Baking is an excellent hobby for people of all ages. It’s inexpensive, provides stress relief, and gives you a chance to flex your creative muscles. Not to mention, you end up with all sorts of delicious treats to share with family and friends! What other hobby gives you the chance to do that?
Among all the tasty treats there are to make, few are better than cupcakes. They’re easy to make, fun to decorate, and just begging to be shared!
But like any kitchen project, you can’t jump straight into making them. There are some cupcake supplies you’ll need first. Keep in mind there are only a few basic must-haves, but for baking enthusiasts, there are a wide variety of extras to choose from.
Read on to learn everything you need (and a few things you might want) to add to your cupcake baking supply checklist.
Table of Contents
Cupcake Baking Basics
Let’s start with the basics, which will complete your cupcake baking supplies if you’re only interested in the bare minimum. The first, and the most obvious, thing you’ll need is a cupcake tin.
These come in various shapes and sizes, but a standard cupcake tin is around 14 x 10 inches and has 12 holes. Consider buying two of these, as most recipes are designed to make 24 cupcakes.
In addition to your tins, you’ll need a set of measuring cups and spoons. Look for a measuring spoon set that goes from 1/4 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon. As for your measuring cups, you’ll need a 2 or 4-cup spouted measuring cup, as well as a set of flat-topped measuring cups for smaller measurements.
A few other basics include the following:
- Cooling rack
- Set of mixing bowls (small, medium, and large)
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon
- Flexible spatula
- Cupcake tin liners
Although it’s possible to make cupcakes without the liners, it can be a hassle to remove them from the tin. Liners also allow you to decorate your tasty creations further!
Baking Extras
Once you have everything in the basics list, you can move onto the extra goodies if you enjoy your new hobby. An electric handheld mixer or stand mixer is an absolute lifesaver for anyone who spends a lot of time baking. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and elbow grease by equipping your kitchen with one (or both).
And if you spend so much time in the kitchen that friends and family think of you when asked to define baker, it’s time to invest in some bits and bobs that will take your craft to a whole new level. A melon baller or apple corer, for example, is a great way to hollow out the inside of your cupcakes and add icing, candies, or other surprises.
A kitchen scale is another must-have for keen bakers. As you know, baking is different from cooking in that it’s an exact science. Your ingredients must be at the perfect temperatures to achieve the best results, combined at just the right times, and your measurements must be exact.
A kitchen scale will help you do that! Instead of fighting with your flour to get an exact cup, you can measure it on your scale. You’ll get perfect measurements every time.
Cupcake Decorating Supplies
Now let’s get into the fun part – decorating! There’s nothing more fun or relaxing than decorating cupcakes, especially for those with an artistic streak. This category is where you can really go crazy with cooking supplies, so stick with what works for you.
When you’ve graduated from using a butter knife to ice your cupcakes, it’s time for piping bags. These come in both disposable and reusable varieties, each of which has both pros and cons.
While disposable bags are convenient and cut down on cleanup, they’re not the best for the environment. And though reusable bags are more affordable in the long run, they do make cleanup a bit of a hassle. Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll need at least a few to avoid the wash, fill, repeat cycle during the decorating process if you’re using multiple colors.
Along with your piping bags, you’ll need an assortment of pastry tips. These allow you to create beautiful designs on your cupcakes and give you that picture-perfect swirl every baker looks for.
Last but not least, it’s a good idea to keep a variety of sprinkles, food coloring, and other cupcake decorating supplies on hand for different occasions.
Cupcake Containers
If you plan to share your cupcakes, the easiest way to do so is with a cupcake container. Have you ever tried to arrange and saran wrap two dozen cupcakes on a regular plate? It’s borderline impossible to do so without ruining your beautiful cakes!
This is why one of the best baking tips we can give you is to buy a couple of cupcake containers. These will keep your cupcakes neat, maintaining your icing swirls and your carefully placed sprinkles.
Gather Your Cupcake Supplies and Get Baking
Though baking is indeed a relatively inexpensive hobby, you can’t make treats without first gathering a few odds and ends for your kitchen. With these cupcake supplies, you’ll have everything you need to make bite-sized desserts that are both beautiful and flavorsome.
Don’t feel that you have to have a kitchen stocked for a professional baker right away. Instead, start small and build your collection over time. You’ll have an advanced baking kit before you know it.
In need of more tips and tricks for creating all things delicious? Take a look at our blog!