DecoPac unveiled a new line of cake decorations at the Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, last month. The company teamed with Duff Goldman, owner of Charm City Cakes, Baltimore, and star of Food Network television show Ace of Cakes, to create the line.

“When it comes to creative cakes, Duff is one of those bakers who breaks the mould,” said Mike McGlynn, C.E.O., DecoPac. “Having the chance to share some of his tools of inspiration with other professional bakers and decorators is a fantastic opportunity for us. With inspiration and the creative kits, there's no limit to what any baker with a bit of imagination can do.”

The new line features decorations aimed at enhancing decorators' own creative designs.

DecoPac will continue to feature its extensive collection of licensed character cakes. The strength of the licensed character cakes is that they are easy to decorate with specific design directions provided.

But the Duff line stands apart from other DecoPac products. The intention is to give bakers more latitude in design, allowing for more inventiveness in cake decorating instead of providing precise instructions.

“I've been looking for a way to help professional cake decorators express their creativity and inspire them to define their own style,” Goldman said. “This partnership with DecoPac is a great opportunity to do this on a big scale by introducing new tools and a new way of thinking about cakes to thousands of bakeries.”

The new line of Duff products includes three themed kits filled with gumpaste decorations and other accessories, a creative kit with supplies for design planning, a fondant starter kit with primary colors and color mixing directions, and color gel paste tubes in 10 colors.

Duff line in competition

The event also featured a decorating contest consisting of local culinary students interested in cake decorating using DecoPac's Duff line. First place went to Emily Rhenigans, who received $500. Jamie Erickson placed second and Jennifer Koll third, earning $250 and $150, respectively.