How to make
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Learn to pipe my signature spiral border cupcake design and add sprinkles and glitter to make it sparkle! Adding a simple fondant cutout topper is an easy way to tailor your cupcakes to any party theme.
What You Need
Find links for supplies and materials at the bottom of this page
Fondant - homemade (click HERE for my homemade fondant recipe) or store bought both work well
Unicorn cutter or other shape cutter(s)
Fondant mini alphabet embossing stamp set (optional)
Rolling pin
Cornstarch
Cupcake liners/wrappers
Cupcake pan
Recipes for your favorite cake and buttercream frosting (find all my recipes HERE), or mixes
Cookie scoop
Gel coloring - purple/violet
Piping bags
Piping tip 21 or 18 or other small open star tip
Piping tip 849 or 1E or other large closed star tip
Colorful sprinkles
Edible glitter
Brush
Turntable or a plastic lazy susan will work too
Fondant - homemade (click HERE for my homemade fondant recipe) or store bought both work well
Unicorn cutter or other shape cutter(s)
Fondant mini alphabet embossing stamp set (optional)
Rolling pin
Cornstarch
Cupcake liners/wrappers
Cupcake pan
Recipes for your favorite cake and buttercream frosting (find all my recipes HERE), or mixes
Cookie scoop
Gel coloring - purple/violet
Piping bags
Piping tip 21 or 18 or other small open star tip
Piping tip 849 or 1E or other large closed star tip
Colorful sprinkles
Edible glitter
Brush
Turntable or a plastic lazy susan will work too
Step 1: Making Fondant Toppers
Find my full DIY homemade Marshmallow Fondant recipe and tutorial HERE, or you can use store bought or your own favorite recipe.
Knead purple or violet gel coloring into your fondant, adding a couple of drops at a time until desired color is reached. Dust your surface in cornstarch to prevent the fondant sticking, and roll out your purple fondant. Using the unicorn or other shape cutter you've chosen, cut out as many toppers as you will need. I'll link some cutter options below. Optional - personalize these with the fondant alphabet embossing stamp set: spell out names, messages, dates, or other sentiments by sliding the alphabet and number stamps onto the slide holder. Press this into your fondant topper. Lightly dusting the embosser with cornstarch in between uses helps prevent sticking. Links for these products are below. Dust your toppers with a coordinating edible glitter or shimmer dust. Links for shimmer products I like to use are below. Allow these to dry uncovered at room temperature out of sunlight for a few hours or overnight. They don't need to be completely hardened, just dry enough to maintain their shape. |
Step 2: Baking Cupcakes
Mix up your favorite cupcake recipe (find all my recipes HERE) or as per package directions if using boxed mix. Optional: add rainbow jimmies sprinkles to batter to make rainbow confetti cupcakes.
Add cupcake liners to cupcake pan and scoop batter into liners 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake as directed by recipe or mix instructions. Cupcakes will be done once a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before decorating. May store in freezer in airtight container if decorating later. |
Step 3: Making Buttercream Frosting
Mix your favorite buttercream frosting (find all my recipes HERE) in a stand mixer or hand mixer on low to medium speed, or use prepackaged frosting if desired.
Divide your buttercream into two bowls and color as follows (or according to your color choices): First bowl: stir in 6-8 drops of purple or violet gel coloring. Second bowl: stir in 1-2 drops of purple or violet gel coloring. Color will deepen with time, so buttercream may be made a day or two in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Add coloring or make multiple buttercream colors if desired. Add 2 tsp powdered sugar to buttercream frosting to stiffen the consistency slightly. If refrigerating, allow buttercream to warm up a bit at room temperature before using to make piping easier. Keep covered until ready to use. Stir well just prior to using to press out air bubbles. |
Step 4: Preparing to Decorate
Place your small open star tip into a piping bag, and cut the tip of the bag off so the piping tip sticks through, but stays in place. Fill this bag with light purple buttercream frosting.
Place the 1E or other large closed star tip into another piping bag, and cut the tip of the bag off so the piping tip sticks through, but stays in place. Fill this bag with the deep purple buttercream frosting. |
Step 5: Piping the Buttercream Frosting
If this is a new piping style for you, I've found it helpful to try piping a couple of practice swirls and spirals back into the buttercream bowl (you can stir this and use it after practicing) to determine if you are more comfortable piping in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
Starting with the light purple buttercream (small open star tip), squeeze with medium pressure and move your hand in very small circles to create a spiral or coil border around the edge of the cupcake. Pause as needed to reposition or fill with more buttercream frosting by pulling off toward inside of border (see video) and continue spiraling until the border is closed. Finish by gradually easing up and then stopping pressure at the end of the spiral. Using the deep purple buttercream (large closed star tip), pipe a swirl with medium pressure by starting in the center of the cupcake and piping outward one time (see video). Again, finish by easing up pressure at the end. |
Step 6: Adding Sprinkles, Glitter, and Fondant Toppers
Using the glitter you chose for your fondant toppers (or another coordinating color), dust the frosted cupcakes with this by just holding the brush above the cupcakes and tapping your finger on the brush.
Choose a sprinkle mix (or mix a few different sprinkle colors together) - both coordinating or contrasting colors will have fun, different looks! Add these to “tails” of swirls or wherever desired on your cupcakes. Set your dried fondant toppers on top and lightly press them into the buttercream. |
Supplies and Materials Links
Homemade Marshmallow Fondant Recipe
Recipes for cupcakes and buttercream frostings
Gel coloring: Chefmaster Liqua-Gel or Americolor Gel-Paste: Amazon Storefront
Unicorn fondant cutter: Custom Cutters and Embossers
Other fondant cutter options: Custom Cutters and Embossers
1/4" alphabet embossing stamp sets: Custom Cutters and Embossers
Fondant rolling pin: Wilton: Amazon Storefront
Cupcake pans: Wilton: Amazon Storefront
Cupcake liners: Mr Miracle: Amazon Storefront
Piping tips 1E, 849, 18, 21, and others: Wilton, Ateco: Amazon Storefront
Piping bags and other tips: Ateco, Wilton, and various brands: Amazon Storefront
Sprinkles: Sweets & Treats, SprinklePop, SimplySucre, and various brands: Amazon Storefront
Edible glitters, sparkle dusts, luster dusts: Sweets & Treats, NY Cake, Wilton, and various brands: Amazon Storefront
Turntable: Ateco and NY Cake: Amazon Storefront
Recipes for cupcakes and buttercream frostings
Gel coloring: Chefmaster Liqua-Gel or Americolor Gel-Paste: Amazon Storefront
Unicorn fondant cutter: Custom Cutters and Embossers
Other fondant cutter options: Custom Cutters and Embossers
1/4" alphabet embossing stamp sets: Custom Cutters and Embossers
Fondant rolling pin: Wilton: Amazon Storefront
Cupcake pans: Wilton: Amazon Storefront
Cupcake liners: Mr Miracle: Amazon Storefront
Piping tips 1E, 849, 18, 21, and others: Wilton, Ateco: Amazon Storefront
Piping bags and other tips: Ateco, Wilton, and various brands: Amazon Storefront
Sprinkles: Sweets & Treats, SprinklePop, SimplySucre, and various brands: Amazon Storefront
Edible glitters, sparkle dusts, luster dusts: Sweets & Treats, NY Cake, Wilton, and various brands: Amazon Storefront
Turntable: Ateco and NY Cake: Amazon Storefront
Note: purchases made from links on this page may result in my earning a commission.