When it comes to baking cupcakes, liners are beneficial. They’ll keep your cupcakes from sticking to the pan while making them easier to hold and eat. However, if you’re shopping for liners and run into wrappers, you should know that the two are not the same. What are cupcake wrappers, and how do you use them?
Cupcake wrappers are designed to be used as decoration after baking. They cannot be used in the oven. That said, they tend to be more lavish or intricate to adhere to the theme of a gathering. Simply wrap them around your cupcake before serving.
Hey! My name’s Michelle, and I’m a professional at-home baker with over ten years of practice. I make cupcakes for many events. Aside from the frosting and decorations, I’ve found that one of the best ways to bring a theme to life is to use cupcake wrappers.
What are we waiting for? Let’s talk about cupcake wrappers!
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What Are Cupcake Wrappers?
When it comes to baking cupcakes, liners are a must (although you can bake cupcakes without liners successfully). However, people often confuse liners for wrappers, using the term interchangeably.
Wrappers are not the same thing as liners.
Liners are used during the baking process. They’re specifically designed to be pushed into the oven. They protect your cupcakes from sticking to the pan.
Wrappers, on the other hand, are applied after baking, cooling, and decorating. They act as decorative pieces that cannot be placed in the oven. Wrappers offer intricate and lovely designs, from gorgeous lacy numbers to vibrant, sparkly ones.
They’re not critical to the outcome of your cupcakes, but they’ll make them look so much better.
Benefits of Cupcake Wrappers
Before I tell you how to use these beautiful cupcake decorations, I want to touch briefly on why you should consider using them in the first place.
1. Enhanced Decoration
You can find plenty of adorable, cool, and eye-catching cupcake liners. But even with the most intense colors and patterns, they can get lost in translation. They aren’t really meant to “stand out.”
The same isn’t true for the cupcake wrapper.
Cupcake wrappers have a single goal in mind – to decorate your cupcake.
Think of the cupcake wrapper as a lavish coat or scarf one might wear. They’re intricate, highly detailed, and covered in elaborate colors that are meant to enhance the overall appearance of your cupcake. You simply won’t be able to achieve decor success without them!
2. Hides Imperfections
You’re not perfect, and neither are (some) of your cupcakes.
There can be a lot of mishaps when it comes to baking cupcakes. Whether it’s a little hole on the side of your handheld cake or icing that got a bit messed up during handling, you won’t have to worry about anyone noticing with a cupcake wrapper.
3. Creates a Theme
If you really want to use cupcake wrappers to your advantage, consider having some specially made for your upcoming event.
Personalized cupcake wrappers can bring any theme to life, whether you want an adorable elephant for your child’s birthday party or something elegant featuring someone graduating.
4. More Structure
Cupcakes are delicate. If you want to ensure they reach their destination safely, cupcake wrappers can help.
Cupcake wrappers are typically crafted with high-end and durable materials. That said, they not only look terrific, but they’ll be able to act as an extra barrier of protection for your precious mini cakes.
How to Use Cupcake Wrappers
I know I know – you’re completely on board with cupcake wrappers now. I must have swayed you!
But now that you’re sitting there with a box full of cupcake wrappers, you’re likely wondering – How do I use these cool things?
Y’all, it’s so simple. Here’s how to do it.
1. Bake and Cool as Usual
You don’t need to bake your cupcakes in a specific way to use cupcake wrappers. Use your favorite cupcake recipe and use them as you usually would (with or without cupcake liners).
Then, cool them.
Let them cool in the cupcake pan for about five to ten minutes. Then, transfer them to a cooling rack for another hour or so. There is no need to remove the liner if using it. (You can remove them if desired, though).
Wait until they’re cooled entirely before proceeding to step two.
2. Wrap Cupcake Wrappers Around Cupcakes
Most cupcake wrappers are designed to, well, wrap.
Start by assembling the cupcake wrappers. Don’t worry; it’s a cinch. Simply wrap them around and insert the tab into the opening. Then, drop your cupcake gently into the center.
Of course, if your cupcake wrapper doesn’t wrap, you’ll simply plop your cupcake inside of the wrapper and enjoy the new, gorgeous aesthetic.
Continue wrapping all of the cupcakes. Then, go wow your friends and family members with these glorious-looking cupcakes.
Need help? Here’s a video showing how it’s done:
FAQs
Cupcake wrappers are the absolute easiest way to create a beautiful, on-theme aesthetic. The best part is that they’re easy to use! Before you start decorating, check out these interesting, frequently asked questions.
Do you put cupcake liners in before or after baking?
If you’re using a liner, you will put them in before you start baking your cupcakes. However, if it’s a wrapper, you will apply them after your cupcakes are done baking and cooling. Liners go in the oven; wrappers do not.
Do you have to spray cupcake wrappers?
Cupcake wrappers do not need to be sprayed because they’re used for decor purposes. Cupcakes liners, on the other hand, don’t have to be sprayed. However, I always spray my liners to ensure they don’t stick.
Do I remove the paper from foil cupcake liners?
Many foil cupcake liners come with paper pieces in between each one. They should be removed prior to filling and baking.
Cupcake Wrappers Are a Great Way to Add Decoration!
Cupcake wrappers are specifically designed to be applied after baking and cooling. They add extra decoration that you can’t get from liners alone.
Do you use cupcake wrappers?
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