Baby shower cupcake ideas that work in real life

Baby shower cupcake ideas that work in real life

We've been baking baby shower cupcakes at our Leichhardt shop since 2008, and the questions have barely changed in that time. How many do I need? What colours? What do I do about the gluten free cousin? This guide answers all of it, based on what actually happens at these events rather than what looks good on Pinterest.

How many cupcakes for a baby shower?

One standard cupcake per guest, plus four to six spares. Someone always comes back for a second, and the host is usually the last person to eat anything at all. If the dessert table also has a cake, fruit or other sweets, switch to minis. Guests will graze on a mini without feeling they've committed to a full dessert, and your table looks generous instead of picked over.

For a rough guide: twenty guests means about 24 standard cupcakes, or 36 to 40 minis if cupcakes are sharing the table with other food. Our cupcake boxes come in sizes that suite most guest lists, so you won't be forced into ordering fifty for a shower of eighteen.

Colours and themes

Soft pink, powder blue and cream are classics for a reason. They photograph well against nearly any table setting and nobody has ever complained about them. If the parents are keeping the sex a surprise, neutrals do the job: white, lemon, sage green or gold, which also happen to be the most requested shower colours we see year to year.

Theme ideas that come through our kitchen most often: teddy bears, clouds and stars, baby animals, and "twinkle twinkle little star" lettering spread across a set of cupcakes. Simple piped rosettes in the shower's colour palette look more expensive than busy designs, and they hold up better in photos.

If you want something guests will talk about, put the ultrasound photo on the cupcakes. Our edible image printing transfers any photo onto the topper. It sounds strange the first time you hear it. Then you watch an entire room gather around the dessert table, and it makes sense.

Flavours

Vanilla and chocolate carry every event, so make them at least half your order. From there, lemon and strawberry suit daytime showers, and salted caramel disappears fastest whenever it's on the table. Mixing flavours across one order is standard for us, so you don't have to choose one and hope.

Dietary needs, handled quietly

At any shower of twenty people there is almost always someone gluten free, vegan or both, and they usually won't say anything until the food comes out. Order a small marked box for them. Our vegan cupcakes are baked to taste like the regular range, and gluten free options are available across most flavours. Little flags or a separate plate save that guest from asking in front of everyone.

Ordering, timing and delivery

Most hosts order one to two weeks ahead, which guarantees the full range of colours and designs. If the shower crept up on you, we offer same day delivery across Sydney from Leichhardt, so a morning panic can still end in a full dessert table by the afternoon. Pickup from the shop works too if you'd rather see the order before the event.

Many hosts add a keepsake to the order. Our baby gifts ride along with a lot of shower deliveries, and it saves a separate errand.

Quick answers

How far ahead should I order baby shower cupcakes?
One to two weeks for a custom colour scheme or edible images. Standard designs can often be turned around faster, sometimes same day.

Cupcakes or a cake for a baby shower?
Cupcakes serve themselves, need no cutting and cover dietary needs individually. A small cake plus cupcakes gives you a centrepiece and easy serving, and it's the setup we see most.

Can you match my invitation colours?
Yes. Send the invitation or a photo through our contact page and we'll match the palette.