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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Every home baker needs a great cake stand in their kitchen. It’s the sort of thing that literally (and figuratively) elevates a cake from good to great and from great to magnificent. And they’re not just for cakes—nearly any dessert or baked good, whether cookies, brownies, cupcakes, muffins, or even loaves of bread, will look more elegant and potentially dramatic if presented on a cake stand. Plus, when they aren’t functioning as a display for your home baking, you can use them as a centerpiece or display piece by swapping cake for a bowl of fruit, candles, or other knickknacks.
Not all cake stands are made the same, however. Some are unstable and will fall over if you barely touch them. Others just look poorly manufactured or lack aesthetics. We searched for the most popular brands and asked pastry chefs, bakers, and food writers if they had a favorite cake stand in their homes. Then, we tested our list of cake stands by frosting cakes and serving them up to see if the cake stands stood up to real-life use. Whether you're looking for a basic turntable stand or an heirloom for generations, we found that the best cake stands blend design, performance, durability, and overall value.
Best Overall
Mosser Glass Cake Stand
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Amazon
Classic, timeless design
Low profile lip for easy frosting
Tall yet stable
Tall, so hard to store
Cake dome is sold separately
The Mosser glass cake plate has been imitated and knocked off countless times. But the original version, hand-molded in Ohio, is timeless, with a solid base that makes this tall and elegant cake stand surprisingly stable. Frosting cakes is easy because the top of the cake stand has a low-profile lip. This allows you to manipulate the frosting on the sides of the cake without getting in the way. During testing, we found the lip still prevents any crumbs or spills from glazes from falling off the top of the stand.
The milk glass white version is a classic standard color. But the cake stand comes in numerous colors, including vibrant translucent red, soft Georgia blue, and classic jadeite green. You can purchase a cake dome separately if you’d like. But even without it, cakes and desserts look fantastic perched on top, ready to be served.
The only downside we found during testing was the height of the stand, which may make storage difficult. However, the tall stature is what helps gives it elegance and beauty, so that may not be a downside to some.
Price at time of publish: $68
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Glass | Size: 10 x 8 inches | Weight: 3.94 pounds
Best Budget
World Market Organic Rim Mason Cake Stand
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World Market
Ivory finish looks and feels luxurious
Dishwasher safe
Modern rustic look
Tall lip makes frosting cake more difficult
Shorter than other cake stands
Cheap in price doesn’t necessarily always mean cheap in looks. Take, for instance, the Organic Rim Mason Cake Stand from World Market. The reasonably priced cake stand is crafted in Portugal and comes in either a black finish or ivory color, both of which have a high-end luxe feel with a smooth glaze.
Slightly shorter in stature, the irregular rim feels handmade and organically made. This gives the cake stand a modern rustic look to your table, perfect for your homemade cake or dessert. The shortness and tall lip did make frosting cake a little more difficult, as we discovered in our tests. Made from stoneware ceramic, it is also one of the few dishwasher-safe cake stands we tried during testing.
Price at time of publish: $14
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Stoneware ceramic | Size: 10.75 x 3.2 inches | Weight: 3.06 pounds
Best With Dome
Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand with Dome
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Courtesy of Amazon
Glass cakes stand is easy to clean
Generous sized top and cake dome
Reasonably priced
Molded glass with seams that show
Large and difficult to store
The Libbey cake stand is the ideal example of a completely clear glass cake stand that should be a basic necessity in everyone’s kitchen. It’s the perfect place for items like muffins, donuts, or cookies, where the cake dome helps keep them from going stale. Having baked goods out on display also makes every kitchen seem like home, where you can grab a quick muffin before heading out to school or work. Plus, leaving this stand out on your countertop also means you won't have to find a good storage spot.
We found that the Libbey’s cake stand was slightly taller than other models, with an elegant but sturdy base. The generous-sized cake plate and the tall, straight-sided cake dome allowed us to store larger cakes or heavily decorated ones, as well as big batches of other baked goods—all enticingly on display. The stand also scored extra points for its durable thick glass, which makes it sturdy and not prone to chips or breaking, as well as the reasonable price.
Price at time of publish: $45
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Lead-free glass | Size: 13 x 4.75 inches (without dome), 13x 12.25 inches (with dome) | Weight: 3.56 pounds (without dome), 7 pounds (with dome)
Best Rotating for Beginners
Wilton High and Low Cake Turntable
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Amazon
Legs can be extended for tall or short height
Ball bearing rotating is smooth
Plastic top is removable for easy cleaning
Nonslip rubber ring edge is difficult to clean
Plastic can absorb dyes, smells, and flavors
The Wilton Company gets it right again with this hardworking, adaptable revolving cake stand. The High and Low cake turntable is the best rotating cake stand for beginners or home bakers who want a budget turntable or rotating cake stand for decorating their cakes. Made of heavy-duty white plastic, it has a rubber nonslip grip top that keeps the cake from sliding around. The top is removable for easy cleanup, and the durable rigid plastic means it won’t break, even if you accidentally knock into it.
The 12.75-inch base has extendable legs, which means you can raise it up from 3.45 inches to 5 inches to help decorate the cake. The rubber grips on the bottom of the legs prevent the turntable from sliding around, and the ability to fold the legs underneath, once done, makes it more compact and easier to store in the kitchen.
There was only one issue that came up during testing. We weren't a fan of how the rubber grip top met the rest of the plastic top. Frosting got trapped in the edges, and it was a bit hard to clean. It might also be important to protect the plastic during decoration, as white plastic can absorb vibrant dyes and any pungent smells.
Price at time of publish: $29
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Plastic | Size: 11 x 3.8 inches | Weight: 2.19 pounds
Best Rotating for Display
JK Adams Marble & Walnut Wood Rotating Cake Stand
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Food52
Smooth rotating top
Heavy and stable
Marble top keeps cakes cool
Rotating top makes serving cake a little difficult
Marbled top is unfinished on bottom and edge
Can be a little noisy when rotating
The JK Adams Marble and Walnut rotating cake stand is an ideal marriage of a functional cake turntable and a beautiful display cake stand. It has a polished marble top attached to a walnut wood base with a rotating ball-bearing mechanism. This means you can easily decorate your cake and then serve it, all from the same cake stand.
We love that the marble top stays cool, perfect for working with fragile buttercream frostings and delicate cakes. It can also function as a cheese plate or as a serving plate for other items that benefit from a cool surface, like chocolates or petit fours. The smooth spinning surface makes decorating cakes a breeze, though we did observe that the heavy marble top made a bit of noise against the ball bearings. All things considered, that’s a small sacrifice for this functional and beautiful addition to your kitchen or dining room.
Price at time of publish: $125
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Marble and walnut wood | Size: 11 x 3.8 inches | Weight: 5.1 pounds
Best for Decorating
Ateco 612 12-Inch Cast Iron Revolving Cake Stand
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Amazon
Smooth spinning top
Removable top for easy cleaning and easy storage
Strong and stable cast-iron base
Cast iron base is heavy
Top has rivets, so not completely flat
If you’re looking for the best rotating cake stand for making your picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy cake, the Ateco 612 stand with cast iron base is the answer. This is the rotating cake stand that nearly every single blogger, cake decorator, cookbook author, and food writer recommends. With a heavy cast iron base that is super stable, and a smooth metal rotating top, it will make any home baker feel like a professional.
During testing, we found that this was the easiest to clean and store away. The removable top means that it is easier to clean than some others. Once broken down, it’s also easier to store than a lot of other cake stands. The top has a stem that inserts into the base, and it rotated smoothly with little effort while we frosted. If you find the cake stand to be moving slower than you like, you can easily grease it with a little cooking oil, creating nearly effortless spinning. And the cake stand comes with a nonskid pad to place underneath to prevent movement. It’s the ideal tool for beginners, home bakers, and professionals.
Price at time of publish: $62
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Cast iron base, aluminum top | Size: 12 x 5 inches | Weight: 3 pounds
"I've been using the Ateco cast iron rotating cake stand for nearly 20 years. I started using it as a pastry intern, then used it in my big event cake decorating business. It's a must for people who make and decorate cakes since it rotates smoothly, allowing you to pipe borders and ice cakes without breaks or ripples. Since it has a cast iron base, it won't shift around on you when you're smoothing the frosting on your cakes. It still holds a place of honor in my pantry and gets used every time I'm decorating a cake." — Marta Rivera, founder of Sense and Edibility
Best Traditional
Estelle Colored Glass Hand-Blown Glass Cake Stand
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Food52
Elegant design
Handblown with no molded seams
Low profile lip
Handblown means irregularity and occasional air bubbles
Cake dome sold separately
Expensive
Named after the grandmother of the company's founder, the Estelle cake stand is beautifully handblown in Poland. This attractive, traditional cake stand is a treasure that's worth the splurge, especially if passed down as an heirloom.
Each stand is elegant and graceful, elevating every dessert it touches. The stunning translucent glass is made and blown by hand, which means there are no molded seams to distract from the stylish design of the piece. We appreciated how luxurious and chic this cake stand felt after unboxing, and of course, how lovely the finished cake looked while on display.
The cake stands come in a variety of candy-colored pastels as well as bolder, more saturated colors; We’re partial to the cobalt blue, blush pink, and yellow that all look like they came out of a vintage postcard or antique shop. Beautifully packaged in a gift box reminiscent of a hat box, this 8.5-inch-high cake stand is something you and your family will treasure for generations—as long as the glass is treated with care.
Price at time of publish: $225
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Handblown glass | Size: 11 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds
Most Chic
American Heirloom Hardwood Walnut Cake Stand
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Food52
Clean modern design
Flat top makes it easy to decorate cake and serve
Indentation in base is easy to hold
Base is a bit narrow and less stable than others
Flat top means crumbs and glaze will run and drip off
This chic modern cake stand is made in Brooklyn, New York, by a husband and wife team. Deceptively simple and contemporary in design, the cake stand is made of a wood base that has a thin white accent on the bottom that matches the durable white Corian top. The result is a minimal, elegant design that accentuates the cake or dessert without distracting from it.
Layer cakes and desserts look beautiful and stand out on the sleek cake stand, putting the focus and emphasis on the baked good or dish. Due to the narrow base, the cake stand does feel a little less stable than other cake stands we tested. But, the narrow indentation in the base right under the top plate is a great place to hold onto the base as you move it around to cut and serve the dessert.
Price at time of publish: $84
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Material: Corian, walnut wood | Size: 10 x 5.25 inches | Weight: 2.19 pounds
The timeless design of the Mosser Glass Cake Stand means a stable base so your cake won't tip over and a low lip that won't interfere while you're decorating. Durability is just one of the reasons many professionals use the Ateco 12-Inch Cast Iron Revolving Cake Stand.
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
How We Tested
We sent all of the cake stands on this roundup to our seasoned home tester, who tried each out by simply frosting a 2-layer cake to determine which cake stands are truly the best. Each cake stand was rated on design, performance, durability, and overall value. Our tester then offered additional insights on each cake stand's strengths and weaknesses.
Other Options We Tested
- Wilton Tilt and Turn Ultra Cake Turntable: This is a good choice for a plastic turntable as it is durable and heavy. But it costs the same, or more, than the Ateco cast iron cake turntable, which is the professional choice of cake decorators and pastry chefs.
- Sur La Table Covered Cake Stand: This cake stand is beautiful and made of handblown glass. But the handblown glass top was warped and uneven, making it difficult to place a cake on top to decorate or serve.
- Bee Willow Cake Stand in Green: This cake stand had uneven glazing underneath and looked a little cheap compared to the other cake stands we tested and picked.
What to Look for in a Cake Stand
Design
Every person has their own sensibilities when it comes to aesthetics and design. Choose a cake stand that fits your kitchen and personal style, but also keep in mind the functionality and use of the cake stand. Look for a cake stand that is heavy and has a wide base or stable base if you need something that is durable or if you have a large family or pets. Consider something more elegant if you don’t mind hand-washing and storing more delicate serving ware.
Stability
Since cake stands are elevated plates to place cakes on, they are more prone to be toppled. When choosing a cake stand, pick one that is heavy or has a bottom-heavy or wide base for maximum stability. If you do choose a cake stand with a more narrow base, make sure it is one that you are comfortable holding while you place the cake on it or while you serve the cake.
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
Top Rim
Cake stand tops sometimes have a rim around the edge of the top plate, which has both advantages and disadvantages. A rim on the cake stand will prevent the cake and cake dome from sliding off the top of the stand. It will also help prevent crumbs or glaze from falling or dripping off the side of the cake. However, the rim also can make it more difficult to decorate, cut, or serve the cake.
A flat cake stand top shows off the cake and dessert better, as the rim won't get in the way while viewing the cake. This also means the cake or dessert has a better chance of sliding off the cake stand, and crumbs and glaze can drip off of the cake stand. It also means a cake dome is more likely to slide around and potentially fall off the cake stand. However, without the rim, decorating the cake and serving it is easier.
Material
Look for a cake stand that fits your lifestyle. If you have a large family or pets, a more durable cake stand that can hold up to bumping into or being used by children might be the best option. More delicate cake stands might also require larger storage space. Finally, some cake stands require special care in cleaning, while other cake stands are dishwasher safe.
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The Spruce Eats / Irvin Lin
FAQs
How big should a cake stand be?
The stand should be, at a very minimum, the same size as the bottom tier of the cake. It can be a little bigger since some stands have decorations or designs on the plate portion that you might want to have visible when displaying the cake.
How long will a cake keep on a counter on a cake stand?
Depending on the type of cake you are storing, some cakes can be stored for up to three days in a cake stand under a cake dome. But some cakes, like those that use fresh berries, whipped cream, or cream cheese frosting, need to be refrigerated.
What else can you use a cake stand for?
Cake stands aren’t just for cakes. You can store and serve other desserts, like pies, cookies, or brownies, on a cake stand. When the cake stand isn’t in use for serving food, consider placing it out on a table or bookshelf on display. Place a bowl of fruit on it, or use it to display seasonal décor, picture frames, knickknacks, or candles. It’s a wonderful display for nearly anything in your household.
How do you clean a cake stand?
Most cake stands are hand-wash only, but a few are dishwasher safe. Always refer to the documentation or package that comes with the cake stand. Rotating cake stands sometimes have a removable top, making them easier to clean. Keep in mind that almost all rotating cake stands have metal parts. Avoid getting the rotating mechanism wet or dry them thoroughly after washing to prevent rusting.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Irvin Lin is a cookbook author of "Marbled, Swirled, and Layered" and an ongoing contributor to The Spruce Eats and Simply Recipes. He runs his own blog, Eat the Love, and is a professional recipe developer and writer. He’s baked hundreds of cakes and owns way too many cake stands. That doesn’t prevent him from still shopping for more any chance he gets, much to his husband’s chagrin.
Our original writer, Karen Resta, specializes in food culture and history, cooking, pastries, and restaurants. She's also a former pastry chef and has traveled to Budapest, Kyiv, and Paris during their Fashion Weeks as a photographer and writer, always finding the best authentic pastries along the way. She now spends a lot of her free time baking at home and recommends quality within your given budget.
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