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Although cupcakes are a treat to eat, they are not easy to carry around. Cupcake holders make the task of carrying delicately decorated cupcakes a lot easier for you. We’re bringing you some best cupcake holders of 2024 in this guide – available in all shapes and sizes, the cupcake holders you choose will depend on how many cupcakes you want to carry and for what occasion! The STACKnGO Carrier is our top pick on this list, but our other recommendations might also entice you. With our extensive guide, informational reviews, and FAQs section, you are sure to find the perfect cupcake holders for yourself.

  

Buyer’s Guide to Finding a Cupcake Holder

To buy a cupcake holder, there’s a lot that you have to keep in mind. Most people need a cupcake holder for a baking business, others simply need one to serve the treats at a party. The aforementioned products were listed keeping all these needs and technicalities in mind, while this section will help you further narrow down our selection and choose a cupcake holder that best fulfills your needs and pleases your aesthetic sense.

Features to Look For in a Cupcake Holder

Capacity

How many cupcakes can the cupcake holder accommodate is perhaps the most important thing to consider. The capacity of the cupcake holders to store cupcakes determines which ones you will buy. Most commonly, cupcake holders are sold in the following capacities:

Personal sizes

Personal sizes for cupcake holders include holders that can store either a single cupcake or three. This is the generally accepted personal limit for cupcakes one would buy. They are great for shops where you have to sell cupcakes, or for bake sales and other events. You can also keep them handy at home in case you make a batch and want to make a gesture for your neighbors.

Sharing sizes

Sharing sizes for cupcake holders range from 6 cupcakes to 12. These are generally packed and allow people to carry cupcakes to work, a meeting with friends, or people’s houses. They are easy to handle and can come with handles to make it easier. In case you need to carry more, you could stack these on top of each other.

Large sizes

Large sizes for cupcake holders range from 15 to 24. These are often in large trays of cupcakes with a lid to protect the top. They are easy to stack and load for transportation. In most cases, this size is used at catering events and food stalls.

Material

The materials used to make cupcake holders are usually either plastic or cardboard. Plastic holders come in many sizes and have dome-like shapes to accommodate the cupcake and icing. Cardboard boxes, on the other hand, hold the cupcakes in place by putting them in a box with a cutout stand for them. This helps keep the cupcakes in one place even if the box moves. Mostly, plastic cupcake holders are preferred as they are waterproof, protect icing, and can be reused easily. Cardboard boxes are easier to carry as they have a sturdy shape that fits into the palm of your hand.

Packaging

The packaging matters since it determines how your cupcakes will survive in the holder. Plastic packaging usually has domes to protect the icing of the cupcake. Normally, you’ll find an average cupcake holder to be 4 inches in size, but they can be bigger for jumbo cupcakes. Cardboard boxes often have a foil lining on the inside to provide insulation, in addition to the cupcake lining already under the cupcake. This is something that plastic holders lack. The groves in the tray of the boxes help keep the cupcakes in place. They have holes at the side for your fingers to easily pick up the treats. This ensures that their shape does not get ruined.

Handle to carry

Oftentimes, plastic cupcake holders do not have any specific area to pick up the package from. Single holders can easily be picked up in your hand whereas personal and sharing holders can be carried and picked up from the bottom. Cardboard boxes can have grooves or handles to hold onto the box. Handles can make it easy to carry boxes without having to worry about accidentally crushing the icing by pressing too hard. They can also help make the boxes feel less heavy, allowing you to avoid the hassle of a carrying bag. Do consider buying cupcake holders that feature handles - if that’s an option.

Spacing

Your cupcakes need to be spaced far enough from each other so that even if the weather makes icing droop a bit, it does not impact individual shapes and designs. It also helps leave a lot of room to add toppings and make extravagant food art. Ideally, you would want at least an inch and a half of space between cupcakes and the walls of the container. Also, make sure you do not accidentally press the box as that may damage the cupcake’s icing. Make sure to choose a box that is sturdy and helps protect the cupcakes inside.

Size of the cupcake

Cupcakes are either regular-sized, mini, or jumbo. It is difficult to interchange the cupcake holders as cupcakes can have different diameters and will not fit well into every holder. This can cause issues with the look and shape of the cupcake after it’s subjected to travel or movement. Jumbo cupcakes often need wider and taller cupcake-holding trays. It helps them have more room. So make sure the size of your container is suitable for the dimensions of your baked goods.

Safety

To ensure safety you need to make sure that the plastic and silicone used for the items are approved by the FDA. This will significantly reduce the risks of chemical poisoning or any other health risks related to the cupcake holder. In case you buy plastic cupcake holders, make sure to protect them from the sun’s heat as much as possible! This could make the plastic release harmful chemicals that can have subtle adverse effects on your health.

Top Picks

  • Best Overall: Stackngo Carrier
  • Best For Individual Cupcakes: Katgely Individual Cupcake Container
  • Most Eco-Friendly: Stock Your Home Individual Plastic Cupcake Containers
  • Easiest To Use: Smirly White Cupcake Boxes
  • Best For Parties: Decony Cupcake Containers

Reviews

Best Overall
STACKnGO Carrier

Stackngo Carrier

Pros Cons
  • Developed with anti-crush technology
  • Can hold up to 2 dozen cupcakes
  • Interlocking lids for longer product freshness
  • High dome lid to protect frostings
  • It might be a bit difficult to remove the product from the holders
Best for Individual Cupcakes
Katgely Individual Cupcake Container

Katgely Individual Cupcake Container

Pros Cons
  • Convenient design for easy removal
  • High-quality materials used
  • Very durable and long-lasting
  • Perfect for portioning
  • It may be challenging to stack vertically for some
Most Eco-Friendly
Stock Your Home Individual Plastic Cupcake Containers

Stock Your Home Individual Plastic Cupcake Containers

Pros Cons
  • Made from recyclable plastic
  • Provide complete visibility of the product
  • Water and oxygen resistant
  • Stable design that helps prevent topples
  • Require a little force to close all the way as it doesn’t close properly in the back
Easiest to Use
SMIRLY White Cupcake Boxes

Smirly White Cupcake Boxes

Pros Cons
  • Perfect for presenting an assortment of cupcakes
  • Comes with 24 inserts to keep your cupcakes steady
  • Easy to store
  • Made from recyclable materials
  • The liners are flimsy, hard to separate, and thin
Best for Parties
Decony Cupcake Containers

Decony Cupcake Containers

Pros Cons
  • High dome to protect frosting
  • Made from crystal clear material
  • Holds up to 6 cupcakes
  • Easy to carry around
  • A little frail to carry denser muffins

FAQs

How do I make sure the icing on my cupcakes does not stick to the walls of the cupcake holder?
To make sure that the icing on your cupcakes does not stick to the outside walls, try to store them in a plastic box. Similarly, try and use a bigger box with ample space on the sides.
What is the best way to find the weight capacity of a cupcake holder?
Cupcake holders usually do not have a weight capacity, instead, there’s a storage capacity that you need to be mindful of. Most cupcake holders will be able to house anywhere between 1 - 25 cupcakes.
Can you make cupcake holders heatproof?
Although box cupcake holders may come with heatproof storage, it is difficult to make one yourself. In the event you were thinking of taking a treat to someone in winter, using a plastic shopper or an insulated carrying bag would work.
Will it be difficult to store normal cupcakes in jumbo size carriers?
Yes, although not impossible, it would be a bad idea to store normal-sized cupcakes in the jumbo carriers. This may cause them to tumble during transportation due to the extra space on the sides. The icing can get damaged this way.