Whether you're serving cake at a wedding, birthday party, anniversary or leaving do, you'll need a set of cake knives. With cake sharing usually being the main event, you need to do a little more than serve it with some simple butter knives! Cake knives tend to be in all the cake shots, whether poised in hand or laid aside the towering creation, so it really is worth it to pick up a set you love.
Cake servers and knives come in many different styles, from plastic and plain to vintage and gold. Then, there are practical elements to consider too. A serrated edge is essential when cutting a fruitcake, and you'll need to check if the set is dishwasher-safe. Luckily, we've written this buying guide to help you choose the best knife for the job; plus, we've included a list of the top 10 best cake knives in the UK from Amazon and John Lewis.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of cake knives available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article’s chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() OTW PAVILION | 2 ![]() Viners Select | 3 Eleanor Bowmer | 4 Vintage | 5 ![]() KitchenCraft | 6 ![]() Portmeirion Home & Gifts | 7 ![]() John Lewis & Partners | 8 ![]() Arthur Price | 9 ![]() Portmeirion | 10 ![]() I-Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | 2 Piece Wedding Cake Knife and Server Set | Stainless Steel Cake Server | Dalmatian Dot Cake Slice | Ivory-Look Cake Server | Professional Cake Slice | Sara Miller for Portmeirion Chelsea Cake Slice | Ellipse Cake Slice | Vintage Cake Server | Blue & White Cake Slice Server | Musical Cake Cutter |
Features | A High-Quality 2-Piece Set Made of Stainless Steel With Handles Featuring a Beautiful Raised Floral Pattern | Teardrop-Handled Stainless Steel Cake Server With a 25-Year Guarantee | A Dalmatian-Handled Cake Knife With a Serrated Cutting Edge for Neatly Serving Slices of Cake | Dishwasher-Safe, Vintage-Style Cake Server to Add a Glamorous Touch | Budget-Friendly Cake Slicer With a Serrated Edge From a Trusted Brand | Elegant Cake Slice With a Floral and Bird Motif Housed in a Smart Presentation Box | Clean Lines, Functionality and Perfect Shine Ensure This Cake Slicer Won't Date | Inspired by an Early 1700s Design, This Serrated Cake Slice Is Minimalist in Style and Practical in Nature | A High-Quality Cake Slice Perfect For Collectors of Blue and White Ceramics | A Novelty Cake Cutter With 4 Melodies to Entertain Your Guests |
Price | £32.99 | £10.35 | £14.95 | £20.00 | £5.50 | £16.88 | £18.00 | £29.50 | £10.05 | £15.75 |
Style | Vintage | Plain | Patterned | Vintage | Plain | Patterned | Plain | Plain | Patterned | Novelty |
Blade Colour | Silver | Silver | Gold | Silver | Silver | Gold | Silver | Silver | Silver | Silver |
Length | Cake server: 26 cm, cake knife: 33 cm | 34 cm | 26.5 cm | 27.5 cm | 26 cm | 25 cm | Not specified | 25 cm | 25 cm | 31 cm |
Material | 18/10 stainless steel | 18/0 stainless steel | Stainless steel, ceramic | Stainless steel, acrylic plastic | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, porcelain | 18/10 stainless steel | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, ceramic | Not specified |
Edge(s) | Serrated & smooth | Smooth | Serrated and smooth | Smooth | Serrated | Serrated | Serrated | Serrated | Serrated | Serrated |
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Stainless steel is naturally a silvery colour, so most cake knives are silver, but there are also some gold options that are usually plated with 22-carat gold. These add a touch of glamour, instant sophistication and warmth to your table setting. However, the most important thing is to get one you love, as it will likely appear in many celebration photos! Cake knives can be split into four main style categories:
If you're shopping for a cake knife for your wedding day, you might be interested in our best wedding cake toppers, too!
If longevity is a priority, choose a stainless steel, 18/10 or 18/0-graded cake knife. Grade 18/0 contains a limited amount of nickel, making it slightly less resistant to oxidation. However, grade 18/10 contains the highest amount of nickel, meaning it has the greatest rust resistance and will hold polish the longest. If you can't find a grade, the stainless steel used is probably low quality.
Some cake knives are made of mixed materials such as stainless steel for the blade and ceramic for the handle. While these look great, the joining between the two materials will always be an area of weakness and a prime spot for water to penetrate, increasing the chance of rust and mould. It's up to you whether you value style over longevity, but if you want your knives to last, go for a single-material option.
Our recommended cake carriers will get your cake to where it needs to be - in one piece!
Check if the cake knife is serrated or smooth. If you need to cut a firm cake such as a fruitcake, Royal icing, or pastry items, you'll need a serrated edge, whereas if you need to slice through a soft cake such as a cheesecake, a smooth edge will be fine. These are sometimes labelled as a cake server or cake slice. Make sure you check the product details and photos before buying to ensure you've got the right type.
You can also find 2-piece sets which include a large serrated cake knife and a wide, flat cake server with smooth edges. These are perfect for weddings or parties where you need to portion out large cakes neatly.
For a quick way to make a delicious cake, try our best cake mixes.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£32.99
Style | Vintage |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | Cake server: 26 cm, cake knife: 33 cm |
Material | 18/10 stainless steel |
Edge(s) | Serrated & smooth |
£10.35
Style | Plain |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | 34 cm |
Material | 18/0 stainless steel |
Edge(s) | Smooth |
£14.95
Style | Patterned |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Gold |
Length | 26.5 cm |
Material | Stainless steel, ceramic |
Edge(s) | Serrated and smooth |
£20.00
Style | Vintage |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | 27.5 cm |
Material | Stainless steel, acrylic plastic |
Edge(s) | Smooth |
£5.50
Style | Plain |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | 26 cm |
Material | Stainless steel |
Edge(s) | Serrated |
SMC1104-XG
£16.88
Style | Patterned |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Gold |
Length | 25 cm |
Material | Stainless steel, porcelain |
Edge(s) | Serrated |
£18.00
Style | Plain |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | Not specified |
Material | 18/10 stainless steel |
Edge(s) | Serrated |
£29.50
Style | Plain |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | 25 cm |
Material | Stainless steel |
Edge(s) | Serrated |
£10.05
Style | Patterned |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | 25 cm |
Material | Stainless steel, ceramic |
Edge(s) | Serrated |
XL1906
£15.75
Style | Novelty |
---|---|
Blade Colour | Silver |
Length | 31 cm |
Material | Not specified |
Edge(s) | Serrated |
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