If you are wanting to get into edible printing, you may be wondering which type of edible paper you should be using. There are two main products to choose from when printing edible images for a variety of uses on cakes, desserts and even drinks - wafer paper (sometimes known as rice paper) or icing sheets (otherwise known as frosting sheets or sugar sheets).
We are often asked the difference between the two types of edible paper and and which type is best for your edible printing needs. We've put together a quick and comprehensive guide on both wafer paper and icing sheets and which one you should choose.
Firstly, here is a quick break down on the two types of edible paper:-
Wafer Paper/Card
Wafer paper is a vegan and vegetarian edible paper usually made from potato starches, water and oil. It closely resembles standard paper. EPS wafer paper is available in a selection of thicknesses varying from 0.3mm wafer paper to a thicker 0.6mm wafer paper, otherwise known as wafer card. Wafer paper is perfect for edible printing and has a variety of uses in cake, dessert and drink decoration detailed later in this guide.
Icing sheets are comprised of a thin layer of white icing pressed onto a plastic backing paper, to allow them to be fed through an edible printer. The backing sheet is peeled off before applying the icing sheet image onto a cake. Some types of icing sheets require freezing or heating to remove them from the backing sheet which can be problematic. However, EPS icing sheets have been specially developed with an easy-peel formula and can be quickly and easily peeled away from the backing plastic. EPS Icing sheets are also suitable for vegetarians or vegans and are gluten free. Icing sheets are the most popular choice of edible paper for those wanting to create edible printed cake toppers.
There are a few aspects to consider when choosing between wafer paper and icing sheets for your edible printing project, and this is mainly down to the intended use. We have summarised some of the key considerations below:-
Which is the best Product to Print onto - Wafer Paper or Icing Sheets?
Wafer paper is treated in exactly the same way as printing onto normal paper. Simply insert your wafer paper into the feed tray a few sheets at a time and print using your edible printer. Wafer Paper tends to be less flexible than icing sheets so is best used in a back feed printer such as the Canon PIXMA TS705a or iX6850 edible printers.
The thinner 0.35mm wafer paper has both a rough and a smooth side. The best results are achieved by printing onto the smoother side. The Wafer Card is smooth on both sides so can be printed on either side.
Wafer Paper produces the best results with high-contrast, vibrant images.
EPS Icing sheets have been specifically engineered for edible printing. The smooth, bright white finish of the absorbent icing sheet surface, means printed images are high-quality and the best possible printing results can be achieved. As icing sheets are thicker than wafer paper and closely resemble fondant icing, they tend to produce a higher quality print finish than wafer paper due to the better absorbency and more opaque, smoother finish. Icing Sheets are backed with a plastic sheet, this is to protect the icing sheet as it feeds through the edible printer and must be removed prior to use.
The print quality of the edible image is normally better on icing sheets due to them being smoother, more absorbent and less opaque.
It's possible to achieve great quality images on both types of edible paper, though. But it’s really important to remember that the image you’re printing must also be of high resolution on screen. If the image is poor quality, the printed result will be poor quality too – no matter what you’re printing onto!
Different Uses for Wafer Paper and Icing Sheets
Their differing properties and affordability make these two types of edible paper more suited to certain kinds and uses of edible images. We've listed a few of the possible uses of edible images and which type of edible paper we recommend for each:-
Cake Toppers
Both icing sheets and wafer paper are a good choice for cake toppers. The main deciding factor would be the quality of the print - if you are wanting high resolution, vibrant colours and detail in your prints, your best choice would be icing sheets. You may also wish to consider cost (wafer paper or card would be a more cost effective option) as well as the suitability of the surface for each type of edible paper.
For applying directly to cake surfaces with a higher moisture content such as buttercream, icing sheets would be much more durable and a better choice. But for longer lasting edible images, you can always back them with thinly rolled out fondant before applying to the cake.
Icing sheets are much more flexible and durable than wafer paper, so are best for moulding into uneven surfaces or for curving around cake edges, as wafer paper may break in the process.
For stand-up toppers edible toppers, wafer card is a great choice as this can be printed and cut before being stood into the top of cakes and cupcakes.
Cupcake Toppers
Similarly, for cupcakes toppers (or other kinds of bakes goods/desserts such as donuts and brownies) the choice between wafer paper or icing sheets really boils down to the quality of prints you wish to achieve and the type of surface the toppers are being placed on. Another consideration with smaller toppers is the availability of pre-cut icing sheets.
Pre-cut icing sheets come in a variety of sizes (2-8inch) and shapes (circles, rectangles and strips) and can save time with edible printing in high-volumes as the shapes are already cut for you prior to printing. It can take some practice to learn how to print within the pre-cut areas but is a popular choice for commercial bakeries.
Wafer paper is not available as a pre-cut option and does require cutting yourself, this is due to the lack of backing sheets with wafer paper as pre-cut options would disintegrate inside the printer.
Cocktail/Drinks Toppers
A new trend of adding edible images, logos, messages and photos to cocktails and drinks is a relatively inexpensive way of adding personalisation to weddings and events. These types of edible drinks toppers are best achieved using wafer paper or card. Depending on how you wish to use the toppers and the type of drinks you are topping will determine whether thinner wafer paper or thicker wafer card is the best choice.
For floating edible toppers - these are best used on foamy cocktails, like a Pornstar Martini - a popular favourite! Due to its lightweight properties and being virtually tasteless, wafer paper will float on top of the cocktail and the edible image will blend into the foam, making it the ideal choice. If you are wanting to use edible toppers on less foamy drinks, like on Prosecco at an event, for example, wafer card will last a little longer on these types of drinks.
Alternatively, a popular option is to clip the edible image to the side of the glass for guests to either add themselves, or enjoy later.
Bread/Pie Edible Labels
Wafer Paper can be used to add labels to your pies, breads and other baked goods to reduce the need for packing to brand or label the type of product or ingredients. Once printed, wafer paper can simply be added to the outer pastry or dough prior to baking for a more rustic look, or straight after baking for a cleaner finish. As the wafer paper is tasteless, they will not affect the taste of your product.
All of our Canon edible printers can be used to print wafer paper or card, and our handy Circle Squeeze Punch Cutters or new Adjustable Circle Cutters mean you can cut out your toppers easily in perfect circles every time!
How do you Apply Wafer Paper and Icing Sheets onto Cakes?
Wafer paper can be applied onto cakes really easily. Simply moisten the back of the wafer paper using a fine mist of water and apply or use a small amount of specialist edible glue. There’s no backing paper to remove, you just print and go. However, wafer paper does have a tendency to curl if it’s applied to wet icing or too much water is used during the application. If being used on buttercream, always apply them at the last minute or when the buttercream has hardened or back with a thin layer of fondant. One downside of wafer paper is that it doesn’t tend to mould into fondant icing, It can also be more difficult to cut when applied to the top of a cake, particularly if wafer card is used.
EPS Icing Sheets are really easy to remove from the backing paper - you simply peel them off. Once printed, like wafer paper, icing sheets are easy to apply to your cakes, bakes and chocolate surfaces. Simply spray the back of your icing sheet or ready iced cake with a fine mist of water, or use a clean food-safe brush dampened with some water or again a small amount of edible glue, being careful not to get any moisture on the printed image, and press the icing sheets gently into place using your hands, a rolling pin or cake smoother. Unlike wafer paper, icing sheets are easy to cut through and mould into icing.
You can also back wafer paper, wafer card or icing sheets with a thin layer of fondant to add more protection to the image and reduce the chance of the edible topper from bending, warping or the colours running on more moist surfaces like buttercream. Simply cut your edible image and roll out a thin layer of fondant, apply the edible image as above or use a rolling pin to press it into the fondant. Allow the fondant time to dry and firm before placing onto your cake or baked product.
How does Wafer Paper taste compared to Icing Sheets?
The standard EPS Wafer paper and Wafer Card is flavourless. An advantage of its lack of flavour means it doesn’t affect the flavour of the cake, drink or dessert you’re applying it to. This makes wafer paper a great choice for savoury food labels too, such as pies and breads. For those preferring a sweeter taste it’s available in a Sweetened Wafer Paper which has a slight vanilla flavour.
Icing Sheets tend to have a very slight, sweet and vanilla flavour. However, as the icing is generally absorbed into the cake/cupcakes any taste is not usually noticeable.
Cost of Wafer Paper vs Icing Sheets
Wafer Paper is considerably cheaper to purchase than icing sheets, with a price of £4.95 or less for 25 sheets. A4 Icing sheets are a more premium option at £19.50 per 25 sheets (bulk discounts are available for higher quantities). Depending on the budget of your project, this may take part of your decision in which type of edible paper to choose.
If you're just getting started in edible paper and don't yet know which type of edible paper to choose or perhaps have multiple uses in mind, our Edible Printer Starter Kit comes with a selection of EPS Wafer Paper, Wafer Card, Icing Sheets and our Chocolate Transfer Sheets, meaning you can experiment with all of our types of edible paper!
For more information on the different types of edible paper products that we offer, please visit our website edibleprintsupplies.co.uk or email us on sales@edibleprintsupplies.co.uk for more information. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok where we often post inspiration and advice on using our edible paper products.