Let's talk about cupcake wrapper sizes. Up until recently, my cupcakes were never as flashy as bakery cupcakes due to size. Even when I used colorful cupcake wrappers from the craft store (some of which smell funny, by the way), the cakes looked cute, but didn't have quite the same dramatic effect as the larger ones from local bake shops.
What Size Cupcake Wrapper?
Thinking all I needed to do was order some "jumbo" size cupcake wrappers off the Internet, I started searching only to realize that there were multiple jumbo sizes. You've got the wrappers that are Costco size, ones that are slightly smaller, the "regular" size (which most everyone sells), and "miniature" which I haven't bothered with lately.
And everyone measures them differently. Some sites have measurements for the base only, while some have the measurement for the sides. And then there are some with a measurement that includes the base and one side added together. Argh!
My Favorite Cupcake Wrapper Size
Eventually I found some retailers that listed both the base and the height separately. After looking through the goods, I determined that my favorite size cups are the ones that measure about 2 inches across the bottom and have 1 ¾ inch high sides. The beauty of this size is that the cups fit in most regular muffin pans. That, plus you get another good bite of cake due to the higher sides. And luckily, you can buy in bulk for reasonable prices. I've bought them from The Web Restaurant Store, where they are called 2" x 1 ¾" Glassine Baking / Candy Cups - 500/Pack. You can sometimes find them on Amazon, but the ones I see mostly on Amazon are the 2 inch by about 1 ¼ inch which are a half inch shorter but still a nice size.
Grocery Store Cupcake Wrappers
If you just want to grab your cupcake wrappers at the grocery store, you can't go wrong with the Reynolds Baking Cups. They don't have the striking appearance of the tall cupcake wrappers, but they are sturdy and can be used without a muffin tin.
Anna says
It's so hard paying shipping fees. I looked at my old orders and the shipping fees were substantially lower back then. There's a section of their website where they mention having your items shipped to a local commercial establishment, but I'm not sure how that works.
em says
I went through the same madness --- I ended up buying a bakery cupcake and measured their liners. . . and came across webstaurant.com.... only issue I have is their shipping fee is insanity so I still haven't pulled the trigger on ordering from them :/
Anna says
Hi Diane,
I remember those! I think they used to sell them at Michaels.
Diane says
I’m looking for cupcake papers
That are shorter then the muffin tin holders. They use to have them in Christmas pattern and they were perfect for making cherry cheese tarts
Anna says
Hi Rachel,
I haven't baked cupcakes in a while and haven't really researched minis. Hopefully Webstaurant will come through for you! I just saw they had some brown ones, but I guess for a wedding you'll want white or something paler.
Rachel says
Hi! Have you searched for best mini cupcake liners by chance? I am making some for a wedding and the ines I bought recently were just not great. Too short. Thanks fir any suggestions! I’ll look at webstaurant as well!
Anna says
Laurie, I have the same issue with shipping prices. It's best to wait until you need enough items to make it worth the shipping. I've noticed over the years that Amazon is selling smaller sets of various restaurant/bakery containers etc. The cost per unit seems to be more than Webstaurant, but you don't have to buy as large a quantity and get free shipping (if Prime, of course) so the Amazon orders usually come out less. So at this point I'd say Webstaurant is good for larger quantities.
That's interesting that you remember the old ones to be larger. Maybe your mom used the silver Reynolds ones? All we ever bought were the little pastel colored paper ones sold in every grocery store. I don't remember ever being able to buy all the beautifully colored/patterned ones they now sell at JoAnn and Michael's etc. Those do seem smaller.
Laurie Kittle says
From what I remember regular size cupcake liners my mom used when I was a child and used up until the mic nineties were 20 to 30 percent bigger than the ones they sell now. Liners always came up to and over the pan just a little bit and now they all are below the pan's rim so like all things sold now they cup them down in size and tricked everyone into thinking its the same but they are not. The ones you bought "Just Right Jumbo" look similar to the old ones so I'm going to try and find those and as for Webstaurant web site be careful I went on it and was so impressed with their prices but when you go to check out you find out why, it's because their shipping is double if not almost triple what other sites would charge so I never ordered from them.
connie says
Thanks for this information! I have a problem with the basic ones from the stores fitting right in the cupcake pans......they are so open then when the cake batter goes in they crease funny. Any ideas?
Lamorea Stanton says
I just wanted to concur with what Kate said about the Webstaurant store. Great supplies and excellent service. I received my order (the same size cupcake liners by the way, because I was having the same problem) the very next day!
Tricia says
I went through a similar discovery about mini cupcake pans. My pans a very small and I haven't found a suitable replacement.
Anna says
Kate, thanks for vouching for Webstaurant. They've been coming up in a lot of searches and I keep thinking I'm going to order something. Also, glad the cupcake cup post was useful.
Kate says
I can say that the Webstaurant store is a great site! I have purchased many things from them.
Thanks for posting about the cupcake liners. I was just noticing the other day that mine are smaller than bake shops, but I don't want the HUUUUGE ones. Glad to know there's an in-between!
Darlene says
I love making Banana Crunch muffins in jumbo-sized wrappers because I have plenty of room to mound the crumb topping on top of the batter without having any falling off.