everyone has a favorite cupcake, so naturally they make the perfect gift. Coming in countless exciting flavors and designs, cupcakes are a must-have and timeless birthday party favor. Having the desire to send a loved one some of their favorite cupcakes is a wonderful idea, but it comes with its own unique challenges. cupcakes are as tasty as they are delicate and perishable, which makes them a bit tricky to mail without proper execution. Without taking the necessary steps to learn how to send cupcakes, it’s easy for your gift idea to go from great to messy very quickly.
Luckily, there are numerous packing methods for shipping cupcakes that can ensure your cupcakes arrive as beautiful as they were once they were decorated. With these helpful tricks, you’ll be able to feel assured that your cupcakes are safely on their way and will be lovingly enjoyed once they arrive at their destination.
how to ship cupcakes
Cupcakes are a delicious gift and an exciting gift to receive from a loved one, but due to their perishable nature, they must be packaged properly to remain intact and tasty. Let’s explore these steps for successful cupcake delivery so you can be sure your gift will be well received.
step 1. gather the necessary materials
Before you head to the bakery or open the cookbook, make sure you have the right supplies to ship cupcakes. you want to avoid making your cupcakes and getting ready to ship them only to realize you’re missing out on something crucial. Some suggested materials for mailing cupcakes include:
- bubble wrap
- loose fill
- wrapping paper
- satin tape
- box sealing tape cardboard
- rsc corrugated cardboard
- cupcake inserts
- cupcake box
Choosing special cupcake boxes instead of just a regular box is a great way to secure your cupcakes in place and enhance your presentation. Cupcake boxes allow each cupcake to have its own center of attention and prevent them from sliding around and bumping into each other at the same time.
step 2. make and decorate your cupcakes
Now comes the fun part, choosing and making your cupcakes. While you can always arrange for a bakery to send some cupcakes to a family member or friend, taking the time to personally bake their cupcakes is an extra step that is sure to show them how much you care. After baking and decorating the cupcakes as desired, refrigerate for a day or freeze for a few hours. Chilling the cupcakes for a while will help preserve their flavor during shipping.
step 3. insert cupcakes into cupcake shipping boxes
There are many options for cupcake boxes depending on how many cupcakes you want to ship. You can get individual cupcake boxes if you’re sending a treat to a few loved ones, or you can grab a larger box to send someone an arrangement of cupcake options. While the cupcake box you choose will vary depending on what you’re actually shipping, making sure the box is sturdy and durable will prevent cupcakes from being knocked over and is the key to ensuring these treats arrive safely.
If you decide to send an arrangement of cupcakes, we highly recommend that you also get cupcake inserts for your cupcake box. this allows each cupcake to have its own space and helps protect them from other elements of the packaging process.
step 4. protect the cupcakes from jostling
Now that your cupcakes are inside the cupcake box, it’s time to further secure them to prevent them from being pushed around during the shipping process. Nobody wants to receive a box of broken cupcakes, so make sure they are firmly in place and cannot move before closing the box of cupcakes. A great trick for holding cupcakes in place is to take some candy sticks and place them in the center of the cupcake and at the bottom of the cupcake box. trim the sticks to make sure they touch the top and bottom of the cupcake box, as this will prevent the cupcakes from jumping during transit.
once all the cupcakes have been placed firmly in place inside the cupcake box, close the lid and bang on the cupcake box with force. decorate the box as desired to personalize your gift and add a satin bow for a finishing touch and show off your presentation skills as much as your baking skills.
step 5. place the cupcake container in its box and pack it tightly
Now that your cupcakes are safe and sound inside the cupcake box, it’s time to prepare your shipping box. It is important to provide enough padding around the cupcake box as the main goal in shipping cupcakes is to keep them from shifting as much as possible. bubble wrap and loose fill are great ways to add some protection around the cupcake box, but definitely don’t forget to add some icing bags before you tape everything together. cupcakes are not only delicate, they are also best enjoyed fresh. ice packs will help preserve its freshness during the trip and ensure that your friends and family open your gift to find a delicious treat. Once you’ve narrowed down the amount of clearance around the cupcake box, tape down the shipping container to prevent air from getting in.
step 6. mail cupcakes overnight
once your shipping box is ready and set up, head to your local post office to have these goodies on their way. Since cupcakes are perishable by nature, it’s never a bad idea to opt for express shipping options to ensure they arrive in time to be properly enjoyed. It’s always worth paying a few extra bucks for overnight shipping. Overnight shipping is the best way to ensure cupcakes arrive on time and still taste deliciously fresh. It’s also smart to indicate on the shipping box that the contents are fragile so that shipping personnel can be careful when handling these treats.
other tips for successful delivery of cupcakes
While we’ve covered the basics of successfully shipping cupcakes, there are a few other details to consider before gathering the supplies needed to send these treats on their way. Explore some of these additional cupcake delivery tips to take your gift-giving skills to the next level.
choose durable materials
As with sending any edible gift, making sure the contents of the gift are protected is more important than anything else. Especially when shipping cupcakes, these treats won’t arrive safely if you don’t take the extra step and purchase packaging supplies with durable materials. boxes made from flimsy materials are prone to bending with enough wear and tear and can easily become damp and compromised when the ice packs begin to thaw. On the other hand, personalized cupcake boxes are made with delicacy in mind and will feature sturdier materials to keep the contents in their intended state.
make cupcakes the day before and freeze or refrigerate overnight
As we mentioned before, chilling your cupcakes before packaging is an easy way to keep them fresh during the shipping process. While ice packs will certainly keep the contents cold during travel, chilling or freezing the cupcakes the day before departure can make them even fresher and less likely to melt during travel. It may take a little longer, but this just means you’ll have extra time to check that you have all the packing materials you need to successfully ship these cupcakes.
find the cupcake shipping supplies you need at paper mart
Sending cupcakes to your loved ones is a tasty and thoughtful way to show someone you care. Whether it’s for the holidays or just to brighten someone’s day, sending cupcakes is a popular gift idea for a reason. With a durable cupcake box, proper padding materials, and caution when creating a shipping label, anyone can successfully ship cupcakes and give a memorable, personalized gift.
The key to shipping cupcakes is in the packaging materials, and Paper Mart is here to help. Our extensive collection of bakery and cupcake boxes and packaging supplies will give you everything you need to ship delicious treats near and far. Buy cupcake boxes at paper mart today!