I am so excited to tell you about Wilton's Cake Lifter. I can't tell you how many times I could have used a product like this. Keep reading to learn more about my experience.

As a reminder, starting Monday, November 23, you will have a chance to win one of the three products I have reviewed. Check out my other reviews to help you decide which one you want.

Wilton Cyclone Whisk Review
Wilton Rolling Pin Review

As always, here is a little background info first...

What is Wilton?

If you read any of my cake guides, you will notice a common theme throughout; I am usually recommending some kind of Wilton products. For those of you who are not familiar with the company, here is a little background.

In 1929,Dewey McKinley Wilton opened a small, one room, cake decorating school for caterers and chefs. From this small beginning, Wilton has grown into a company that helps chefs and moms alike. Today you can take Wilton classes at many of your local craft stores. In fact, with a little training, you can even become a Wilton instructor. On their website, www.wilton.com, you can purchase supplies, find cake decorating and cookie making instructions, get tons of ideas and recipes, as well as visit a forum to get your decorating questions answered. In short,Wilton is filled with resources to help you become the decorator you aspire to be.

Now for the good stuff...

My Wilton Cake Lifter Experience

This is a cool product! In the past I have used large angled spatulas to help me lift and move cakes. The larger the cake, the riskier this method is. Most of the time I nearly dropped the cake and when I placed it on top of another cake I either damaged the cake below it or put it in the wrong spot. For a long time now I have wanted something that can make stacking cakes easier. Finally I have found a product that will help.

Wilton's Cake Lifter moves and lifts cakes up to 16 inches. It is made with a non-slip handle and a large, stainless steel surface. This helps keep the cake sturdy and gives you a good grip on the lifter. No more wobbly cakes, that's for sure. It also has a chiseled edge so it does not damage the cake board when you slide it under.

This lifter holds the cake so well that it is like you have an extra set of hands helping you. When it comes time to move a cake, you place the lifter under one side and put your hand under the other. To stack, first put your hand side of the cake down on an angle. You can then replace the cake lifter with one (or both) of your hands and slowly lower it onto the cake below. Just be careful when pulling the lifter away. If you are not paying attention, it may hit the cake. However, this minor detail does not take away from how helpful this product is.

Its use is not limited to cake decorating either. Just like the rolling pin, the cake lifter is very versatile. It easily moves cookies, sandwiches and pizza. The lifter is even great for scooping up chopped ingredients and dropping them into a pot. Not to mention, it is dishwasher safe and easily cleaned.

Once again, Wilton gets a big thumbs up. This is a must buy for any cake decorator, baker or cook. To purchase Wilton's Cake Lifter you can visit their online store, check your local craft store, or click the link below. Don't forget to check back next week for a chance to win it!



The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

These sugar cookies make a great party favor or holiday gift and they are so easy to make. By placing an edible image on your cookie, you create an afordable, yet personal gift.


Step 1

Bake sugar cookies in any shape you want. Pumpkins and hearts are seen above.


Step 2

Using your cookie cutter and a knife, cut your edible image to fit.


Step 3

Ice your cookie with buttercream or royal icing. Then place the image on top. That's it!


Click here to purchase your edible images.

The second part of my 3 post Review will be featuring Wilton's fully submersible rolling pin. Remember to check back soon for part 3 (Wilton's Cake Lifter) and a chance to win one of these great products. Read my other reviews to help you decide which prize you will choose.

Wilton's Cyclone Whisk Review
Wilton's Cake Lifter Review

What is Wilton?

If you read any of my cake guides, you will notice a common theme throughout; I am usually recommending some kind of Wilton products. For those of you who are not familiar with the company, here is a little background.

In 1929,Dewey McKinley Wilton opened a small, one room, cake decorating school for caterers and chefs. From this small beginning, Wilton has grown into a company that helps chefs and moms alike. Today you can take Wilton classes at many of your local craft stores. In fact, with a little training, you can even become a Wilton instructor. On their website, www.wilton.com, you can purchase supplies, find cake decorating and cookie making instructions, get tons of ideas and recipes, as well as visit a forum to get your decorating questions answered. In short,Wilton is filled with resources to help you become the decorator you aspire to be.

My Wilton Rolling Pin Experience

I had a great time using this product. One of the rolling pin's best features is its versatility. Unlike your wooden pin, this rolling pin can be used to roll out cookie doughs, pasta doughs and fondant. A huge plus for the baker with limited cabinet space. What makes this pin so versatile is its rubber/silicone like surface. Unlike a wooden rolling pin, this one will not suck the moisture out of your fondant or any other moisture sensitive dough and, in my experience, needs much less flour or sugar to keep the dough from sticking.

A few other features I found to be really useful were its easy to clean surface and removable handles. Yes, that's right! These handles easily pop off to make cleaning easier and more productive. Those little bits of dough will not stick and dry up inside the cracks of this rolling pin. With a push of a button, the handles are removed and all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned. Even more, because this rolling pin is fully submersible, it can be cleaned in the dishwasher. A huge time saver.

This product gets a big thumbs up from me. Easy to clean and versatile, it really is a must have for any kitchen. You can buy this rolling pin by visiting Wilton's online store, checking your local craft store or clicking the link below. Check back next week (11/23) for a chance to win Wilton's Rolling Pin.

This guide focuses on how to make the penguin (step 4). You can place your penguin on an iceberg wearing a scarf or have him stand alone to create a winter theme. Make him a birthday penguin by adding a party hat to his head (contact us for information on how to purchase a gumpaste party hat through Piece of Cake Decorating). Here I have added a test tube, beaker, goggles, tie, and partial periodic table create a science penguin (contact us for information on how to purchase these gumpaste items through Piece of Cake Decorating). In other words, you are not limited to what you see here.

To make this cake you will need....

Wilton Bear Pan
Yellow, blue and black gumpaste (you can use white and airbrush later)
Large rectangle cake board
8 inch round cardboard cake divider
2 1/2 Sheet Cakes
White, Black, and Yellow buttercream icing
Tips #2, 3, 5, 12 (x2) and 32
Wooden dowels
Lollipop sticks
Gumpaste beaker, test tube, and goggles






Directions:


Step 1

A few days in advance make your wings, beak, test tube, beaker, and goggles out of gumpaste. See pictures below for tips on the wings and beak. Contact us for information on how to purchase the goggles, test tube and beaker from Piece of Cake Decorating.

*Please note that I have made my gumpaste decorations white and painted them later with an airbrush.*


Level, tort, fill and stack your 1/2 sheet cakes. Next, ice your 1/2 sheet cake with white buttercream icing and pipe on as much of the periodic table as you can fit using tip #3 for the lines/letters, tip # 2 for the numbers, and black buttercream icing. The boarder was piped using tip #32.


***Decorator's Tip*** Make this step even easier and order an edible image from Piece of Cake Decorating.


Step 3


Measure, cut and place wooden dowels where your penguin will be sitting.


Step 4

To make the penguin, bake pound cake in your Wilton Bear Pan. I use pound cake because it is denser. Therefore, it will hold up the wings and beak better. Once your bear cake is baked, cut off the arms and face. Refer to the picture below as a guide.


***Decorator's Tip*** Freeze the cake over night to minimize crumbs and ensure cleaner cuts when carving.


Step 5

Using my original picture as a guide, ice the body with black icing. Be sure to leave the face, belly and feet uncovered.


Step 6

Using tip #5 and white buttercream icing, pipe the outline of the face/belly. You can either fill in the remaining space using a spatula or a piping bag and smooth it when you are done.


Step 7

Next, ice the feet with yellow buttercream icing.


Step 8

Using blue fondant or gumpaste, make the penguin's tie.


Step 9

Using tip #12 and black icing, pipe the eyes on the penguin. Then, re-use tip #2 to write on the tie.


Step 10

Carefully place the penguin on the cake and hammer a sharpened dowel through the center of the penguin. You can then add the wings and beak to the penguin. Next, add the gumpaste decorations and use tip #12 and white buttercream icing to make bubbles coming out of the beaker.

Recently, Wilton has given me the opportunity to review three items from their line of better baking tools. Over the course of the next few weeks you will see reviews of their Rolling Pin, Cyclone Whisk, and Cake Lifter. Once these products are reviewed I will be holding a giveaway and the winner will receive the product of their choosing. So, keep an eye out for these reviews, take notes, and be sure to enter our giveaway.