Here's a list of some of our favorite gingerbread equipment and supplies. We've linked some specific items we use and others that are similar to things we've found offline.
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We use framing squares for several parts of our projects, beginning with drawing out the plans.
We use a mix of wired string lights and wireless puck lighting in our houses. We've heard some reports of incandescent lighting causing stability issues for some g-breaders, so we stick to LEDs, which are more efficient and emit much less heat.
For hands-free control of lighting, we use Amazon Echo devices and Smart Plugs. These can also be set to switch on/off at specific times each day. Amazon's smart plug is very easy to set up, and if you have the Alexa app, you won't need an additional app to control the smart plugs from your phone. The WeMo plugs from Belkin have historically been a bit more work to set up and require a separate app, but we've found the WeMo app is more a bit more flexible in terms of programming on/off times compared to Amazon's implementation (as of December 2020). For example, the WeMo app allows lights to be set to come on 30 (or some other number) minutes before (or after) sunset each day.
Here are some of our must-haves for the baking phase.
Silicone baking mats and parchment paper are a must for baking your gingerbread. We use 15" parchment paper rolls, but you can also find pre-cut sheets. Cooling racks can help gingerbread cool down and harden while freeing up baking sheet space. Grill mats are very useful for pastillage work.
Many sugar glass and confectionary recipies advertise themselves as not requiring a candy thermometer, but your life will be easier with one! A culinary torch can remove bubbles from candy glass or help with other surgical application of heat.
A crank-style rotary sifter is the only way to go. The handle-squeeze styles are vastly inferior for bulk sifting.
Reusable piping bags with tip couplers will change your life. They allow you to quickly change piping tips on the fly, so you're never stuck with a bag full of royal icing trapped behind the wrong tip.
Royal icing should be colored with gel-based food coloring. (Water-based food coloring will change the icing's consistency.)
We grab some of our favorite sprinkles whenever we see them in stores, and also look for them online.
We've experimented with these food coloring marker pens for a variety of things including stained glass window work and touch-ups to decorations.