Learn how to make number cake topper with this easy tutorial and decorate your cakes like a pro. No cutters required and you can make any numbers in 3D shapes as you like.
I made this number cake topper for a flower birthday cake. It was an eighth birthday for a girl and the cake theme was butterflies and flowers. It was a 2 tier cake and the 3D number topper covered in glitter dust added a very strikingly pretty finishing to the cake along with the 3D royal icing butterflies and easy fondant flowers on the cake.
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❤️Why you will love this tutorial
- The tutorial is easy to follow.
- You get to make 3D number toppers in fondant without any special cutters.
- You can use this technique to make any number or even alphabet toppers and in any size you like.
If you like this tutorial, you should also check out my other tutorials on how to make 3D fondant letters with cutters, how to make rainbow fondant letters and how to align letters on cakes for perfectly centered cake lettering.
🧾Supplies required
- Fondant - I used Satin Ice white fondant to form the number "8". You can also make your own fondant with this homemade fondant recipe or this marshmallow fondant recipe.
- CMC powder (Tylose powder) - This powder is added to fondant to help it dry harder. I used approximately ¼ teaspoon for this number topper project.
- Number template - You need this template to guide you in cutting the fondant to make the number topper. You can draw the number by hand, trace it from a book, download from the internet or simply print it out with Microsoft Word font like I did.
- Sugar craft knife - You need the knife to cut the fondant number.
- Wooden picks - These are attached to the bottom of the number topper. They help hold the number topper on the cake.
- Gel paste color - I used Americolor gel color in Electric Purple. The paint was diluted in water before being applied on the topper.
- Cake decorating brush - This is used to paint the number topper.
- Fondant glue - to attach the skewers to the number topper.
- Spatula - to assist in coating the number topper with the glitter dust.
- Glitter dust - I used purple glitter for this project. Use non toxic glitter.
👩🍳How to make
Step 1: Prepare the number template
I printed mine from the Microsoft Word application. To do this, open a black document in the application.
Type number '8'. Use outline mode so that you do not use up too much printer ink. Enlarge the number to the size you want the topper to be on your cake.
Follow this tutorial on how to resize cake templates to learn how to resize your template.
Once printed, cut the number out.
Step 2: Cut the number in fondant
Prepare fondant by kneading some CMC powder into it. Knead well. Dust your workspace with powdered sugar or corn starch (see here for the options and available tools for dusting work. You can also make your own fondant dusting pouch at home).
Roll the fondant to about 1 cm thick. Place the template on the rolled fondant.
Cut the fondant out following the shape of the number with the sugar craft knife.
Use modelling tools to smooth the edges all around the cutout. You can also using your fingers.
Next, dip the wooden picks or skewers into fondant glue and insert them to the bottom of the topper as shown:
Step 3: Paint the topper
Next step is to paint the topper. I used Americolor "electric purple".
If you are using gel based colors, dilute them slightly in water and paint all over the number. At this point, the paint need not be very even as it will be eventually covered with glitter dust.
Once the number was painted on the front, back and sides, sprinkle the glitter dust all over the top. To do this, place the number on a piece of paper and sprinkle the dust all over the topper generously.
And then use a spatula to disperse the dust to make sure the entire surface of the fondant number is covered with the dust. Repeat the process on the back on the number topper.
As for the sides, use the spatula again to lift the excess dust around the topper and spread it on the sides until there is an even coating of the dust all over and no fondant spots are visible.
Let the topper dry completely overnight. It is very important for the fondant to completely set and dry or else the topper will not hold shape once it is put upright on the cake.
Once it is completely dry, tap it lightly on the paper to remove any loose and excess dust and then poke the topper onto your cake.
And that was how I made my 3D standing number cake topper. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
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