This month we’re helping you prep for the holidays and all of the major baking headed your way.  With numerous baking related giveaways to help you update your tool kit  (have you entered to win the Cupcake Stands or the Beau-coup credit yet?).  Helpful tips and advice from your favorite bakers and bloggers!  Not to mention new recipes, new DIY’s and a fabulously new cake series to make you merry (starting next week).

Today I’m thrilled to have my friend Melissa from MyCakeSchool.com stop by!  She is always thinking up new and creative cake ideas… and then showing us how to make them!  So it’s only fitting that she gives us the scoop on her favorite tools of the trade.  It’s the ultimate wish-list for any cake maker!  Feel free to share this post with your friends and family… if you want to drop some present hints.  Let’s check out Melissa’s Favorite Baking and Cake Decorating Gadgets!!

Melissa of MyCakeSchool.com tells us about her favorite baking gadgets….

I love baking and cake decorating gadgets and so it was hard for me to choose just a few favorites to share.  Here are some tools that have made my baking and decorating life much easier!

1.  Digital Scale  :  We love our scale.  Weighing your dry ingredients will allow you to follow recipes with accuracy and will give you the most consistent results.

2.  Turntables  :  My cake decorating life changed when I bought my first turntable!  I have two.  My Wilton Trim and Turn (extremely affordable), and my “fancy” turntable which is an Ateco and spins effortlessly.

3.  FMM Multi Ribbon Cutter  :  This tool is such a time saver.  I use it to cut uniform gum paste and fondant ribbons for borders, bows, stripes, etc.  The spacing can be easily adjusted!

4.  KitchenAid Stand Mixer  :  I love my KitchenAid!  It is an investment, but well worth it!  We use our 5 qt. most often.

5.  Agbay Cake Leveler  :  If you struggle with leveling and torting your cakes, this tool is for you!  Again, it is an investment, but works amazingly well.  I just bought an Agbay Junior (smaller version) and love it!

6.  The Mat  :  The Mat is a lifesaver when it comes to covering cakes with fondant.  I especially love mine for covering larger cakes!

7.   BakeWise  :  The Hows and Whys of Successful Baking by Shirley Corriher.  One of my favorites!  This is a wonderful book which not only includes a huge number of recipes, but more importantly, I love that it explains the science behind baking.  It is my go-to for troubleshooting.

I absolutely love seeing Melissa’s go-to tools!  Don’t you?  I think I just fell in love with a few new gadgets!  Thank you, thank you to Melissa of MyCakeSchool.com for stopping by today and sharing her Favorite Baking and Cake Decorating Gadgets!!

**** WINNER UPDATE.  This giveaway is now closed.  Our lucky winner is… Liz Lanza who said “I love the personalized lip balm!” on November 27, 2012 at 9:06 pm.  Congratulations Liz!  Please contact me before Friday, December 7th to claim your prize.  Enjoy! ****

We’re getting ready for the holidays with a week full of fabulous giveaways!  Today’s prize comes to us from our friends at Beau-coup!  They’re making your holidays very merry with their huge selection of quality favors, gifts and party supplies!  Boxes, ribbons, labels… you name it.  Anything and everything you’ll need to make the season bright!  Not to mention adorable baking accessories and even some sweet treats.  And thanks to the generous team at Beau-coup, one lucky Half Baked reader will win a $100 Gift Voucher to spend on ANYTHING at Beau-coup!

Our lucky winner can spend their $100 Gift Voucher on any of the items sold at Beau-coup!  Choose from the fabulous baking accessories like these Meri Meri cupcake kits and this adorable santa cake pop stand!  Not to mention these ‘freshly baked’ treat tags!  Adorable!!

Or choose from Beau-coup’s vast selection of party and favor supplies!  Like kraft boxes that you can personalize or these glass candy jars.  They also have oodles of boxes, bags, ribbons and labels to help you package up your holiday gifts!

**** WINNER UPDATE.  This giveaway is now closed.  Our lucky winner is… Liz Lanza who said “I love the personalized lip balm!” on November 27, 2012 at 9:06 pm.  Congratulations Liz!  Please contact me before Friday, December 7th to claim your prize.  Enjoy! ****

Here’s How to Enter:

Visit Beau-coup and Leave a Comment below telling us what you would choose if you win!   Earn an extra entry by doing any of the following.  Please leave a separate comment for each of your entries.  Maximum of 3 entries per person.

• Sign up to follow Half Baked on Facebook
• Sign up to follow Beau-coup on Facebook

Giveaway ends Monday, December 3rd, 2012 at midnight PST.   A winner will be chosen via random.org and announced here, on this post, on Tuesday, December 4th.  Winner will be notified by email and must claim their prize within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.  This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.  Void where prohibited.   Maximum three (3) entries per person.   Must be at least 18 years old to enter.  Prize is for a $100 Gift Voucher to Beau-coup.  Valid for product only.  Does not include shipping, taxes or special fees.  Must be used within 6 months from date of issue. 

A special thank you to our sponsors for offering up such a fabulous prize!  Enjoy your window shopping at Beau-coup!  Good luck!

**** WINNER UPDATE.  This giveaway is now closed. Our lucky winner is… Nicole who said “I would LOVE the large black flower petal stand!” on November 26, 2012 at 5:11 pm.  Congratulations Nicole!  Please contact me before Wednesday, December 5th to claim your prize.  Enjoy! ****

It’s that time of year again!!  By now, most of us have recovered from our Thanksgiving turkey coma and the craziness of Black Friday.  Today, we’ll spend Cyber Monday surfing the web for steals and deals.  The holiday season has officially begun!  We’re getting into the spirit and gearing up for some serious holiday baking!  The next month will be filled with recipes, tips, giveaways and oodles of sweet inspiration.  To help you with all of your baking and entertaining this year!

Today we’re starting off with a giveaway sure to make your upcoming dessert displays even more impressive!  Beautiful, elegant, durable cupcake stands!  Thanks to our generous sponsor, Georgiana at Cupcake Stand, someone is going to give and receive this amazing prize.  One lucky reader will will win a $100 Shop Credit to the Cupcake Stand for yourself.  Plus a $100 Shop Credit for a friend!  Twice the stands.  Twice the fun!

Our lucky winner will be able to choose from a wide selection of cupcake stands.  Seven different shapes, two different colors and countless ways to stack them up!  You can easily add or remove tiers, making these stands perfect for all of your events.  Big and small!  Or choose from the reversible cake pop stands or even push pop stands!

And what’s even better than receiving one of these gorgeous stands?  Giving one to your best baking friend!  What a fun way to play Santa this year!

**** WINNER UPDATE.  This giveaway is now closed. Our lucky winner is… Nicole who said “I would LOVE the large black flower petal stand!” on November 26, 2012 at 5:11 pm.  Congratulations Nicole!  Please contact me before Wednesday, December 5th to claim your prize.  Enjoy! ****

Here’s How to Enter:

Visit Cupcake Stand and Leave a Comment below telling us what you would choose if you win!   Earn an extra entry by doing any of the following.  Please leave a separate comment for each of your entries.  Maximum of 3 entries per person.

• Sign up to follow Half Baked on Facebook
• Sign up to follow Cupcake Stand on Facebook

Giveaway ends Sunday, December 2nd, 2012 at midnight PST.   A winner will be chosen via random.org and announced here, on this post, on Monday, December 3rd.  Winner will be notified by email and must claim their prize within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.  This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.  Void where prohibited.   Maximum three (3) entries per person.   Must be at least 18 years old to enter.  

Special thanks to Georgiana at Cupcake Stand for offering up such a fabulous prize!  Be sure to check out their big Cyber Monday sale…. everything is 35% off!!!  Just use promo code BLACKFRIDAY2012.    Good luck everyone!