Shopping for Cake Stands

If you plan to bake a cake for someone on Valentine’s Day — or any other time of the year, for that matter — a great cake stand will make it look even more impressive.

“It’s a relatively easy way to bring your baking up to the next level, just because it makes your cake look much more stellar,” said Joanne Chang, a James Beard Award-winning baker and an owner of Flour Bakery & Cafe, in Boston. “It’s up on a pedestal, quite literally.”

And cake stands needn’t be reserved for your large-scale baking efforts — they can be used to elevate just about any kind of confection.

“Cupcakes are great on a cake stand,” Ms. Chang said. “But you could also present cookies or breakfast pastries.”

In general, the higher the stand, the more dramatic the effect, she noted. But be careful, because extra height comes with added risk: “If you put something too big on something that’s too tall, it has a chance of toppling over.”

• What’s the ideal height? “Some cake stands are just three to four inches tall, and those are nice,” Ms. Chang said. “But if you want something more dramatic, I would go with a six- to eight-inch-tall one.”

• Should a cake stand be plain or decorative? “I personally prefer simpler ones,” she said, but the choice is up to you. “It’s all about making your pastries look beautiful.”

• How many do you need? “Two is preferable if you do a lot of baking, just so you have the option to switch it up,” Ms. Chang said. “I would get two different heights, so you have something varied to catch the eye.”

Carmella Cake Stand

Glass stand in a range of sizes and colors

From $28 at Anthropologie: 800-309-2500 or anthropologie.com

Walnut Stand Thin Base

Stand with sculpted walnut base and Corian top

From $95 at American Heirloom: aheirloom.com

Nero Marquina Cake Stand

Italian marble stand from Carrara Home Design

$140 at Artemest: artemest.com

Mosser Glass Cake Stand

Glass stand in a range of sizes and colors, made in Ohio

From $44 at Food52: food52.com

Splatterware Cake Stand

Italian earthenware stand with splatter glaze

$200 at March: 415-931-7433 or marchsf.com

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