If you're a baker, chances are great that you could find a use for cake turntables. Also called a rotating cake stand, a turntable makes cake decorating much easier.
My daughter is actually a professional cake decorator, so I took the opportunity to try out a handful of different cake turntables with her. I am not an excellent decorator, so it was a nice chance to learn how both a pro and an amateur would find using each of them.
Top Cake Turntable Choices
- Best Wood Cake Turntable: GOVOKOI Wood Revolving Cake Stand
- Best Metal Cake Turntable: Kootek Cake Turntable and Rotating Cake Stand
- Best Cake Turntable Kit: RFAQK Cake Turntable Set
- Best Tilting Mechanism: Wilton Tilt-N-Turn Ultra Cake Turntable and Cake Stand
- Best Budget-Friendly Cake Turntable: Cabaubl Non-Slip Cake Turntable
- Best Cupcake Turntable: S SANGLE SOPFFY Cookie Decorating Turntable
The Testing Process for the Best Cake Turntables
What I did to test the turntables was to try out different aspects of cake decorating on each one. Upon consulting with my daughter, we decided to spread the frosting, pipe the borders, apply sprinkles, and create flowers on the different cake stands.
We evaluated how well the stands turned, how stable they were, and how easy they were to use in general.
Best Cake Turntables in 2023
1. GOVOKOI Wood Revolving Cake Stand: Best Wood Cake Turntable
| SPECIFICATIONS | Material: Acacia wood Color: Light golden to medium brown Style: Modern Shape: Round Weight: 5.8 quarts Special Feature: Rotating Product Care: Wipe with dry cloth Inclusions: 2 icing spatulas, 3 smoothers, wooden rotating display stand for cake, cupcake decorating supplies |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Attractive piece that could be used to display items on the dining table + Sturdy + Easy cleaning with a damp cloth + Food-grade wood |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Doesn't seem to be dishwasher safe - Some people have reported a detached base |
This attractive cake stand has stainless steel ball bearings to facilitate easy turning. It also has rubber feet, so it doesn't slide around. The acacia wood is food grade, and the turntable comes with two icing spatulas and three icing smoothers.
Overall Impression: This is a really beautiful rotating cake stand. It's quite sturdy and has a nice, smooth rotation. Even when it's not being used for cake decorating, I could see using it as a lazy Susan at the dinner table; it's really that attractive.
Performance: This worked well. Some of the Amazon reviews discussed the base being detached from the spinning top, but mine didn't have that problem. Everything is adhered well. I'm not usually a fan of putting food on wood, but this one is smooth and easy to clean.
User-Friendly Features: The cake decorating stand keeps the cake steady and level. It spins smoothly and is easy to clean.
2. Kootek 12 Inch Cake Turntable: Best Metal Cake Turntable
| SPECIFICATIONS | Material: Aluminum Color: Silver Style: Modern Shape: Round Dimensions: 12.17"L x 12.17"W x 3.78"H Special Feature: Rotating Product Care: Hand wash Inclusions: 7 pcs baking supplies aluminum alloy revolving cake decorating stand, with 3 icings smoother, icing spatula, silicone spatula, cake cutter |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Similar to professional cake stands + Good for heavy or large cakes + Non-slip base + Easy to wash by hand |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Manufacturer doesn't recommend putting this in the dishwasher - Might be on the heavy side for some users |
This is a nice, heavy, sturdy cake stand. The base is over 12" across, and it has rubber feet and a non-slip surface to prevent sliding. It comes with spatulas and decorating combs, as well as a cake server.
Overall Impression: This cake stand is heavier than you would expect it to be, and it would be fine for heavy cakes. In fact, my daughter uses one that's similar at the bakery where she works; she said this was her favorite by far.
Performance: This one is our top choice among the best cake turntables. You'd be able to decorate the entire cake using just this piece. The rotating mechanism is smooth, and it's big enough to accommodate even large cakes. This heavy-duty type of stand is used in professional bakeries and would be perfect for home bakers, as well.
User-Friendly Features: This metal turntable makes decorating simple, and it's much heavier and sturdier than the plastic ones we tried. It provides a good grip and doesn't slide around, it spins easily, and it's easy to clean.
3. RFAQK Cake Turntable Set: Best Cake Turntable Kit
| SPECIFICATIONS | Material: Aluminum Color: White, Pink Style: Modern Shape: Round Dimensions: 11.6 x 3.5 x 11.6 inches Special Feature: Rotating Product Care: Dishwasher Safe Inclusions: cake stand, numbered icing tips with pattern chart, Korean ruffle frosting tips, straight spatula, offset spatula, leveler, cake scrapers, icing coupler, silicone pastry bag, disposable icing bags, flower lifter and nail, cleaning brush, adjustable height icing smoother, and cupcake liners |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Similar to professional cake stands + Good for heavy or large cakes + Non-slip base + Easy to wash by hand |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Manufacturer doesn't recommend putting this in the dishwasher - Might be on the heavy side for some users |
This kit comes with 200 pieces to make cake decorating fun and easy. The cake stand is 11" wide. It also includes 48 icing tips and a pattern chart, ruffle frosting tips, spatulas, cake levelers, scrapers, couplers, a silicone pastry bag and over 100 disposable icing bags, a nail and flower lifter, an adjustable height icing smoother, and 20 disposable cupcake liners.
Overall Impression: This kit seems amazing and has a ton of tools to make all types of cake decorating possible. The stand is made of white plastic, and it gets the job done, but the real draw is the various accessories.
Performance: Overall, this wasn't the absolute best turntable. It wasn't terribly sturdy, and it wasn't one of the taller stands. With that being said, though, most of the accessories worked very well and were well worth the cost of the kit. My daughter did say that the nail (for flower-making) was on the small side, but she was able to make flowers with no problem.
User-Friendly Features: The turntable is lightweight and has a rubber base to prevent sliding. It works fine as an icing turntable, and it's big enough to hold the finished cake with no issue. The easy cleaning plastic is good for putting the cake directly on the surface without worry. It's also dishwasher safe.
Pros:
- Comes with a cleaning brush for small accessories
- Dishwasher safe
- Tons of tips and options for decorating beautifully
Cons:
- Less sturdy than some of the other options
4. Wilton Tilt-N-Turn Ultra Cake Turntable and Cake Stand: Best Tilting Mechanism
| SPECIFICATIONS | Material: Plastic Color: White Shape: Round Dimensions: 12"L x 12"W x 7"H Special Feature: Tilts in 18 different locked positions Product Care: Wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth and dry thoroughly |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Tilts for good access to all sides of the cake + Non slip surface + Made of sturdy plastic + Has a nice, wide base |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - The tilting feature isn't smooth - Doesn't appear to be dishwasher safe |
This Wilton turntable has a tilt option that allows you to apply sprinkles or a crumb coating to the sides of the cake. It measures 12 inches across and it's elevated to 7 inches. The cake stand is sturdy and heavy for its size.
Overall Impression: This is a rather large cake decorating stand, and you can see and feel the non-slip surface that will keep the cake in place.
Performance: This is a sturdy stand; it rotates smoothly and has both a non-slip base and a non-slip top surface. We used it to add sprinkles to the side of our cake, and it worked well for that. Tilting the top isn't a smooth motion; it took a little bit of jarring to get it to where we wanted it to be.
Once we figured it out, though, it was nice to see that there were quite a few positions, so it would work for most home bakers who want to decorate the sides of their cakes. Our cake, which was on a cake board, didn't slide at all when in the tilted position.
User-Friendly Features: This is a stand that isn't going to slide or slip; the rubberized feet and top are strong enough to hold everything still. It has excellent stability and the tile feature makes it possible to make intricate designs. The spin is smooth, and you can clean it with a damp cloth.
5. Cabaubl Non-Slip Cake Turntable: Best Budget-Friendly Cake Turntable
| SPECIFICATIONS | Material: Plastic Color: White Shape: Round Dimensions: 12"L x 12"W x 7"H Special Feature: Tilts in 18 different locked positions Product Care: Wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth and dry thoroughly |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Budget-friendly + Non slip base + Dishwasher safe + Comes with spatulas |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Less sturdy than some of the other products tested |
This revolving cake decorating stand is good for those on a budget. It is 11 inches wide, and it comes with icing spatulas, smothers, and a cake leveler. It doesn't really come with any bells and whistles, but that's what you'd expect from a budget product.
Overall Impression: This cake turntable is similar to the one that comes in the kit described above. The stand rotates clockwise and counter-clockwise, and it has a non slip base. It comes with a few accessories to make decorating easier.
Performance: This is a great cake stand for the money. It's not terribly sturdy, so it wouldn't be good for the heaviest of cakes, but it's fine for the type of cake most people who like baking will be making in their homes. It has a smooth spin and an anti slip surface to hold the cake in place.
User-Friendly Features: This is a very basic cake decorating turntable, and it's easy enough to use. It spins well and will hold most cakes. It also has the all-important non slip base to prevent the cake from sliding.
6. S SANGLE SOPFFY Cookie Decorating Turntable: Best Cupcake Turntable
| SPECIFICATIONS | Material: Acrylic Color: White Shape: Square Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 1 inches Product Care: Wipe with dry cloth |
| TODAY'S BEST DEALS | View at Amazon |
| REASONS TO BUY | + Small, easy to store + Good for cupcakes and cookies + Comes with a silicone mat |
| REASONS TO AVOID | - Not dishwasher safe - Protective cover is hard to remove |
This small decorating turntable is marketed to be used for decorating cookies. It's made from clear acrylic and is 7 inches wide. It also comes with a silicone mat to prevent slipping.
Overall Impression: This is a cute tool to have available for decorating cookies and cupcakes. It has a non-skid rubber bottom, and it also includes a silicone mat to keep your small treat in place as you decorate. The size is great for keeping it in a drawer or cabinet without taking up much space; it's only 1 inch high.
Performance: This worked just fine for decorating a cupcake. It spins smoothly and is the ideal tool to keep on hand for holiday cookies, birthday cupcakes, and other small items that most people will make, even if they're not avid bakers. It offers more stability than trying to decorate these items on a plate or cookie sheet. Note that it did come with a protective covering that was harder than expected to peel off.
User-Friendly Features: I liked that this is small and really simple to just take out and use. The silicone mat also came in handy. This is easy to clean by just hand washing it
Factors to Consider When Buying Cake Turntables
Construction Material
When deciding what kind of cake stand to buy, you'll want to first think about the construction material you prefer. The main materials you'll have to choose from are metal, wood, plastic, and acrylic.
For the most part, metal is going to be the sturdiest, and plastic will likely be the least sturdy; some plastic cake turntables are dishwasher safe, though.
Accompanying Accessories
Take a look at what comes with the rotating cake stand you're considering. Do you already have spatulas, comb spreaders, decorating tips, and other various accessories? If not, consider looking for one that includes these items.
Size of Turntable
For most cakes you'll make at home, an 11-inch turntable will be fine. If you want to make larger cakes, though, you might look for a larger one. As long as the cake stand is sturdy, you'll be able to use a cake board to stabilize the cake itself, even if it hangs over the edge of the turntable.
Tilt: Needed or Not
If you want to make intricate designs on the sides of your cakes, a tilting turntable might be a good option to consider. If this isn't something that interests you, though, you probably don't need to pay extra for this feature.
Budget
Finally, think about your budget. Is it better to spend more on a sturdy cake stand that offers more stability, or is this something you'll be using only a couple of times per year, where a less expensive model might be perfectly fine?
Frequently Asked Questions about Cake Turntables
Yes, beginners can use them, too! Using a rotating cake stand actually makes it easier to learn how to decorate cakes, since you won't need to keep repositioning yourself; simply give it a turn and the cake will be right where you need it.
Yes, you can rotate most cake stands in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
You'll need to read the manufacturer's instructions for your specific cake turntable to see if you can put it in the dishwasher. If not, though, they aren't hard to clean. Simply wash them in warm, soapy water shortly after using them, before any icing has a chance to harden.
Yes! They make great display units for various desserts. You could also use an attractive one as a rotating tray or lazy Susan on your table or counter. If you're into crafts or decorating projects, you might also find a use for it in that capacity.
Finding the Best Cake Turntable for Your Needs
Once you think through how often you would use your cake decorating stand and what type you'd like, finding the right cake turntable for your needs is really just a matter of personal preference.
Maybe one of the products I reviewed will be the right one for you. If not, consider what characteristics you're looking for and go from there!
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