Cupcake Pans, Papers, And Pastry Tips: All Your Cupcake Necessities

If you're going to make cupcakes from scratch, it helps to have these things on hand.

Make sure your flour is clump-free for light, fluffy cupcakes. You can either sift the flour through a fine mesh sieve or whisk it to break up any lumps.

Having an ice cream scoop handy can make portioning out cupcake batter easier; all your cupcakes will be the same size, and you won't make a mess when you're filling the pan.

Although it may seem obvious, you can't make cupcakes unless you have a muffin or cupcake pan. Look for one with a heavy duty design; they tend to distribute heat more evenly.

Lining the muffin or cupcake pan with paper liners will make cleanup easier and the presentation of your finished cupcakes prettier.

Unless you're an expert at with an offset spatula, it helps to have a pastry tip and a few decorating tips on hand. A quick swirl of frosting from the pastry bag and your cupcakes will look like they came from a professional bakery.

Are there any pieces of equipment that you like to have on hand when you're making cupcakes? Let us know in the comments below!

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.