As a Professional Baker, These Are the 3 Cake Stands I’d Buy After Weeks of Testing

My personal cake stand collection started in culinary school because, of course, if you’re pursuing a baking and pastry degree your family will give you a new one at every holiday and birthday. Over my nearly two decades as food editor since then, I’ve also picked up cake stands for photo shoots and added them to my collection. It wasn’t until a friend asked me for cake stand recommendations (she’s starting a bakery business) that I stopped to consider what makes a good cake stand. 

Most people bake just a few layer cakes a year—if that!—and might overlook a serving piece made exclusively for dessert. But a cake stand is an essential kitchen tool. Not only does it carry a once-a-year birthday cake, but it can be a serving vessel for dinner party pies or game night brownies. My favorite domed cake stand has even replaced a cookie jar on my counter for having homemade chocolate chip cookies at the ready. 

I tested 11 popular cake stands at home over three weeks to determine the best ones for most kitchens. The cake stands were measured and weighed, loaded with layer cakes and carried, washed, and dried, then piled with cupcakes; a few contenders even lived on my counter at the mercy of my two kids and counter-surfing dog. At the end of testing, I found one clear standout, plus a new favorite for home bakers who want to get into decorating. 

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Cake Stand

Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand with Dome

$45 $42 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $50 at Wayfair

If you want a timeless, durable cake stand, Libbey’s Selene Glass Cake Stand is the clear choice. Its wide base and glass material make it easy to use and clean. The glass dome looks great on the counter and keeps baked goods fresh. 

Another Great Cake Stand

Williams Sonoma Pillivuyt Porcelain Cake Stand

$120 at Williams-Sonoma

Simple in design with a slim profile, the Williams Sonoma Pillivuyt Cake Stand was an unexpected standout. The porcelain was easy to clean and stood up to sharp knives and cake servers. The wide tuplied base made it nearly impossible to knock over and the plate held a full dozen cupcakes with a small lip to keep them in place. I suggest buying a glass dome to make this stand an all-purpose keeper. 

The Best Cake Stand for Decorating

Winco 12-Inch Revolving Cake Decorating Stand

$69 $37 at Amazon $61 at Walmart

Ideal for home bakers who want to improve their decorating game, this stand from Winco is lightweight and easy to use. The marked plate helps with centering and prevents cake boards from sliding off.

The Tests

• Cake Carry Test: I loaded each cake stand with a layer cake and tested how easy the stand is to carry with either a two-hand or one-hand carry. For cake stands with domes, the dome was in place for the carry test. This also tested the dome’s clearance on each side of the cake during placement and removal. I baked a Chocolate Birthday Layer Cake and an Ultimate Birthday Cake and used a cake transfer tool to move the cakes on and off the stands.
• Slice and Serve Test: I sliced and removed several servings of cake on each stand. Both a serrated knife and cake server were used to evaluate the surface materials of each stand. 
• Cupcake Test: I loaded and unloaded a dozen cupcakes from each stand to test their capacity. When the cupcakes were in place, I removed and replaced the domes on each cake stand to measure the clearance.
• Wash Test: Each stand was washed by fully submerging it in hot soapy water and rinsing. Stands were left to air-dry after washing. 

What We Learned

Materials Matter for Durability and Stability

A good cake stand needs to be a delicate balance of sturdy, lightweight, and durable. Heavy materials like marble were difficult to carry and became stained or etched during slicing; they also proved the hardest to handle when wet and soapy. Most of the stands made of a combination of materials (for example, a wood base with a marble top) struggled in the slice and serve test as well as washing. The best materials for cake stands were glass, stoneware, and porcelain. Look for cake stands that are either a single piece or have a detachable top and base for easy cleaning. 

Shorter Cake Stands Were More Stable

Some of the most beautiful cake stands were also the worst for decorating, slicing, and serving because of their tall and slender design. A tall base was surprisingly unwieldy during the carry test with a full layer cake on top of the plate, and the hardest to set down. One particularly thin cake stand, the AHeirloom Cake Stand, nearly toppled during the slice and serve test. Short cake stands also fit more comfortably under a kitchen counter and are easier to store. 

The Edge of a Cake Plate Was as Important as Size 

One trial I hadn’t anticipated in testing was how easy (or not!) it would be to maneuver cakes and cupcakes on and off the plates. Some cake stands, like the Williams Sonoma Pillivuyt Porcelain Cake Stand and the Le Creuset 12” Stoneware Cake Stand, had a small rim or edge around the plate. This edge can be useful for keeping cupcakes from falling off or for holding a cover in place, but a too-tall edge makes it hard to use the cake stand for decorating. Removing servings is harder than it should be.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Cake Stand 

A good cake stand should be made of glass, stoneware, or porcelain. Our favorites were made from a single piece or had a removable plate. Look for a stand with a wide base—something over 4.5 inches—and choose a rimmed plate with an 11- or 12-inch diameter. A cake stand with a dome is ideal for serving and storing your baked goods. For decorating plates, look for a sturdy base with a smooth spinning mechanism.

Our Favorite Cake Stands

The Best Cake Stand

Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand with Dome

$45 $42 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $50 at Wayfair

What we liked: Libbey’s Selene Glass Cake Stand looked like the quintessential bakery or diner cake stand. The clear glass dome was beautiful and practical for displaying and storing baked goods. The stout glass base was sturdy. This cake stand had the widest plate of all the stands tested, which made it easiest for cutting and gave it the most capacity for holding cupcakes and other treats. The glass construction is nearly indestructible. As a bonus, this stand is one of the most affordable of the cake stands tested. 

What we didn't like: The diameter of the plate was almost too big: nearly 13 inches, making it wider than most stands and harder to store. The dome made a lot of clatter when being lowered onto the plate—good for keeping an eye on how many cookies the kids are eating, but bad if you want to sneak a slice of cake yourself. 

Key Specs

• Material: Glass 
• Height: 5 inches, 12 inches with dome
• Plate diameter: 13 inches 
• Cleaning and care: Hand-wash recommended, dishwasher safe 

Another Great Cake Stand

Williams Sonoma Pillivuyt Porcelain Cake Stand

$120 at Williams-Sonoma

What we liked: Simple and well made, this cake stand was pure utility. The porcelain was scratch-resistant and heavy without being hard to carry. It also had a wide base sturdy for carrying layer cakes and piles of cookies alike. Plus the short rim of the cake plate kept cupcakes from falling off the edge, without slowing down serving them. 

What we didn't like: The design leaves something to be desired aesthetically. I suggest adding a dome to make this basic cake stand even more useful.  

Key Specs

• Material: Stoneware
• Height: 4.75 inches
• Plate diameter: 11.75 inches 
• Cleaning and care: Hand-wash

Best Cake Stand for Decorating

Winco 12-Inch Revolving Cake Decorating Stand

$69 $37 at Amazon $61 at Walmart

What we liked: Most rotating cake stands are very heavy and expensive, or wobbly and don’t turn well. So imagine my surprise when this Winco Cake Decorating Stand beat the Ateco Cake Stand I had been using since culinary school. While not heavy-duty enough for professionals, this cake decorating stand was both sturdy (the base is cast-iron) and lightweight. The spinning action was smooth and easy. The aluminum plate even had ridges that kept cake boards from sliding during icing. 

What we didn't like: The rubber footing on the bottom of the base isn’t supported so it may develop holes with use, which would make cleaning more difficult. The base and top are not detachable. 

Key Specs

• Material: Cast-iron, aluminum alloy 
• Height diameter: 5 inches
• Plate diameter: 12 inches 
• Cleaning and care: Hand-wash only 

The Competition

• Le Creuset 12” Stoneware Cake Stand: A close contender, this cake stand was sturdy and utilitarian, if a little basic. It is the only dishwasher-safe stand in the lineup. Ultimately the short stature of this stand makes it slightly less useful for serving, especially as part of a buffet lineup. 
• Ateco Cast-Iron and Non-Slip Pad Cake Stand: This is a professional rotating cake stand loved by professionals but honestly it is too much utility for most home cooks. You need some basic cake decorating knowledge to make the most of this stand. 
• Mosser 10” Colored Glass Cake Stand: When topped with the dome this stand barely fit under my kitchen cabinets. It was one of the heaviest stands, making it cumbersome in the carrying test. 
• Nashi Home Tonal Resin Cake Stand: This was a cool cake stand that I wanted to love, but the poured resin made the plate unlevel (a cake decorating nightmare) and the lip was too tall for serving. 
• AHeirloom Modern 10” Cake Stand: The cake stand nearly toppled during slicing. Despite the beautiful design, it didn’t hold up well during washing and repeated use. 
• JK Adams Marble & Walnut Wood Rotating Cake Stand: The marble top of this rotating stand became oil-stained during the cake tests and washing didn’t remove the stains. The connection between the base and the cake plate was also very hard to clean. 
• Sur La Table Marble Cake Stand: A behemoth, this cake stand was so heavy and without any edge on the plate, it wasn’t great for decorating or moving.  
• Estelle Hand-Blown Color Glass Cake Stand: I have coveted this cake stand for many years because it is simply stunning—but the deep edge and tall base made it uncomfortable to carry and serve from. 

FAQs 

What is the best size for a cake stand?  

A 12-inch-diameter cake stand is the most versatile—easily holding a 9-inch layer cake or a dozen cookies. 

What’s the difference between a cake stand and a cake dome?

A cake stand is any platform designed for holding a cake and may also be called a cake plate. A cake dome is similar to a cloche and is used for covering a cake while on a cake stand. 

What is a rotating cake stand?

Rotating cake stands are cake stands with a cake plate that spins. These are primarily used by professional cake decorators for turning a cake while icing and adding flourishes. 

Why We’re the Experts

• Meghan Splawn is a freelance food writer and recipe developer who has worked in food media since 2006. 
• Her work includes 10 years in the test kitchen with Alton Brown as well as sites like Simply Recipes, TheKitchn.com, and Serious Eats. 
• For this story, she spent weeks testing cake stands, putting them through a series of tasks to evaluate their overall usefulness and value.