How to Use Tappit Letter Cutters

Many people do not quite know how to use Tappit letter cutters despite these cutters being able to produce really neat lettering or font for cakes.

I use these cutters a lot in my cake decorating. And I have, over time, learned a few techniques that make using these Tappit cutters a breeze.

These cutters are produced by FMM Sugarcraft and come in a number of different font types and sizes. They produce very professional looking font and are excellent for people whose letter piping skills (freehand) on cakes is a challenge, like me!

Originally, the Tappit cutters were meant to be used by tapping them onto the workspace. This will release the letters. See the video by FMM Sugarcraft at the end of this page to learn the tapping method. There are also other ways to use these cutters effectively. I am sharing on this page, how to use Tappit cutters, my way.

How to use Tappit letter cutters - Here is how I use them

These are the typically supplies I use:

Gum paste - My favorite is Satin Ice. I prefer to work with gum paste when it comes to Tappit cutters because gum paste can be rolled really really thin. This is an important attribute for using the Tappit cutters.
Rolling pin - To roll the gum paste thin.
Pizza Cutter - To cut the rolled gum paste
Needle tool - to remove letters from the cutters
Cornstarch or icing sugar for dusting

And here is how to use Tappit letter cutters:

Option 1

Firstly, roll the gum paste as thin as possible. Tappit cutters are very shallow and thin. As such, it is important for the gum paste to be rolled thinner than the depth of the letters on the cutters.
Once you have the gum paste nice and thin, cut them into thin strips. The width of the strips would depend on the height of the Tappit fonts. Cutting the gum paste into strips like this helps to make the most use out of the rolled gum paste.

A Tappit letter cuttter next to a long strip of gum paste

Once you have the strips cut, I leave them to dry out for about 10 minutes. This is a very important step. Trust me, it makes so much difference when the gum paste is slightly dry as compared to when it's in its original consistency.
Only after it has dried for a while that you should start the cutting. Dust the strips with some cornstarch (or icing sugar if you like). Then, place the cutters in a horizontal position while the strips are in a vertical position. It is important to make sure the strips cut with a width that can accommodate the height of the letters as shown here:

Tappit letter cutter on a long piece of gum paste strip

Press the cutters into the gum paste strip. Cut out the rest so that it is easy to work with.

Tappit cutter on a small piece of gum paste

Next, rub it on a smooth workspace until the letter is completely cut and detached from the gum paste strip.

Lift the cutter, and most of the time, the letters will automatically come out of the cutters (if the gum paste is thin and dried enough). If they don't, use a needle tool to help pick a corner of the letters and then slowly guide the letter out of the cutter. Do take note when using the needle tool to not leave any marks on the letters.

Using a needle tool to remove the gum paste from the alphabet cutter

Option 2 - How to Use Tappit Letter Cutters

And here is another technique that I often use to make the most of my gum paste strips. This technique is particularly useful to get the most letters out of a small piece of gum paste strip.
With this method, you literally, position your gum paste on the cutter and adjust is as close as possible to its edges so that you don't waste on your rolled gum paste. See the image below:

Next, you press the gum paste lightly on the letter cutter until it stays in place.

Using fingers to press on a piece of gum paste on a letter cutter

And then use a rolling pin and rub it on the letter until the gum paste is cut out.

Using a rolling pin to rub on a piece of gum paste on a letter cutter

To remove the cut letter from the cutter, use a needle tool (if it is already not detached).

Removing gum paste from the Tappit cutter

Attaching the letters to the cake

This method helps me save time and the gum paste as I am able to cut the letters close to one another and not have the adjacent letters on the cutters leave any marks on the gum paste that will make the gum paste not being able to be used efficiently.
Once I have all the letters ready, I let them sit out for a little longer for them to dry and set. Since the letters are very thin, it is much easier to work with them when they are dry - they don't lose shape when being lifted and moved around on the cake.
And when sticking them on the cakes, I always use shortening. Shortening is the best as it allows you to move the letters around without them losing shape. Water and fondant glue can also be used, but they make the gum paste sticky which means moving or adjusting them on the cake is almost impossible.