10 Best Cake Decorating Books 2026 in the United States

'The Perfect Cake: Your Ultimate Guide to Classic, Modern, and Whimsical Cakes' could be a wonderful addition to your kitchen if you're looking to elevate your cake-decorating skills. This book is suitable for a wide range of skill levels, offering something for both beginners and more experienced decorators. With its comprehensive coverage of techniques, from basic to advanced, you'll find step-by-step instructions that make even complex designs manageable.

The book's design variety is impressive, featuring classic, modern, and whimsical cakes that can fit various occasions and preferences. One of the highlights is the author expertise, coming from America's Test Kitchen, known for their reliable and thoroughly tested recipes. This ensures you're getting tried-and-true methods that work. Additionally, the book is visually appealing, with high-quality illustrations and photographs that inspire and guide you through the decorating process.

On the downside, at 448 pages and weighing 3.4 pounds, it's quite a hefty book, which might be cumbersome for some users. Also, given its in-depth content and hardcover format, it might be on the pricier side compared to lighter, more casual cake-decorating guides. However, if you are serious about improving your cake-decorating skills and want a reliable, well-rounded resource, 'The Perfect Cake' is a strong contender.

The Wilton Cake Decorating Course 3 is a solid choice for those interested in learning how to create tiered cakes with fondant and detailed decorations. It is designed for users who have some basic cake-decorating experience and want to advance their skills, particularly in creating smooth fondant surfaces, elegant flowers, and intricate accents like embroidery and lace. The book offers step-by-step guidance that is easy to follow, making it suitable for self-study. With 48 pages, it provides a focused, manageable amount of content rather than overwhelming the reader.

The variety of techniques covered allows for a good mix of classic and decorative skills, especially useful if you want to impress with tiered cakes and refined borders. Wilton is a well-known brand in cake decorating, which adds credibility to the instructions and techniques presented. The book's visual appeal is somewhat limited due to its softcover format and relatively few pages, so it may not be as richly illustrated or inspiring as larger, more photo-heavy books.

If you’re aiming to build confidence in working with fondant and tiered cakes specifically, this book is a practical and approachable resource. However, if you're after a broader range of cake decorating styles or more detailed photography, you might want to explore additional titles.

The 'All-in-One Guide to Cake Decorating' is a comprehensive resource for both novice and intermediate cake decorators. With over 100 techniques and recipes, it addresses a wide range of skills from basic to advanced, making it suitable for those just starting out as well as those looking to refine their techniques.

The book covers essential topics like decorating cakes, making flowers, and using fondant, ensuring readers have a broad foundation in cake decorating skills. The clear, step-by-step instructions are a major strength, helping users follow along without feeling overwhelmed. The design variety is impressive, offering something for every occasion and taste, which keeps the reader engaged and inspired.

Authored by experts in the field, the book brings a level of credibility and trustworthiness that enhances its value. The visual appeal is another highlight, with high-quality images that make the learning process enjoyable and visually instructive. However, the book's weight and dimensions might make it somewhat cumbersome to handle for some users. Additionally, while it covers a wide range of techniques, those looking for highly specialized or niche decorating styles might find it lacking in those areas. Nonetheless, its broad coverage and user-friendly approach make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their cake decorating skills.