Though first invented in the 1700s, cupcakes made their formal arrival on the baking scene in the 19th Century. Famously loved for their perfect portion size, quick baking, and easily customizable nature, these petite desserts saw an increased popularity in the early 2000s with the rise of trendy, specialized cupcake bakeries. In fact, last year nearly 770,000,000 cupcakes were consumed in the United States alone!
Clearly, we can’t get enough of these tasty treats. However, most gourmet cupcakes in the US cost between $3 to $7 each. For that price, you could purchase all the ingredients needed to make your own batch of homemade cupcakes!
| Best Scoop for Cupcake Batter | Why We Like It | |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop | This scoop is designed for dense, sticky cookie dough so it’s great for cupcake batter, plus it’s durable and easy to clean. |
 | 2. The Pampered Chef Large Scoop | The Pampered Chef provides a perfect-sized, mess-free scoop and is dishwasher safe. |
 | 3. Vollrath Stainless Steel Disher | This doubles as an ice cream scoop and is made of durable, scratch-free stainless steel. |
 | 4. Hamilton Beach Commercial Disher | The Hamilton Beach doubles as an ice cream scoop and features a heavy-duty spring and lifetime warranty. |
What do I need to make cupcakes?
As you know, when it comes to making cupcakes, you really only need a few simple ingredients. These vary from recipe to recipe, but generally include flour, salt, baking powder, butter, sugar, eggs, and milk. You’ll also need a cupcake pan and cupcake liners.
What you may not know is that your cupcake baking supplies should also include a scoop!
See this post for a great how-to on fill beautiful cupcakes.
Why should I use a scoop for baking cupcakes?
It’s always a struggle to ensure your cakes are all similar in size and shape. Uniform cupcakes cook more evenly and look nicer. Using a scoop to transfer your batter from the mixing bowl to the cupcake pan will not only make the baking process quicker and cleaner, it will also improve the uniformity of your cupcakes.
You can easily fill one dozen cupcake liners in less than 30 seconds with a scoop, all while making very little mess. This small investment can make a huge difference in the overall quality of your cupcakes.
Which scoop should I choose?
Most scoops come in sizes varying from small to large, so you first must decide what size cupcakes you will be making most often. For regular-sized cupcakes, a larger scoop works better, while a small-sized scoop is perfect for mini cupcakes. Other important considerations are the durability, ease-of-use, and how easy the scoop is to clean.
Generally speaking, you should look for a quality scoop made of stainless steel that has a comfortable, ergonomic grip. Many such models are dishwasher-safe, which is a huge boon to the busy baker!
OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop
While this scoop may be designed for making perfectly-shaped cookies, it is also ideal for cupcakes. The scoop is available in small, medium, and large. The large size, with its 3 tablespoon capacity, works best for making cupcakes.
As the scoop is designed for denser, stickier cookie batter, it’s more than sufficient for scooping cupcake batter. The soft grip absorbs the pressure from your hand and makes it easy to scoop and release the cupcake batter. Its dome-shaped scoop lets you cleanly deposit the batter into the tin.
Additionally, the scoop is dishwasher safe, making for easy cleanup. This durable scoop will last many years without any signs of wear or rusting. Best of all, this scoop is easy to find at stores like Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond, or online.
The Pampered Chef Large Scoop
This durable, heavy-duty stainless steel scoop is another excellent choice. The scoop’s scraping blade clears the scoop completely, ensuring that no batter is wasted and left behind in the scoop. The springs are sturdy enough to provide a powerful scoop, while still being soft enough for the hand to easily grasp and squeeze.
For a perfect, mess-free scoop, fill the device level with cupcake batter. This will fill the cupcake cup to the ideal level and leaves just enough space for the batter to rise slightly. Like the OXO, the Pampered Chef has a 3 tablespoon capacity and is dishwasher safe.
Ice Cream Scoops
While there are many excellent cupcake batter scoops on the market, it isn’t always necessary to purchase a dedicated scoop for making cupcakes. Another option is to use a regular ice cream scoop. The best size ice cream scoop for cupcakes is generally a size 20, which is about the equivalent of a large size batter scoop.
Read about which home ice cream maker is best for non-dairy ice cream.
These scoops are made for much thicker and stiffer frozen ice cream, so they are incredibly sturdy. A good ice cream scoop is just as effective and mess-free as a specialty cupcake scoop, without the need to spend extra money on an extra scoop. Plus, fewer scoops mean less clutter in your kitchen drawers.
Vollrath Stainless Steel Disher
This size 20 (1-⅝ oz) model is a perfect ice cream scoop to use for cupcake batter. Made of durable and scratch-resistant stainless steel, this model features a scraping blade with a spring release for easy use. The handle is sleek and uniform to prevent water or bacteria from collecting in creases.
Hamilton Beach Commercial Disher
Hamilton Beach also makes an excellent ice cream scoop that is perfect for cupcake batter. The size 20 has a 2 oz capacity, which is just right for cupcakes. It features a heavy duty spring, which gives the scoop enough power to cleanly scoop batter.
You can find this fine product in most home supply stores, as well as online. Also included: a lifetime warranty.
A journey of a thousand cupcakes begins with a single scoop!
If you’ve ever found yourself struggling with baking uniformly-shaped and evenly-cooked cupcakes, consider using a batter or ice cream scoop. Ensure your cupcakes come out perfect every time by scooping instead of pouring or using a traditional dinner spoon. Enjoy your tidy kitchen as you transfer batter cleanly and avoid those messy drips and spills. Making the simple switch to using a scoop will improve your cupcakes, and help you go from an amateur baker to a professional in no time!
For more recommendations on excellent baking supplies, see this article on the best cookie sheets for convection ovens. You might also want to check out my review of the best springform pan for cheesecake and the best saucepan for making caramel.
Making roll-out cookies? You’ll love my post that discusses the different types of rolling pins. Or, bake the cutest holiday spritz cookies with the best cookie press.
With the holiday season fast approaching, wouldn’t it be wonderful to send your loved one homemade cookies in the mail? Learn all about how to pack cookies for shipping.
Bryce is not a real professor, but he's real nerdy in the kitchen. He's been barbecuing, chopping, and generally blazing food for many decades. He thinks there's definitely a better spatula or utensil out there that hasn't been invented yet.