage during transport (especially if driving!)
Help maintain temperature and freshness
Make your cake look polished and gift-ready
Tip: Use a box that fits your cake board snugly, with enough height to accommodate tall decorations. For delicate designs, consider a box with a window or front flap for easier access.
Decorating celebration cakes doesn’t have to be stressful — especially when you’re prepared with the right tools. Whether you’re making a fun birthday cake or a multi-tiered showstopper, cake boards, a turntable, dowels, and a sturdy box can elevate your cake from homemade to professional-looking.
You may also like: 5 Essential Tools Every Cake Decorator Needs for Flawless Execution — Home Bakers and Pros Alike! — discover the must-have tools that make every cake look and deliver perfectly.