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    Decorated Treats » Fondant Decorating

    Gum Paste Butterflies (How to Make)

    Published: Aug 21, 2020 · Modified: Mar 1, 2024 by Priya Maha

    Learn how to make 3D gum paste butterflies with this step by step tutorial. These pretty butterflies are quick and easy and make very elegant cake decoration.

    A multi tier cake with violet gum paste butterflies and hydrangeas.
    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why you will love this tutorial
    • 🧾Supplies required
    • 👩‍🍳How to make
    • How to attach the butterflies to a cake
    • 💡Expert tips
    • ❤️More tutorials you will love

    ❤️Why you will love this tutorial

    • It provides step by step images and instructions and is very easy to follow.
    • The gum paste butterflies are very pretty.
    • The butterflies can be made in advance and they will be ready for use when required.
    • You can customize these gum paste butterflies into any color you like by making them in white and simply by dusting or painting them with colors of your choice.

    See how I used these gum paste butterflies to decorate a butterflies wedding cake. And for more gum paste tutorials, check out my other tutorials on how to make gum paste roses, gum paste hydrangeas, gum paste poppies, gum paste hibiscus flowers and gum paste plumeria flowers.

    🧾Supplies required

    • Gum paste - I used Satin Ice gum paste in white. It can be rolled thin and dries well, making it easy to work with. 
    • Butterfly cutters - I used 3 butterfly cutters in 3 different sizes.
    Gum paste butterfly cutters.
    • Cardboard - I am listing this as one of the supplies for making gum paste butterflies because indeed it is a crucial one. I used the cardboard to hold the butterflies' wings in a natural folded position until they are completely set and dry. 
    • Food coloring dust (cake decorating petal dust) - This dust is used to color the butterflies. I used Squires Kitchen Violet to color the butterflies.
    • Cake decorating brush - to dust the butterflies.

    👩‍🍳How to make

    Step 1: Prepare the cardboard

    Before starting to work on the gum paste, prepare the cardboards for drying the butterflies.

    To do this, take a piece of rectangle cardboard and fold it into a "W" shape. Start by folding it into half in the center and then fold both edges in the opposite direction to towards the center line to form the "W".

    Note: If you are making a lot of these gum paste butterflies, you will need more of these "W" folded cardboards.

    A piece of paper folded into the shape of W.

    Step 2: Roll and cut the gum paste

    Roll the gum paste thin. When working with gum paste, it is always advisable to do it in batches and keep the rest well covered. This will avoid the gum paste from drying out while working on it. 

    A round piece of gum paste cutout.

    Dust a little corn starch on the gum paste and place your butterfly cutter on it. You can make your own dusting pouch with this easy DIY tutorial.

    Press the cutter firmly onto the rolled gum paste, and without lifting it, push it back and forth a couple of times on your work table along with the gum paste underneath. This is to make sure the gum paste is cut neatly into the shape of the butterfly with smooth edges.

    Note: Letting the rolled gum paste rest for 2 or 3 minutes before cutting will make it easier to cut. It will also be able to hold its shape better and avoid any distortions as you remove it from the molds after cutting.

    Pressing a butterfly cutter on a piece of round gum paste.
    A round piece of gum paste with a butterfly shape cut out.

    At this point, the cutout butterfly would detach automatically from the cutter (since there is corn starch).

    If it does not, use a needle tool to gently remove the butterfly from the cutter. To do this, poke the side of the cutout and pull it out gently until a small corner of the butterfly wing is detached from the cutter. 

    Using a needle tool to remove gum paste butterfly from its cutter.

    Slide the needle tool as shown and gently remove the rest of the butterfly from the cutter. 

    Using a needle tool to remove gum paste butterfly from its cutter.
    A gum paste butterfly cut out and a butterfly cutter.

    Step 3: Shape and set the butterflies

    Once the gum paste butterfly is completely detached, gently lift it and position it on the folded cardboard. In doing this, make sure the body is positioned right in the center of the fold.

    Leave the butterfly aside (overnight) for it to dry completely.

    Gum paste butterfly on a piece of folded paper.

    Once the gum paste butterflies are all set and firm, remove them from the cardboard for dusting.

    Gum paste butterflies.

    Step 4: Color the butterflies

    I used a medium sized brush and violet food powder. The brush should be dry.

    A white gum paste butterfly cake decoration with a paint brush and a plate of violet dust.

    Since I wanted the color to be prominent in the middle and fade off as it moves towards the end of the wings, I dipped the brush into the color and started by dusting the butterflies' bodies. I then gradually moved towards the end of the wings.

    Using a brush to dust the center of a gum paste butterfly. In the background is a plate of violet dust.

    This was how one of the butterflies looked like with the center colored.

    Gum paste violet butterfly on a piece of folder paper.

    Next is the butterflies' outline. To do this. you can use the same brush, dip it in the dust very lightly, and gently apply the dust on the sides of the wings, as shown.

    Gum paste violet butterfly held in hand, with one hand holding a brush and dusting the butterfly in violet dust.
    Gum paste violet butterfly held in hand.

    And this was how one of the butterflies looked like upon completion of the coloring process.

    Gum paste violet butterfly on a piece of folded paper.

    And here are a few close up views of one of my larger butterflies:

    Gum paste violet butterfly held in hand.
    Gum paste violet butterfly.

    Here is how the large and medium butterflies looked like after dusting:

    Gum paste violet butterflies.

    How to attach the butterflies to a cake

    Since the butterflies were not wired, I attached them to the cake with some fondant glue.

    You can also use royal icing like in this royal icing butterflies. Fill the icing into a piping bag and pipe a strip of icing (as long as the body of the butterfly) and attach the butterfly to it. Let the royal icing dry completely before moving the cake to prevent the butterflies from falling off.

    Gum paste butterfly cake decorations on a white cake.

    💡Expert tips

    • Always make extra butterflies than required for contingency.
    • Handle the butterflies with care as they can break easily once set.
    • When working with gum paste, always keep the extras covered tightly to prevent it from drying out.

    ❤️More tutorials you will love

    • Name 'LISA' on a pink plaque on a white fondant cake.
      Cake Lettering (How to Align Letters on Cakes)
    • Removing fondant lace from a silicone fondant mold.
      How to Use Silicone Fondant Molds for Cake Decorating
    • Black and white guitar cake topper.
      3D Fondant Guitar Cake Topper (How to Make)
    • A heart shaped cookie decorated in pink heart and powdered sugar.
      How to Make Fondant Hearts (without Cutters and Molds)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deb

      February 07, 2024 at 7:28 pm

      These are beautiful and I'm looking forward to trying this. Can I attach these to a buttercreamed cake once they are dried?

      Thanks so much.

      Deb

      Reply
      • Priya Maha

        February 12, 2024 at 3:56 pm

        Hi Deb, These are not suitable for buttercream cakes. They might turn soft after some time.

        Reply
    2. Cheryl

      July 07, 2021 at 11:10 am

      Thankyou so much!! I’ve been looking for the best way to make these, now I can do it with your descriptive tutorial.

      Reply

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    A poster of 4 images showing how to make gum paste butterflies.
    A tiered round cake decorated with purple gum paste butterflies and hydrangeas in a cascade.
    Gum paste butterfly cake decorations on a white cake.
    A multi tier cake with violet gum paste butterflies and hydrangeas.
    Gum paste violet butterfly held in hand.