Kitchen Tip: How to Cover Pretty Cupcakes and Cookies Without Messing Them Up
Ever wondered how to cover platters of beautifully decorated cupcakes & cookies without messing them up? Here’s the answer! Its so simple!
Ignore me if all of you have figured this out already but I am always frustrated trying to figure out how to cover platters of decorated cupcakes and cookies without messing up the frosting. Am I alone in this? It’s not a need I’m faced with every day, but occasionally, I have a tray of, say, number 8 sugar cookies that have been swirled prettily with frosting and by golly, I don’t want the plastic wrap pressing into the frosting and ruining my hard work (neither do I want to use a hard set royal icing because…well, long live soft creamy frosting forever, plus, the royal icing isn’t feasible on cupcakes). It’s not an issue if the cookies aren’t leaving my house but if I need to store them overnight and/or move them to another location, then I kind of feel like covering them is the best defense against toddler fingers, bugs and other hazards.
So this last time, I opened every drawer in my kitchen hoping for inspiration and sure enough, when I spied those spindly straws an idea came to me.
I put a piece of tape on the short side of the straw and bent the long side up. Then I pressed the tape to the underside of the platter making sure to mold it tightly to the sides of the straw so the straw wouldn’t wiggle. Stick with me (no pun intended); you’ll see how this all comes together. I was using a ceramic platter here and regular ol’ scotch tape came off just fine after but using blue painters tape might be an even more sure bet for no residue left on the tray.
I repeated this six times total, three on each side (it was a square platter) and bent the straws inward like shown to create a little canopy base for the plastic wrap. Then, I laid out three pieces of plastic wrap on the counter, overlapping slightly, and gently lifted it over the top of the straws so that it rested right on the tips of all the straws without bending the straws too close to the precious cookies.
I carefully folded the edges of the plastic wrap under the tray…and…crisis averted! Pretty simple but very effective. That plastic wrap didn’t even get close to those cookies.
Me: 1, Messed Up Cookies: 0.
I’ve used this method since for cupcakes (just don’t bend the straws down quite as far) and a few other trays of cookies. It works like a dream. Once I transport the cookies, I gently lift off the plastic wrap and then flip the straws back – they peel right off the underside of the platter.
So there you have it! Not rocket science and it definitely isn’t going to change the world, but it works and has made me very, very happy. Ah, the simple things in life…
You’re a genius!!! I’ve used the toothpick method for years, but you have to use a lot and sometimes it messes up the frosting. Last night, my daughter asked how to keep the plastic wrap off her frosted cupcakes. I had her put sprinkles containers (similar to spice jar size) in each corner of the platter, then wrap it. It worked, but not as ideal as your method! Thanks so much for sharing your resolve…now I can’t wait to try it out! God bless!
Thank you for this brilliant hack! I came on line looking specifically for something simple to keep my lemon bars from being squished by the cling wrap en route to a gathering. Sounds perfect! I’ll pick up some straws at the grocery store today. What did we do before the internet? Thanks again for sharing! Even 8 years after posting you are still helping frustrated bakers.
Debbie Bryant
Palm Coast, FL
THANKS! You just single handedly saved me so much agony tonight!
I love that creative mind of yours! From one mom to another: “This is a Curious George method of figuring out things”. 🙂
Love the straw idea — brilliant! I used it last night with your delish Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie (to preserve the whipped cream) and it worked like a charm, even on a cold-from-the-fridge pie plate. You rock!
although I think its a great idea, I also have an idea as well, – sometimes when we order pizza for the neighborhood kids and they give you that white center piece in the middle(looks like a miniature table for dollhouses !!! ) to keep the lid from sinking into the pizza, I save those and definitely reuse them again and again for these times
Great idea, Elizabeth! Thank you.
How did you make those cute 8 cookies?
Angie McArthur – I used THIS sugar cookie recipe and frosting, and an 8-shaped cookie cutter.
Genius, genius, GENIUS!!
Hahaha! Wonderful! Wish I’d have thought of this great idea a long time ago – it would have saved so many desserts!
Love this, Mel! This would work for appetizers, too. The plastic wrap is like a magnet and lifts off the garnish (parsley, chives, etc.), which is so annoying. This will solve that problem!
Thanks so much for sharing! I needed this just last week! If you cook , you take ! Everyone can use this.
You have a big brain Mel, to come up with this solution. You should supbmit it to Real Simple Magazine they have that “Repurpose” section. For cupcakes going to school I’ve always used my large Lasagna Pan that came with a plastic lid for transporting. It holds 2 dozen cupcakes and it’s deep so it doesn’t touch the frosting. But this plate w/straws idea is genious for so many other things too, like your gourmet buttermilk cookies I love to bake. I love your site and you continue to impress and amaze!! Keep it up. Enjoy the waning weeks of summer.
Brilliant! I have struggled with this issue so many times and thought, “There’s gotta be a better way!” Well, here it is. Thanks for the tip!
Wow! I have always been frustrated with cupcakes and cookies. I am so glad your freely share your great ideas with us! I will be using this very soon! Thank you!
Very cool trick!!
Very clever!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Genius!
Why have I never thought of that??? Brilliant… Now my straws have another purpose in life 🙂
It’s a solution that seems so obvious now. Good for you for figuring out the secret!!
GENIUS. I’ve had this problem many times… Thanks for sharing!
Great idea! More than one batch of my cupcakes and cookies have left the house with a few fingerprints on them. I usually use those ginormous tupperware containers. I found a few of them on clearance a couple of months ago, and they are amazing for this kind of stuff! (or leftovers. Seriously. The only containers I’ve ever found big enough to save OUR leftover soup/stew/pasta!)
Brilliant!
I had not figured out any sort of solution to this conundrum! I was always just frustrated. Sometimes I would even transport things without a cover because I didn’t know how to do it. Thank you! What a wonderful thing to share with us! So helpful.
Thanks for a great idea. I will use it!
You just saved me so much money!! Wow! I always go to the grocery bakery and buy boxes. But I always have straws and wrap! Thanks a million smarty pants! Amazing!
oh my goodness! what an incredible idea. My MIL sticks toothpicks in and then covers with plastic or foil, but i find that NEVER works for me and you end up using like a zillon toothpicks, which just annoys me. This straw idea is pure genius!!
GENIUS!
Also deviled eggs! Whether I am chilling them before dinner or transporting them to another site – thanks.
SO SMART!! THANKS FOR SUCH A GOOD TIP. WHO WANTS TO MESS UP THE FOOD THAT TOOK SO LONG TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL!! (and yummy…)