Birthday Party Cake Decorating: 7 Cool Spots in NYC for Supplies and Classes

Whether you dream of outdoing the Cake Boss for your child's next birthday or just want to bake some homemade sweets, there are stores all over the city with cool supplies. If you're ready to move beyond basic techniques, many locations also offer classes on how to ice cakes, make buttercream flowers, work with fondant, and more, though most are geared toward adults and older children. Little ones will still love wandering the aisles and checking out unusual cake toppers, baking tins shaped like their favorite cartoon characters, and sprinkles in every color of the rainbow. And just in case they start begging for their own classes, we included two places that have them specifically for smaller children.

NY Cake
56 West 22nd St, Chelsea
With a 5,000 square foot location in Chelsea, NY Cake is truly a one stop shop for all your baking needs. Stock up on sprinkles, sugars, dragees, cake toppers, baking pans in every shape and size, cookie cutters, and all sorts of other decorations that will inspire the inner Martha in even the lowliest chef. Their class offerings include cake decorating, fondant bows, cake pops, gourmet chocolate and more. The classes run for around $85 for four sessions, depending on the skill covered.

Sugar Room Cake Supplies
44-21 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside
Sugar Room Cake Supplies carries chocolate and candy molds, cookie cutters, flavors, cake fillings, ready to use fondant, gum paste, butter creams, and instructional books and DVDS. Their classes are geared toward serious bakers and can run for several weeks, but they do offer a 1-day cupcake and cake decorating class that's 3 hours and costs $200. Visit their website for upcoming dates and additional information.

Michaels
Multiple locations in NYC
The largest arts and crafts retailer in North America, Michaels has multiple locations in NY, including one on the Upper West Side (808 Columbus Ave). The craft super-store carries a wide selection of bakeware from popular brands such as Wilton and Food Network star Duff Goldman. Michael's offers Wilton cake decorating courses on decorating basics, flowers and cake design, gum paste and fondant, and their website is full of downloadable baking projects for parents and children.

The Peppermill
5015 16th Ave, Brooklyn
The Peppermill carries cake decorating tools and gadgets for both professional and amateur bakers. They also have kosher ready-to-use icing and rolled fondant for cake decorating projects, plus a comprehensive cookbook selection. Check their site for their current schedule.

JoMart Chocolates
2917 Avenue R, Marine Park
JoMart Chocolates has been using the same stove and copper kettles to make their chocolate since they opened in 1946. They carry Wilton cake decorating products, as well as molds, tempering machines, bags, sticks and other chocolate making supplies. In addition to their chocolate making classes ($95 a session), JoMart also offers a basic cake decorating course, more advanced ones and a class on fondants and gum paste that will help you make cool cake decorations by hand (four sessions for $150).

Ger Nis Culinary Center
540 President Street, Suite 2E, Carroll Gardens
The Ger Nis Culinary Center has cooking classes for toddlers, tweens and teenagers. The lesson topics change regularly, check their site to find out if whoopie pies or cupcakes are on your horizon.

NYC Confectionary Arts
Staten Island
At NYC Confectionary Arts two cake designers teach decorating classes for kids and for adults. Past classes have included spooky cakes for Halloween and doll cakes for girls. Check their site for their current offerings.

A Brooklyn Heights store that sells fine cooking equipment and has a friendly neighborhood vibe, A Cook's Companion (197 Atlantic Ave) carries top of the line bakeware, plus silicone mats, decorative items, and a nice selection of cookbooks.

For more fantastic party info, check out our Party Guide.