Giant Cupcake Pan Filling Tips

The Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan is a fun and versatile bakeware item that allows you to create a giant cupcake-shaped cake. It is made of durable materials like steel, cast aluminum, or silicone, with non-stick coatings for easy release and cleanup. The pan typically has two large cupcake cavities, one for the top and one for the bottom of the cupcake, resulting in a three-dimensional treat.

The Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan comes in various sizes, with the capacity to hold around 6 to 10 cups of batter. It is recommended to fill the bottom cavity with 3 to 3.5 cups of batter and the top cavity with 2 to 2.5 cups, leaving room for the batter to rise. The baking time and temperature may vary depending on the pan's material and your oven, but it generally bakes at around 325°F for about an hour.

This unique pan is perfect for creating fun and creative cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, or any celebration. It is easy to use and decorate, making it a popular choice for bakers of all skill levels.

How to prepare the pan for baking

Preparing the pan for baking is a crucial step in ensuring your giant cupcake turns out perfectly. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to prepare the Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan for baking:

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Before you begin, make sure you have all the necessary materials. You will need the Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan, which consists of two parts—the cupcake bottom and the swirled cupcake top. You will also need a pan coating or release spray, such as the Wilton Cake ReleaseTM Pan Coating or a non-stick spray. Additionally, you can use butter, shortening, or flour for prep.

Step 2: Prepare the Pan

Use the pan coating, release spray, or butter to generously prep the pan, making sure to get into every nook and cranny. This step is important to ensure your cupcake doesn't stick to the pan.

Step 3: Fill the Pan

The Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan requires a total of 6 cups of batter—2½ cups for the top part of the cupcake and 3½ cups for the bottom. It's important to resist filling the pans to the top, as you need to leave some room for the batter to rise.

Step 4: Adjust for Varying Bake Times

One common issue with the Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan is that the bottom part of the cupcake tends to take longer to bake than the top, resulting in uneven cooking times. To address this issue, you can bake the bottom for about 10 minutes before adding batter to the top portion. Additionally, you can place a damp towel inside the top portion of the pan while the bottom bakes to prevent it from getting too hot and burning.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

After filling both portions of the pan, place the pan in the oven and bake at 325 °F for approximately 1 hour. Check the cupcake halfway through, at around 30 minutes, to ensure even baking. Once it's done, let the cupcake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing it and transferring it to a cooling grid until it's completely cooled.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and delicious giant cupcake!

How much batter to use

To make a giant cupcake cake, you'll need a heavy, dense cake batter to help your cake keep its shape and support the top part after assembly. Wilton recommends using pound cake, but if you're short on time, you can use a cake mix. You can also add colour to your batter or use sprinkles or confetti to liven things up.

When preparing and filling the pan, use Wilton Cake ReleaseTM Pan Coating, Bake Easy! Non-Stick Spray, pan spray, butter or shortening and flour to prep your pan, making sure you get into every nook and cranny. You'll need a total of 6 cups of batter: 2½ cups for the top part of the cupcake and 3½ cups for the bottom. It might look like there's room for more, but don't fill them to the top—you want some room left for the batter to rise.

The Wilton Giant Cupcake Pan bakes the top and bottom of your cupcake in the same pan, and once they've cooled, you can stack them together using a little icing. The pan measures 3.75 by 15.23 by 8 inches and is made of cast aluminium with a non-stick surface for easy release and quick cleanup.

Baking temperature and time

The Wilton giant cupcake pan is made of cast aluminium and has two parts: one for the bottom of the cupcake and one for the top. The bottom part of the pan holds more batter and therefore takes longer to bake. You can either bake the bottom for 10-15 minutes before adding the top, or bake both parts at a lower temperature and extend the baking time.

According to Scribd.com, cakes in this pan should be baked for 60-70 minutes at 325°F. However, the Wilton website recommends baking at 325°F for approximately 1 hour, checking halfway through at 30 minutes. If the top part of the cupcake seems to be baking faster than the bottom, you can cover it with a little tent of foil to slow it down.

Once the cake is done, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before unmoulding it and placing it on a cooling grid until it's completely cooled.

Cooling and assembly instructions

Once the cupcake cake is baked, let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before unmolding it. Then, place it on a cooling grid until it is completely cool.

Now, it's time to assemble the cake! Pop out the bottom section onto a cake board or platter of your choice. Use a serrated knife to level it, and spread frosting on it so that the top part sticks to it.

Here's a tip: After you unmold the top, pop it back into the mold and level it using the edge of the pan as a guide. This will keep the edge straight. Carefully place the top on the frosting-covered bottom.

Your giant cupcake cake is now ready for further decoration! You can leave the bottom as it is or add sprinkles, berries, or candies. You can also experiment with a piñata cake or draw inspiration from Wilton's Blooming Cupcake, Cool Blooms, or cupcake-embellished Giant Cupcake cakes.

Decorating ideas

Once your giant cupcake is baked and assembled, it's time for the fun part: decorating! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Frosting and Sprinkles

For a classic cupcake look, frost the top of your giant cupcake and add sprinkles, candies, or fresh berries. You can also get creative with different frosting techniques, such as piping flowers or swirls.

Cupcake Liner Effect

To make your giant cupcake look even more like a giant version of its smaller counterpart, try frosting the bottom with vertical lines to resemble a real cupcake liner.

Blooming Cupcake

Create a blooming cupcake by using your favourite chocolate pound cake recipe or a cake mix. Add green icing rosettes on top and finish with pastel confetti sprinkles.

Purple Rosette Blossoms Cupcake

Pipe large purple rosettes and multi-coloured star blossoms on top of your giant cupcake for a stunning effect. Use different icing colours and piping tips such as star, petal, drop flower, and round tips to create a variety of designs. Surround the cake with smaller cupcakes decorated with flowers, swirls, and stars for an even more impressive display.

Piñata Cake

Fill your giant cupcake with candy for a fun surprise when it's cut open.

First Birthday Smash Cake

Decorate your giant cupcake with colourful icing, sprinkles, and a single large candle for a fun and memorable first birthday celebration.

Quirky Anniversary Cake

Use your giant cupcake pan to create a quirky and unique anniversary cake. Decorate it with a romantic message, sugar flowers, or other personalised touches to make it extra special.

Frequently asked questions