Planning a birthday party or office event? Having a graduation celebration? Hosting a fun get-together with friends? Cupcakes are the perfect dessert for any occasion! Their colorful, bite-sized form makes them easy to serve and enjoy. But where can you find affordable, delicious cupcakes to feed a crowd? Never fear – your local Walmart has you covered!
Here are 7 key things every shopper should know about buying cupcakes from Walmart:
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Walmart offers pre-packaged and customizable cupcake options – Choose from ready-made mini cupcakes or design your own!
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Prices range from $2.48 – $13.28 per package – Budget-friendly, especially for bulk orders.
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You can buy individual "gourmet" cupcakes – Individually sold for snacking on the go.
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Cupcakes are made off-site, not baked in-store – But still taste relatively fresh!
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Online and in-store custom ordering available – Tailor flavors, fillings, frostings and decorations.
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You can request specialty cupcake cakes – Though only at your local bakery department.
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Reviews are mixed – Decent budget option but won‘t match artisanal quality.
Now let‘s explore each of these tips in more detail so you can decide if Walmart cupcakes are right for your next event!
An Overview of Walmart Cupcake Options
The key to great cupcake success is understanding the different options available at Walmart. Here‘s a breakdown of the types of cupcakes you‘ll find:
Pre-Packaged Cupcakes
Walk into any Walmart bakery department and you‘ll see their pre-made cupcake selections packaged up and ready to go. There are two main brands to choose from:
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Freshness Guaranteed – These include both mini cupcakes and regular sized options. Flavors and varieties tend to be more classic and traditional. Think vanilla or chocolate cupcakes with colorful frosting and rainbow sprinkles on top.
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Marketside – Slightly more "gourmet" with flavors like triple chocolate, red velvet cream cheese, and strawberry shortcake. These are mini cupcakes pre-packaged in containers of 6, 12 or 24.
In addition to those branded options, Walmart bakery counters often have their own unique cupcake creations on rotation too. One day you might spot chocolate peanut butter cupcakes or cookies ‘n cream, the next could be mint chocolate chip or s‘mores! The variety depends on what the local bakers feel inspired to make.
Customizable Cupcakes
Beyond the pre-made cupcakes, the fun part is that you can actually order customized cupcakes through Walmart too! These allow you to hand pick everything from the cake flavor to the frosting colors and decorations. It‘s a great way to get personalized cupcakes made just the way you like.
We‘ll get more into the specifics on custom orders below, but this option really opens up the possibilities beyond what‘s on the Walmart bakery shelves that day.
Individual Cupcakes
Finally, if you‘re just looking to treat yourself to a single cupcake (no judgment, we‘ve all been there!), Walmart also sells individual cupcakes packaged on their own near the other ready to eat bakery selections. These are typically more decadent, "gourmet" flavors, like:
- Vanilla cupcake with strawberry filling
- Red velvet with cream cheese frosting
- Fudge chocolate cupcake topped with buttercream
Priced at $2.97 each, it‘s an affordable way to get your cupcake fix for one without being stuck with a whole dozen.
Walmart Cupcake Pricing and Packaging
One of the best aspects of Walmart cupcakes is the budget-friendly prices, especially when buying in bulk. Here‘s a pricing breakdown:
| Cupcake Type | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Pre-packaged mini cupcakes (6 – 24 count) | $2.48 – $13.28 |
| Marketside gourmet cupcakes (sold individually) | $2.97 each |
| Customized cupcakes (6 – 24 count) | $4.48 – $13.28 |
Customization extras: Filling – $3 additional
Some key notes on Walmart‘s cupcake packaging and pricing:
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Mini cupcakes often come in packs of 6, 12 or 24 which brings down the per cupcake cost significantly. Perfect for large events and gatherings!
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Fancier, specialty flavors under the Marketside brand are usually sold as singles or smaller 6-packs rather than large quantities.
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Custom orders allow you to mix and match flavors within the same order. You could do half vanilla, half chocolate in a 24-pack for example.
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Fillings add $3 onto the base price, but other custom decorations and flavors do not cost extra.
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Customizing a 6-pack starts at just $4.48 – it‘s just $0.75 more per cupcake for a personalized treat!
So if you‘re on a budget, those bulk packs of mini cupcakes give you the most bang for your buck. But customization isn‘t much pricier either, especially considering it allows for one-of-a-kind designs.
Buying Cupcakes Individually
While Walmart cupcake packs are an amazing value, there may be times when just one or two cupcakes will do the trick. Good news – you can buy single serve cupcakes too!
Walmart sells individual "gourmet" style cupcakes in the refrigerated bakery section, typically near the packaged cookies and other ready to eat desserts. Flavors rotate but often include:
- Strawberry filled vanilla cupcakes
- Fudge frosted chocolate cupcakes
- Red velvet with cream cheese frosting
- Carrot cake cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese
These pre-packaged singles range from $2.48 – $2.97 each depending on the variety. It‘s slightly more expensive per ounce than buying in bulk, but the convenience of grabbing just one or two makes it worthwhile occasionally.
These premium flavored individual cupcakes are perfect for:
- Treating yourself to a little dessert
- Packed lunches or snacks on the go
- Bringing a small gift or dessert to a friend‘s place
- Parties where you don‘t need a whole tray of cupcakes
Next time the cupcake craving strikes, check this refrigerated Walmart display case for single serve options!
Are Walmart Bakery Cupcakes Made In-Store?
With images of piping bags frosting towers of cupcakes flashing through your mind, you may wonder – are the Walmart cupcake creations baked fresh in-store daily?
Unfortunately, the short answer is no. Like many grocery store chains, Walmart cupcakes arrive to the store location frozen. The baking is done off-site at a central commissary kitchen.
However, this doesn‘t mean the quality or freshness suffers! Baking experts explain that freezing locks in moisture and freshness right at the peak when cupcakes come out of the oven. Thawing and frosting them in-store brings the cupcakes back to near-perfect flavor and texture.
Many customer reviews agree that Walmart cupcakes still taste relatively fresh and moist after being thawed to sell. The freezing process doesn‘t drastically damage cupcake quality. You can even safely re-freeze Walmart cupcakes at home with minimal texture change.
So don‘t let the freezing and thawing process scare you off. Walmart cupcake quality still shines through!
Customizing Your Walmart Cupcake Order
One of the coolest aspects of Walmart‘s cupcake offerings is the ability to customize and personalize orders. You can tailor everything down to the sprinkle colors!
Walmart allows you to order customized cupcakes both online and at your local store‘s bakery counter. The process works like this:
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Select quantity – Either 6, 12 or 24 cupcakes for your order.
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Pick cupcake flavors – Choose from vanilla, chocolate, marble, red velvet and more. Mix and match!
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Choose frosting flavor & color – Again, select from standard flavors like vanilla or chocolate with custom coloring.
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Add filling if desired – Options like raspberry, strawberry or chocolate ganache for $3 extra.
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Decorate – Sprinkle on sprinkles, drizzle frosting, add candy decorations and more!
Walmart makes it easy to order exactly the cupcake specifications you want. Their starting prices are very reasonable too:
- 6 custom cupcakes – $4.48
- 12 custom cupcakes – $6.92
- 24 custom cupcakes – $13.28
The only item that increases the base price is adding filling, at just $3 extra for your whole order. All other customizations are included without additional fees.
So for just pocket change more per cupcake, you can have personalized, picture-perfect Walmart cupcakes for your special event!
Ordering Specialty Cupcake Cakes
Walmart‘s online cupcake customization doesn‘t list cupcake cakes as an option. However, some clever customers have figured out a hack through their local store bakery departments!
What exactly is a cupcake cake? It‘s when individual cupcakes are artfully assembled and frosted together into a large cake shape. Often numbers for birthdays or themed shapes for holidays or events.
While not advertised, reviews indicate that some Walmart bakeries will make custom cupcake cakes with enough advance notice. It seems to be at the discretion of each location‘s bakery manager though.
Options appear to include:
- Cupcake cakes shaped like a sheet
- Number-shaped cupcake cakes for birthdays
- Seasonal or themed cupcake cakes
To order a Walmart cupcake cake, your best bet is to directly ask a bakery associate at your neighborhood store. Be sure to give them advance notice on the specifications so they can accommodate the special request!
How Do Walmart Cupcakes Compare in Taste?
The most important factor in choosing cupcakes is always going to come down to flavor! So how do Walmart‘s cupcakes compare? Reviews are somewhat mixed:
What Customers Like About Walmart Cupcakes:
- Moist, flavorful cake when fresh
- Fun, colorful frosting decorations
- Ability to customize flavors and designs
- Cute packaging on themed varieties
- Low prices, especially on bulk packages
What Customers Don‘t Like:
- Dry or dense cake texture
- Overly sweet frosting
- Not as fresh as local bakeries
- Limited flavor options
The consensus seems to be that Walmart cupcakes won‘t match the quality of specialty bakeries or high-end chains like Whole Foods. However, they provide a tasty and affordable option that‘s perfect for large events and everyday snacking.
As one mom and frequent Walmart shopper explained, "Are they gourmet? No. But my kids love the fun designs and they taste good enough, especially considering the price!"
Walmart Cupcakes – Perfect for Shoppers on a Budget!
At the end of the day, most Walmart shoppers prioritize price and convenience. And Walmart cupcakes deliver both!
Their affordable pricing – especially on bulk mini cupcake packs – makes them ideal for large gatherings like:
- Birthday parties
- Graduation celebrations
- Bridal and baby showers
- Classroom treats
- Office parties and events
And the ability to customize and special order cupcakes exactly how you want them is an amazing perk.
While Walmart cupcakes may not offer artisanal flavor or fluffy texture, they provide a tasty, budget-friendly alternative. And the convenience of grabbing all your party essentials including decorations and beverages in one stop is hard to beat!
So next time you‘re planning a celebration on a budget, look no further than the Walmart bakery for your cupcake needs. From funfetti birthday treats to red velvet Valentines, their variety and customization options make Walmart cupcakes a party must-have.
