Rice, Wafer and Icing Sheet Decorations vs Sugar Paste Cupcake and Cake Toppers: What Really Makes Them Different?
When people ask me about the difference between rice, wafer or icing sheet decorations and sugar paste toppers, they’re usually hoping for guidance that’s both practical and honest. After more than a decade creating edible decorations by hand, I’ve seen first-hand where each option shines, and where one clearly stands apart.
So, let’s explore these differences properly, with a clear understanding of what each type offers, and a little insight into how our craft at Simply Toppers has shaped the way we work today.
The Visual and Textural Differences You’ll Notice Straight Away
Rice, wafer and icing sheets absolutely have their place, particularly when a printed image is needed. Corporate cupcakes featuring a logo, or a family celebration where a photo of a loved one takes centre stage, are obvious examples and can on occasions be incorporated with a handmade sugar paste topper.
Visually, icing sheets tend to hold an image better than a rice, wafer paper, which has a habit of curling once it has been on the cupcake for a little while. rice, wafer paper also fades more easily. Both options normally arrive as flat sheets, which often need cutting to size if they’re not pre-cut discs.
Handmade cupcake and cake toppers, however, are already shaped, coloured and ready to place. They bring depth, texture, and a crafted finish that instantly lifts a display. They sit proudly on the cupcake, holding their form rather than wilting or curling.
Why Handmade Sugar Paste Cupcake and Cake Toppers Have a Distinct Advantage
As a business, we don’t produce or sell rice, wafer or icing sheets. Our expertise is firmly rooted in sugar paste toppers, and it has allowed us to create decorations that hold their colour, shape, and charm with far more reliability than printed sheets.
Being handmade is what sets them apart. Each design is shaped, finished, and sometimes hand-painted with careful attention. The result is a decoration that looks as though hours of work have gone into the cupcakes cakes themselves, even when the baker only had moments to assemble them.
Icing sheets do their job for printed needs, but sugar paste cupcake and cake toppers offer an entirely different level of creative possibility and visual impact.
When Customers Want Something Truly Unique
A very common theme among customers is the desire to make their themed party feel personal, imaginative, and memorable. Many simply aren’t looking for a flat image; they want something that looks as though it has been specially made for the occasion.
That’s where handmade toppers excel. Whether someone is planning a space-themed birthday or a woodland tea party, they’re drawn to custom shapes and colours that bring the theme to life. The effect is immediate: decorated bakes that feel thoughtful and made with care.
Dietary Considerations: What’s Worth Knowing
Dietary needs don’t tend to be the deciding factor here, as rice, wafer and icing sheet producers often meet similar vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free criteria. Edible sugar paste toppers do the same — although, as always, buyers should check ingredients carefully, especially when purchasing from multiple sources.
What Bakeries Tell Us
Most bakeries that use sheet-based prints often produce them in-house, simply because printed discs are easy and quick to generate. For more crafted designs, though, they come to us. The conversation usually revolves around theme, colour, and style rather than the technical differences between sheet and sugar paste. Their focus is impact and sugar paste decorations give them that instantly and on occasions can even be mixed to give a more personal effect on their bakes.
Durability, Storage, and How They Hold Up Over Time
Rice, wafer and icing sheets are usually posted in flat envelopes and have a long shelf life, although rice, wafer paper can fade and curl.
Cupcake and cake toppers made with sugar paste behave very differently. Because they’re handmade and more sculptural, we pack them securely in boxes to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. Stored correctly, ours keep their shape and colour for up to six months, giving customers plenty of flexibility when planning larger events.
Creativity Without Limits
rice, wafer and icing sheets are, by nature, flat. Their creativity is tied to whatever can be printed onto them.
Sugar paste decorations, on the other hand, offer endless creative freedom. From simple coloured shapes to layered designs, characters, flowers, and full themed sets, the possibilities are vast. One of our most popular examples is our large mixed dinosaur set, a colourful collection that has become a favourite for children’s parties. There’s something magical about seeing a cupcake topped with a tiny stegosaurus or a bright, cheerful diplodocus. You simply can’t achieve that depth or personality with a printed sheet.
Why Craftsmanship Matters
There’s very little craft involved in printing a sheet, but a great deal involved in shaping sugar paste. Early in Simply Toppers’ journey, I remember sitting at the kitchen table, shaping the smallest set of teddies one by one, determined that each should look identical. It was slow work, but the care behind it formed the foundation of everything we do now.
Craftsmanship gives handmade sugar paste cupcake and cake toppers their character. You can see the hand of the maker in each one, and customers feel that connection.
When Sugar Paste Creates the Strongest Impact
Unless you specifically need a photograph or corporate logo, handmade sugar paste toppers are almost always the option that brings greater charm, depth, and individuality. It elevates even the simplest bake, making it feel as though it has been created for that moment alone. However, a printed image can be added to a sugar paste topper with help from us
Choosing the Right Decoration for Your Occasion
If you’re deciding between the two, think about the effect you want to achieve.
If you need an image of a child, a logo, or a quick solution that still looks smart, icing sheets will do the job well.
But if your little one dreams of dinosaurs, cars, or trains, or you want decorations that feel crafted and meaningful, sugar paste decorations will give you that beautifully tailored look.
Ready to Explore?
If you’d like to see what handcrafted sugar paste toppers can bring to your next celebration, regardless of the type of cream topping they would be place on, have a look at our themed ranges or get in touch for a custom design. Whether you’re a home baker, a bakery, or planning an event, we’re always happy to help you choose decorations that will make your bakes truly stand out.