You may know Ashley Holt from the Food Network or the Netflix show Bake Squad. But did you know that she created a line of premium baking tools for New England Knives? I gave the Ashley Holt pastry tools for a workout and I want you to know all the reasons anyone who loves baking will feel lucky to have them.
The cake tools in this New England Knives collection
The tools in this collection will make the heart of any cake baker glow. (Although you could argue that there are a million uses for these spatulas beyond frosting beautiful cakes.)
The Ashley Holt New England Knives collection includes four professional-quality tools:
- Six-inch straight baking spatula $34.99
- 8×4-inch bench scraper $34.99
- Six-inch offset baking spatula $34.99
- Four-inch offset baking spatula $29.99
The full collection is also sold as a single set for $99.
My review
I received a sample of all four tools by New England Knives for the purpose of this review. My first thought was that these tools win high marks as a gift, simply for the presentation. As you can see in the photo above, the whimsical presentation makes you feel like you’re receiving something special right out of the box.
So whether you’re giving one as a gift for the reasons discussed in my Pastry Tools & Romance highlight box above, or just giving yourself a little present, you’re bound to feel good when the shipment arrives. But you’ll feel even better when you start to put these pastry tools into action.
Let’s be frank, these tools are expensive. You could buy perfectly serviceable cake spatulas from a kitchen supply or on Amazon very inexpensively. I’ve seen a whole set of three spatulas priced at under $10. But those spatulas will come with uncomfortable plastic handles and flimsy blades that get bent in the dishwasher or even during use.
The Ashley Holt tools are crafted with the same quality as a fine set of knives. The spatulas are made from corrosive-resistant stainless steel with finely ground blades to assist in the even application of frosting. The blade extends all the way through the handle (full tang) to help keep the tools’ balance.
The handles on the spatulas were designed with comfort in mind. They fit solidly into the palm and don’t slip. And they’re pretty, with brass rivets used to hold the blades in place.
If you were going to invest in just one, which would it be?
My favorite of the three spatulas is the four-inch offset. I like it for its versatility–it makes a great aid for gently loosening the cakes from the pan. And because I have a small hand, I find the size and weight of it easiest to maneuver. In addition, it would be the only tool in the set right for frosting cupcakes. (Offset spatulas are bent to keep your hand above the cake, so you don’t accidentally stick it in the icing.)
If you want a tool that’s a true workhorse, then get the six-inch flat spatula. This tool is the best in the collection for moving a glob of frosting from the bowl to the cake. It really makes the work go faster. It can be used for a number of kitchen tasks like flipping pancakes or moving a runny cheese to a platter without messing up the shape.
The six-inch offset spatula is the best frosting tool for full-size cakes and pastry projects. If you enjoy making novelty birthday cakes, this is the one you want. It’s slightly heavy for my taste but it was the best of the three spatulas for making a smooth cake surface for decorating. This is probably the spatula in the collection that the majority of bakers will reach for most often.
The bench scraper, also with a full tang, has a maple handle. Like the other tools, it is made from stainless steel and is remarkably durable. Also called a bench knife or dough scraper, this tool has a ton of uses beyond smoothing the sides of a cake. (In my test, I used it to make a “naked” effect on a chocolate layer cake.) But it can also be used to make gnocchi, cutting bread and pastry dough and even scooping cut veggies. Although I like the handle width on this particular scraper, I will say that the weight and length of this design are a little big for me. Those with small hands may prefer a smaller bench knife.
All-in-all, although these tools are on the pricy side, they are beautiful and built to last. As for the performance, the six-inch offset spatula smoothed the top of a cake more easily than any cake spatula I’ve tried. For that reason alone, I will treasure my Ashley Holt set.
Where to buy the Ashley Holt pastry tools collection
Now that I’ve convinced you that you or the baker in your life need these tools to take your cake and pastry skills to the next level, you’re going to need to know where to find them. The set is sold exclusively through New England Knives. You can order all four baking tools individually through their website or order the full collection at the discounted price of $99.
About New England Knives
New England Knives is an American knife company based in Massachusetts. They specialize in kitchen tool design services and specialty blade production. All of their tools, including the Ashley Holt baking collection are made in America.
Cake photography by Coco Casriel
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