These delightful DIY cupcake toppers are shaped like succulents. They look great and are tasty too! Perfect for parties, weddings, baby showers, wherever you want a pop of prettiness really!
How charming are these tiny fondant succulents on mini cupcakes? Showing us how to make these edible DIY succulents is Sarah Lange, my friend and pastry chef at the chic cafe The Hart and The Hunter.
Sarah also created this fun and witty video on how to make them! It’s very informative and if you’re serious about creating these yummy succulents, I’d watch it!
It will answer whatever questions you have. They’re great for summer weddings, fiestas or just to impress your friends!
How To Make These Cupcake Toppers – Step By Step
- Mix gumpaste, fondant and green dye. Blend together with hands.
- Roll the fondant out to 1/4 inch thick and cut out 8 leafs. 4 small and 4 large.
- Create a “glue” using a pea size piece of gumpaste and 1/4 cup water
- Take the balling tool and smooth out the rounded side on the leaf to form a base so the leaves fit together easily.
- Dab some gumpaste “glue” in the middle of the base of the leaves.
- Layer the large leaves on top of each other in opposite directions and then stagger the small ones on top, but fan them out a little.
- When all of the leaves are attached, pinch the middle to secure them.
- Create a tiny cone out of fondant and cut it in half with an X-Acto knife. Place it in the center of the succulent with the glue. Then make a few more to place in the center as well.
- Once the gumpaste adhesive has dried, dust the edge of each succulent with some poppy red luster dust.
- Don’t forget to wrap your fondant in plastic wrap when you’re not using it so it doesn’t dry out!
Succulents – The Perfect DIY Cupcake Toppers
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants that have some parts that are more than normally thickened and fleshy, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions.
The word “succulent” comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning juice, or sap.
Succulents are especially popular as people are getting into them as a form of environmental gardening. So, a little nod to the environment too!
Succulents are pretty and their simple, geometric shape make for beautiful cake toppers!
Working with Fondant
Fondant is a great ingredient to shape, you’ll only be working with a bit at a times, so make sure you cover the rest of the fondant, so it doesn’t dry out too quick. Place the parts you aren’t using under plastic wrap.
Be sure your hands are clean when handling and avoid wearing fuzzy sweaters during fondant decorating. After decorating, store leftover fondant carefully.
Roll into a ball or log shape, coat with a thin film of white vegetable shortening, then wrap in plastic wrap. Place wrapped fondant in an airtight container.
Using Luster Dust on These DIY Cupcake Toppers
To use dry luster dust, no preparation is required. Paint it on. Luster dust is ideal for adding shimmery color to cakes, cupcakes, petit fours or cookies made with fondant, royal icing or other frostings that dry hard to the touch.
Top Tips For These DIY Cupcake Toppers
- If fondant is dry, knead in shortening until it is the right consistency. If it’s sticky, knead in confectioners’ sugar.
- You can use your pasta maker to roll out fondant.
- Get a real succulent and use it as a reference, it helps a lot and it’s nice for your house!
- Wrap up any fondant you’re not working on in plastic wrap, to keep from drying out.
Check Out These Charming Cupcake Recipes
Chocolate Toffee Cupcakes with Buttercream
Lemon Cupcakes with Buttercream Meringue Frosting
Carrot Cake Cupcakes by Pinch of Yums
Red Velvet Cupcakes by Live Well Bake Often
If you have tried these DIY Cupcake Toppers or any other projects on Sugar and Charm, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
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DIY Cupcake Toppers
Ingredients
- Gumpaste and fondant
- Green dye in Juniper
- Luster Dust in Poppy Red by Linnea’s
- Paint brush
- Rolling Pin
- Ball tool
- Leaf cutouts, two sizes
- X-Acto Knife
- Egg carton to let the succulents dry
Instructions
- Mix gumpaste, fondant and green dye. Blend together with hands.
- Roll the fondant out to 1/4 inch thick and cut out 8 leafs. 4 small and 4 large.
- Create a “glue” using a pea size piece of gumpaste and 1/4 cup water
- Take the balling tool and smooth out the rounded side on the leaf to form a base so the leaves fit together easily.
- Dab some gumpaste “glue” in the middle of the base of the leaves.
- Layer the large leaves on top of each other in opposite directions and then stagger the small ones on top, but fan them out a little.
- When all of the leaves are attached, pinch the middle to secure them.
- Create a tiny cone out of fondant and cut it in half with an X-Acto knife. Place it in the center of the succulent with the glue. Then make a few more to place in the center as well.
- Once the gumpaste adhesive has dried, dust the edge of each succulent with some poppy red luster dust.
- Don’t forget to wrap your fondant in plastic wrap when you’re not using it so it doesn’t dry out!
These are fantastic! Love them!
These are so charming, Eden. I just bought my first “real” succulent on the weekend and I just love it! I imagine I would love this edible version just as much, although I might have trouble with them disappearing all the time. Ha!
wow! so beautiful!
Fantastico!
I would love to make these succulent cupcakes for my summer wedding. Once they are made, do I dry them out and can they store in Tupperware for a few days before I make and frost the cupcakes?