STARTER KIT

I want to start making my kids birthday cakes, but I'm not sure what I need. Can you give me some ideas on what the basic things are that I need to buy to get started?

If you are a novice baker or cake decorator and don’t know where to begin, here is a list of basic tools, beyond the modern basics like an electric mixer, rubber spatulas, and bowls, that I recommend purchasing. A great place to look for decorating supplies is www.wilton.com - they have almost all you will need to start making cakes at home.
· Assorted baking pans including a 9x13” rectangular pan, a 9-inch or 10-inch round pan, and a standard 12-mold muffin/cupcake pan. With these three sizes you can do so almost any style cake or cupcake.
· I recommend purchasing a starter tip set. Ones like the deluxe set from Wilton (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30DB12-475A-BAC0-56CD4756E12FB6B7&killnav=1) have all you need and more. If you want to spend less money I would recommend buying the following individual tips: #104 petal tip, #8 round tip, #16 or 27 star tip, and a # 352 leaf tip. With these 4 tips you can do almost everything in my books. In addition to these tips purchase a few reusable or disposable 12-inch pastry bags, couplers and rings.
· I would be lost without my 12-inch offset blade spatula and a small 4 ½ offset spatula. You could always use a rubber spatula or even a butter knife to apply icing, but you won’t get the smooth finish that you can achieve with an offset spatula
· Assorted icing colors: liquid gel, liquid, or paste all work fine. Start with a basic set of Red, Yellow, and Blue. If you enjoy decorating branch out and get premixed colors for a more varied palette (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30C97E-475A-BAC0-5A609FE5C5506685&killnav=1 )
· If you want to try your hand at the “Chocolate Method” purchase a basic set of Candy Color (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30B819-475A-BAC0-5F5189466A40B391&killnav=1 ), and a few bags of dark and white confectioner’s chocolate (http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E310A5F-475A-BAC0-513EBB4AAC195A7E&killnav=1 ). To make pastry cones have parchment paper and/or cellophane on hand.