Baking Like Buddy – Meyer Launches Cake Boss Bakeware

Mom Central was invited to attend a preview event at The Cake Boss Lackawanna Factory where we attended a workshop on decorating with fondant to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

We love watching episodes of TLC’s “Cake Boss” where Buddy Valastro conjures up creatively inspired stunning cakes to perfectly fit customized special occasions. I was delighted to receive an invitation to meet Buddy and learn about how  Meyer Corporation, U.S. now has made it possible to create artfully crafted cakes at home through the new Cake Boss bakeware line – and pick up some decorating tips straight from “The Boss” himself!

The event took place at Carlo’s Bakery’s Lackawanna facility, where Buddy and his team of artisan designers bakers and designers put their talents to work and produce countless cakes, cupcakes, cannolis, cookies, pastries and more each day.

At the event, I previewed the three lines of Cake Boss bakeware that are launching this year. (They’ll be available in Michael’s stores in September, and Target and Walmart around the holidays). Buddy was on site to demonstrate how it’s possible to recreate his artful cakes using these products. He was also instrumental in overseeing the development of the bakeware line to ensure that it’s up to his high baking standards. Buddy showed us key features of each of the products, and discussed his family’s history of baking. His son was on hand to help his father throughout the day, as he loves visiting the factory with his dad, much like Buddy did during his childhood.

Buddy designed this line to make baking within reach for everyone, no matter your experience level or age. He puts a lot of emphasis on using the right tools at his own bakery, and was adamant about creating top of the line yet easy to use products in his collection.

Cake Boss Bakeware is available in three collections that accommodate all levels of bakers: basic, deluxe, and professional.

• The Basic Bakeware line is made from heavy-duty materials that feature helpful steps for amateur bakers, such as an imprinted “drop zone” on cookie sheets that guide positioning of cookie dough for the best results.
• Cake Boss Bakeware’s Deluxe line features commercial-quality carbon steel with rolled edges that offer strength and durability. Handy features such as red silicone grips provide a comfortable grasp on hot pans.
• The Professional Bakeware line is crafted from exceptionally durable aluminized steel, and the pan texture imitates the quilting pattern that Buddy made famous, which provides even heating and release without texturing the baked goods.

In addition to the bakeware pans, Cake Boss Bakeware includes a line of very innovative tools for bakers of all levels. To put these to the test, we had the chance to work with fondant to decorate a delicious chocolate and vanilla cake. In our demonstration, we learned how to flatten the fondant to the point where then you drape it over the cake. You then use a fondant cutter (in the line) to remove the excess from around the base of the cake. We saved the extra fondant to use for decorating the cake after the initial fondant layer was in place, which we decorated with the Cake Boss ribbon cutter.

One of the challenges of working with the fondant was ensuring its smoothness – we did not want any bubbles! However, I learned a valuable trick. When there’s a spot that either is spread too thin or was a bit too raised, we could simply cut out a piece of another color fondant and cover it with a polka dot or flower!

For more information or to purchase these products online (staring in Fall 2013), visit cakebossbaking.com.

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