Have you ever turned down a cake order because a customer asked for a specific logo or photo?
It happens to the best of us. You can pipe beautiful roses and sculpt amazing fondant figures, but when a client wants a printed photo of their dog or a corporate logo, you feel stuck.
Maybe you’ve looked into edible printing before but got scared off. You’ve heard the horror stories: "The printers always clog," or "The colors never look right," or "You need to be a Photoshop genius to make it work."
I have good news for you: Those are myths.
Modern edible printing is actually just as easy as printing a shipping label, if you have the right setup. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what you need to get started, even if you hate technology.
Step 1: The Printer (Why "Office" Printers Fail)
The biggest mistake beginners make is buying a cheap standard printer from an office supply store and trying to force edible paper through it.
Here is the secret: Edible paper (especially premium cardstock) is much thicker than regular copy paper. Standard printers have many rollers that bend the paper 180 degrees. If you try to feed a thick Frosting Sheet or a thicker Wafer Paper through them, they will jam and break the sheet.
The Solution: You need a "Rear Feed" printer (like the Canon models we recommend). These allow the paper to pass through the back in a straight line, preventing cracks and jams.
Step 2: Knowing Your Paper (Icing vs. Wafer)
You don't need to stock 20 different types of paper. You just need to know the "Big Two":
Frosting Sheets (Icing Sheets): These are thin layers of icing pressed onto a plastic backing. They smell like vanilla, dissolve in your mouth, and are perfect for high-resolution photos on birthday cakes, cookies and cupcakes.
Wafer Paper: Made from potato starch, this paper is stiffer and doesn't dissolve as easily.
0.3mm (Standard): Great for gelatin transfer, the burn-away trend, flowers and butterflies.
0.6mm (Hard Grade): Our specialized "Cardstock" grade. It's perfect for stand-up toppers that need to hold their shape in humid weather. Also known to be used as drink toppers (although not as sharp as our Top Melts.)
Step 3: The "Clog" Myth (And How to Fix It)
This is the #1 fear we hear from customers: "Won't the ink dry out and ruin the printer?"
The truth is, edible ink is food, and food can dry out. But preventing clogs is incredibly simple.
Print once a week: Even if you don't have an order, print a test page. This keeps the ink flowing.
Use a Cleaning Kit: If you could not print for a long time and want to use the printer again, we have specific cleaning kits readily available for the easy solution.
The Easy Way to Start: The Beginner Bundle
We got tired of seeing talented bakers struggle with mismatched equipment and confusing software. So, we built a solution specifically for the "non-tech" baker.
Our Complete Beginner Bundle Name includes everything you need in one box:
The Right Printer: A Canon Rear-Feed model tested for edible media.
The Right Ink: FDA-compliant edible ink that is vibrant and safe.
The Software: You don't need Photoshop. Our bundle comes with access to simple design tools that make resizing photos easy.
The Maintenance: Print once a week to keep the ink fresh, if you do get a clog there a self-cleaning maintenance option on the printer.
The Technical Support: Our staff of edible printing experts is readily available to provide support via phone, live chat or email for anything you need.
Ready to print your first cake topper? Don't let the technology scare you away from higher-paying cake orders. If you can bake a soufflé, you can definitely handle this printer.
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64 Comments
Jasmine H.
I would use this bundle to get a head start on teacher Valentines! Thank you for incredible prints and fast shipping!
Susan Davis
I would use this to make Birthday cakes for my grandkids and maybe make a few extra $$$ making cakes for family and friends.
Stephanie Koronich
I would print pics of bunnies ??
Stephanie Thompson
Hello, would love to win this printer for my mom. She loves to print recipes. I bought her a printer but it doesn’t print photos very well. Her name is Donna Mathews and she is always printing recipes and she like to print the pictures so she needs a better printer than what she has!
Ketny Obas
I had a baby girl this year in March, so for her first birthday next year i will be baking her the cake and printing “Bón Fèt” (happy birthday) in Haitian Creole
Linda P.
At 68, after losing my husband to cancer and chemotherapy, I’ve had to rethink my entire life — including starting a new business when I never expected to. This past holiday season, I honored my late husband by sharing a family cookie recipe with a simple powdered sugar glaze. I used it to network from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve Eve, and the response was overwhelming. People didn’t just like the cookie — they asked about the story behind it. Now I’m ready to take that foundation to the next level. I truly believe edible art will set my cookie business apart from other local cookiers, and an edible printer with custom ink and edible paper would allow me to turn meaningful designs, memories, and celebrations into something people can literally share. This isn’t just about decorating cookies — it’s about building a new chapter with purpose, creativity, and heart. Winning this would help me bring that vision to life.
Crystal S
Oh how much fun it would be to have an edible printer. I’d print my mom and dads face and put it on cookies for my family b
Donna Tucker
I would love to make my granbaby’s birthday cake.
Julie Barnard
I would make my daughters birthday cake and print a picture of her as a baby!
Miriam Peralta
I will print images for family cakes.
Ronald
I would print a photo for a cake
Victoria Parsons
I want to print custom edible cupcake toppers cause I’m the Queen Of Cupcakes and this will kick my decorations up a notch!!!!! Just think of all the holiday decorations I could print out !!!!!!
Brenda S
It would be great to print logos or clear pictures
Lisa Herndon
This would be such a fun item. I love to bake and personalization can make a person's day!
Jennifer
I would use this for all the family, birthdays and my neighbors and my grandbabies teachers and school staff gifts
Brittney
I’d print for my sons bday
Karina Acedo
I would you use this bundle to print my own images for custom cakes and cookies
Holly Cox
I would use this to print family photos on the cookies I make!
Amie
I love it! I would use this bundle to print pictures of sharks to make the most awesome marine cakes!!!
Karen Chin
I would use this to print edible images for my cakes! I’m a graphic artist and baker so I’m sure I could come up with some fantastic designs and print them for lots of desserts!
Kim Goldfeder Clarke
Cool blog! The first thing I would print is a logo for my Mr. Bentley’s World Bulldog company. He enjoys a following of over 57,000 international fans. I think his face on a cookie would be a HUGE seller and it would also bring more awareness for animal rescue, which is one of the reasons I started the company. Thank you!
Purely Baked Creations - Gabby
This printer is super necessary for me because i own a small business, and sometimes it gets a little difficult for me to get the edible images online, making this myself would be such a life changer and would really help me a lot! I would be super grateful to earn this! ?? For the perfection of all my baked creations ??
Deborah Hall
Great article! Thank you for the information. I'm new to printing an image for use on a cake. I would welcome the opportunity to learn. I'm a graphic designer and amateur home baker. I have two February birthdays coming up. I would love to try printing a photo of my sister's dog to use on her cake.
Cheryl
Just a cool idea. I have always free hand draw but getting older so harder to do. This would be fun to play with for family birthdays.
kelly bernhard
I would love this!! Would print out a birthday image for my daughter's birthday in Jan!
Darlene D
This article did clear up a lot and was great information! I have been talking about getting one of these for years, both my daughter and I do cakes. The first thing I would print would be some Nightmare Before Christmas/Betty Boop & Bacon collage to put on a birthday cake for her :)
Diane Wolfe
As I have a catering business, this would be a great way to say thank you to my customers. I can take a picture of their event and make it into a picture and put it on the Sugar cookies I make. So it is cute, edible, and it will help people remember my company and the services we provided. Thank you !!!!
Joanne Langley
Would love to have it to start making St Patrick's Day cookies for our annual bake sale. Would be such a time save from hand decorating cookies and so many designs you can choose from. My printer broke and I've been lost without it. Thank you. WIshing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Jenny Brackin
I'd print some fireworks for a New Year's Eve cake. We always have a huge party with friends.
Amy Mainella
I order prints from you all the time, I would love to be able to make cakes with this for my friends and family.
Catee Ng
Definitely would use for printing logos for cookies!!
Amanda
I would donate this wonderful prize to my very sweet cake lady because a few years ago she gave me the gift of a Yorkie after mine passed away.
Aeg
I’d have my art students try it out on cookies! They’d love it!!!
Diane
This is such a great product! And a lovely giveaway!
Elizabeth
I would use this to decorate cakes and cupcakes for every special occasion possible.
Crystal
This sounds like it could be a fun and interesting accessory for decorating.
Kim Liguori
This would be great to have to make the kids special birthday cakes instead of ordering them. Your blog made me less afraid to try something new.
Maranda
I would make my cookies look amazing with this bundle. Thank you for this huge, helpful prize to who ever wins it.
Safona Calderon
I was just looking for an edible printer when talking to the owner of the shared commercial kitchen I use. We were speaking about the great use of one when creating custom cakes. Its hard to say what I would print first. If it came by 18th January, I would print a salute to my late maternal grandmother, Magnolia, who I named my business after. We share the same birthday, and now my business name
Sandra sitzes
I love my current printer but it’s getting older and I know I’ll have to replace it soon. I hate to do that since it’s the one my mom bought for me to help kickstart my business before she passed. My edible printer has helped me just WOW my clients. And the orders I’ve gotten from clients got me through those dark days after she passed.
Jamie
I’d print some cookies for my son’s upcoming birthday!! this is such a great post! ty!
Martha
I would use this for all my gluten free cakes that I make for my 2 boys who have celiac disease. Unfortunately it's hard to find places that can make celiac safe cakes for them to eat. I too have celiac disease. This would really make me mom of the year for every baking holiday or occasion for them. I can see it now edible printed images of their favorite characters.
Kim Heaton
Great read! I have been so interested in learning how to use this. The first thing I would do is make a cake for my little girls 12th birthday. I so enjoy baking with my little girl. This would make it even more fun.
Brenda S
I would probably print something for a cake for my students.
Linda Parker
The first thing I would create is a cake topper for my cake in January! Lynn stokes
Alissa Peralta
I would print out edible images for valentines bento cakes !!!
Susanne B
My first project would be for a sheet cake with all the family and friend names on it!
Nina M
Always wanted to try this to finish off cakes I make for my family and friends. This is an amazing opportunity thank you ??
Charlese Shannon
The first thing I would create with this printer set is the Birthday cake my daughter wanted for her birthday but I couldn't make it because I don't have an edible image printer.
Joan LoBrutto
I would print out Bumblebee the Transformer for my 4 year old grandson. He would be trilled since that is his favorite character.
Rhonda Hall
I would use this to make a birthday cake for my granddaughter.
Nikki Elkins
I would do a birthday cake for my granddaughter who will be 5!
Nancy
When you say beginner baker, that describes me to a tee. This makes it look really easy.
Barb
This would be a great addition to bring my cakes for family and friends to the next level! Thank you for making this possible for a very lucky individual! Good luck everyone!
Cinamon kuhn
A great way ti up your game. Have a great holiday
Heather Felde
I really want to do a fairy tea party theme with chocolate oreos and cakesicles!
Susan Stripay
I would print my friends picture from her podcast so i can add it to her birthday cake!
Dina Zietlow
I would print images for my granddaughters’ birthday cakes.
Gaye Valle
I would use this to make a cake for our grandson's first birthday! It would be so sweet! (Pun intended)
Marliese Bordman
I have been asked several times to do corporate logos and images and I have had to turn them down because I can’t make a quality finished product. I am excited to use your advice and get better at images! I would finally be able to say yes to those orders!
Amy Nolen
First thing I would print is a picture of my mom to put on a cake for her birthday! ??
Crystal S
Oh how much fun it would be to have an edible printer. I’d print my mom and dads face and put it on cookies for my family b
Cristina
I would love to own one of these! I want to use it to make logos on sugar cookies for businesses. However, first I would use it to make photo cookies for my daughter's bridal shower.
Octavia
I would start creating images to add to hot chocolate balls
J Vasquez
I would gift it to my daughter and her first print would be making a cake with th e words "will you marry me" along with a picture of a ring.
Hazel
The person that does my images will no longer be able to do them for me. What better way to save me some money and be able to print my own images. What a great prize to start the year!! Happy holidays!??
Kelly
My child wants to become a baker! What a wonderful prize this would be for her. She’d print a birthday scene for her dad’s birthday as it is at the beginning of the year.
Hazel Casanovas
This is an amazing way to start the year! Such a great giveaway! I would actually use it for myself. It would be so much fun and lighter in my pocket if I was to be able to do the images myself. It would be a good investment!! Happy Holidays!!
Debbie
Happy Birthday 18 years old
Barb
This would such a great addition to my business, so much fun!!
Shona Phillips
I would make a birthday cake for myself as it’s coming up in soon!
Patty Watson
It be fun I dont know what I'd print first
Traci
I’m not sure to be honest! So many options!
Sandy k
The first thing I would print is a picture of scripture. The scripture is how the Lord blesses those who takes care of and loves animals. The cake would be given to my veterinarian. She saved my baby's life! This would really help me since my hands do shake a lot and having psoriatic arthritis doesn't help
Chandra
Thank you for the information. I found it very useful t to learn about the printer, the thickness of the paper, and also how to make sure it doesn’t clog. We have a rainbow grandbaby that has her 1st birthday coming in April. I would love to put her sweet face on her 1st birthday cake!
Mellisa Martin
This would be amazing to win....I handdraw a lot of the items onto icing sheets and this would save so much time
Charolette
I would print some lovely valentines on cookies! I have always wanted an edible printer!
Kai
I would love to print a winter scene or something special for the New Year! Thank you for the opportunity and the helpful tips!
Wendy M
Oh, how nice! I turned down an order last week that would've required one of these and my hubby has encouraged me to get one. I think this would really expand my capabilities so much!
