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How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers

by Louise 4 Comments

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers

Today I’m sharing with you how to make hot air balloon cupcake toppers.

I live in southern Mississippi and every October we have the Great Mississippi River Hot Air Balloon Races. It’s a huge event that people come from all over to see and participate in.

It was for a birthday celebration the same weekend of that event that I got my first order of Hot Air Balloon Cupcakes. Since making those more than a year ago, I continue to get orders for them here and there. They’re really not hard to put together at all so I thought I’d share my step-by-step instructions here.

First, here’s what you’ll need:

White fondant (I use homemade marshmallow fondant) or gum paste
Tylose powder or CMC powder (if you’re using fondant)
3 inch round flower cookie cutter  (or a cloud cutter if you have one)
Small pastry wheel
Royal Icing
Icing bag with small round piping tip
Sugar Hot Air Balloon Decorations (these can be ordered here)

Step 1:

Roll out your fondant or gum paste to a thickness of about 3-5mm (I like it a little thick so that it holds better).

Note: If you’re using fondant, you will want to knead in some tylose or CMC powder to help the fondant hold it’s shape (I generally use about 2 tsp. per pound).  If you’re using gum paste, you don’t have to add anything.

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers 01

Step 2:

Cut out the flower shapes.

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers 02

Step 3:

Using a small pastry wheel, cut the clouds in half.  I don’t always cut them directly across, but at different angles so the cloud shapes vary.

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers 03

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers 04

Step 4:

Using royal icing in a piping bag with a very small round tip (#2 or #3),  pipe a border onto each cloud. I usually do 3-4 at a time (if you let them sit too long, they’ll begin to dry and you need to do step #5 before the royal icing sets).

I sprinkle a little tylose powder onto a cookie sheet and spread them out there to finish working. Then they can dry without having to move them again.

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers 05

Step 5:

As stated before, while the royal icing is still wet, attach the hot air balloons.

How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcake Toppers 06

Step 6:

Allow them to dry overnight, then place on buttercream frosted cupcakes and you’re done!

Hot Air Balloon Cupcake

Happy Caking!

Rose

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Comments

  1. eva

    March 28, 2014 at 5:55 PM

    Hi Rose, lovely tutorial! I’m making hot air balloon theme for my daughter’s birthday on the 12th! Where can I find the tutorial for the hot air balloon itself? Or is that something I can purchase premade? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Rose @ RoseBakes.com

      March 30, 2014 at 9:39 PM

      There’s a link in the list of things you’ll need at the top of the post. You can also find them here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/P7nSR4 (but they’re not always available there).

      Reply
  2. Marja

    January 13, 2014 at 11:51 PM

    I really love those clouds with hot air balloons! You can also make cookies with these clouds and balloons. I got loads of ideas from it! Thanks for sharing these adorable clouds! 😉

    Reply
    • Rose

      January 14, 2014 at 9:18 AM

      Thank you and I’m always happy to help!

      Reply

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Kristen is the author of Cake Journal and a graduate of the Professional Baking program at Renton Technical College. She has worked as a pastry chef at a top Seattle restaurant and loves sharing her passion for baking amazing cakes on this site.

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