These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
As any pastry chef will tell you, sugar cracks quickly when hardened and needs intimidatingly high temperatures to melt. Which means that detailed sugar work on cakes and cookies often leads to frustration and burns. The ChefDoodler pen makes it simple, safe, and fun—like a hot glue gun for sugar decorating. Though it will also work with real sugar, the device comes with a flavor-neutral, diabetic-friendly sugar substitute, isomalt, that can be extruded in thin, moldable lines. One beta tester called it “a gingerbread house maker’s dream come true,” says Daniel Cowen, co-founder and CEO of maker 3Doodler. The gadgets are shipping to more than 1,500 Kickstarter contributors and early adopters in October.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision