How to Use Wafer Paper: Toppers, Flowers, and Application Tips
Wafer paper is the cheap, sturdy, surprisingly versatile edible medium most bakers underuse. Here is how to print it, shape flowers, attach it without curling, and stop it going soft.
Wafer paper is the most underused medium in cake decorating: cheap, sturdy, edible, and capable of everything from photo toppers to lifelike flowers and cake wraps. The catch is that it behaves like nothing else — it curls, it dissolves if you over-wet it, and it softens in humidity. Here is how to actually work with it.
What is wafer paper and what can you make with it?
Wafer paper is a thin, edible sheet made from potato or rice starch. It is almost flavourless and holds its shape, which is why it is so versatile. Common uses include printed cake and cupcake toppers, wafer paper flowers and butterflies, cake wraps and sails, cake-bunting, and delicate stand-up decorations that would be impossible with softer icing sheets.
How do you print on wafer paper?
Wafer paper prints on a standard edible printer using edible ink — the same setup used for icing sheets. Because it is sturdier, it feeds cleanly, though the print is very slightly more matte. Before printing a topper, confirm your artwork has enough resolution with the Edible Image Quality Checker. For how it compares to frosting sheets, see icing sheets vs wafer paper.
How to attach wafer paper without it curling
- 1
Use the lightest possible moisture
Brush a thin layer of edible glue or piping gel onto the cake (not the paper), or lightly mist the back of the paper. Wafer paper dissolves with too much water, so less is always more.
- 2
Work quickly and press gently
Position the piece and smooth it from the centre outwards with a dry, soft brush or your fingertips. Wafer paper grabs fast, so place it right the first time.
- 3
Counter the curl
Paper curls toward the wet side. If an edge lifts, add a tiny dab of glue underneath and hold for a few seconds. For flat toppers, attach while the buttercream or icing is still slightly tacky.
How do you make wafer paper flowers?
Cut or punch petal shapes, then introduce a small amount of moisture — a quick pass over steam, a barely-damp brush, or a spritz — to make the paper pliable. Shape the petals while soft (cup them, ruffle the edges) and let them dry in a curved former such as an egg box or foil. As they dry, they hold the shape. Assemble petals with edible glue. The key is minimal moisture: damp enough to bend, never wet enough to dissolve.
The wafer paper we use
A fine 0.3mm wafer paper prints cleanly and is thin enough to shape into flowers, yet sturdy enough for toppers and cake wraps.
EPS Edible Wafer Paper — Fine 0.3mm (100 A4 Sheets)
A 100-sheet pack of fine 0.3mm A4 edible wafer paper for printed toppers, wafer decorations, and high-volume print runs.
Wafer paper is the lighter, lower-cost alternative to icing sheets — it prints with edible printers, does not need a frosting backing, and the fine 0.3mm weight is ideal for wafer toppers and flowers. The 100-sheet pack is built for bakers printing toppers in volume rather than the odd one-off.
Cost-effective once you are printing toppers regularly, and sturdier to handle than icing sheets — just expect a slightly softer, more matte print than glossy frosting sheets.
- High-volume edible topper printing
- Wafer paper toppers, flowers, and cake wraps
- Economy edible printing where cost per sheet matters
Katie's Edible Ink Canon TS705A Printer Kit
A ready-to-print edible printer bundle — a Canon TS705A WiFi printer supplied with edible ink cartridges plus 25 icing sheets and wafer paper.
This is the kit we point bakers to who want their own edible-print setup without sourcing the printer, edible ink, and sheets separately. It arrives with the edible ink cartridges and 25 icing and wafer sheets, so you can start printing toppers, PYO paint palettes, and photo prints straight away.
Handy because it bundles the WiFi printer, edible ink, and a stack of icing and wafer sheets together, so you can print toppers and paint-your-own palettes at home without piecing the setup together yourself.
- Home bakers starting edible printing from scratch
- Printing cake toppers, cupcake discs, and PYO paint palettes
- A WiFi printer that arrives with edible ink and sheets included
Check your topper artwork has enough pixels to print sharply on wafer paper before you commit a sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you print on wafer paper with an edible printer?
Yes. Wafer paper prints on a standard edible printer using edible ink, the same as icing sheets. It feeds cleanly because it is sturdier, though the print is very slightly more matte than a glossy frosting sheet.
How do you attach wafer paper to a cake?
Use the lightest moisture possible: a thin layer of edible glue or piping gel on the cake, or a light mist on the back of the paper. Too much water dissolves wafer paper, so apply sparingly and smooth from the centre out.
How do you make wafer paper flowers?
Cut petal shapes, add a tiny amount of moisture (steam, a barely-damp brush, or a light spritz) to make them pliable, shape them in a curved former, and let them dry to hold the shape. Assemble with edible glue.
Does wafer paper taste of anything?
Very little. Wafer paper is almost flavourless with a faint taste similar to the rice paper under macaroons or a communion wafer. It is a good choice when you do not want the decoration to add sweetness.
How do you stop wafer paper going soft?
Keep it away from humidity. Store sheets and finished pieces flat in a sealed bag or airtight box, away from the fridge and steam, and add wafer decorations to the cake as late as possible — especially in warm, damp weather.