Butterflies bring an enchanting touch to cupcakes, turning them into delicate masterpieces. Whether you’re decorating cupcakes for a garden party or crafting a magical centrepiece for a children’s birthday, these gum paste butterflies are sure to impress. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the steps to create stunning 3D butterflies using Tylose paste—a must-have skill for every cake decorator.
Why You Will Love these Gum Paste Butterflies
Crafting gum paste butterflies is not only enjoyable but also an excellent way to personalise your cupcakes with a touch of elegance. The process is straightforward, and the results are stunning, making these butterflies ideal for spring weddings, baby showers, or tea parties. Plus, you can easily customise them in any colour to match your theme.
By adding gum paste butterflies to your cupcakes, you can effortlessly elevate your decorating skills. With just a few tools and ingredients, you’ll create beautiful 3D butterflies that will wow your guests at garden parties, children’s birthdays, or springtime celebrations. Give it a try, and watch how these delicate decorations bring your cupcakes to life!
For the perfect pairing, check out my Cupcake Recipe and Butter Icing Recipe to complement your beautiful butterfly toppers. While you’re working with gum paste, why not try making my Carrot Toppers as well? It’s another fun project that pairs perfectly with your cupcake decorating adventures!
How to Make Stunning Gum Paste Butterflies for Your Cupcakes
Equipment
- 1 Biscuit Box for 3D support
- 1 Smooth chopping board
- 1 Fondant Rolling Pin
- 1 Butterfly cookie cutter
- 1 Knife
- 1 Stamen decorations
- 1 Scissors
- 1 Fondant/Gum Paste decorating tool
Materials
- 1 Batch Gum Paste
- Powdered or Gel Food Coloring
- Holsum or Shortening
- Shimmer powder or Luster dust
- Tylose Glue
- Extra icing if necessary
Instructions
- Colour the gum paste with your chosen food colouring.
- Apply Holsum or shortening to a smooth cutting board and roll out the gum paste thinly.
- Use a butterfly cookie cutter to cut 3-4 butterflies, remembering that the gum paste dries quickly.
- Apply luster dust or shimmer powder to the butterflies using a small piece of sponge.
- Roll a small amount of gum paste into a sausage shape, thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom, to create the thorax.
- Attach the thorax to the butterfly with a small amount of Tylose glue, pressing it down in three places with a knife.
- Insert two stamen decorations for the antennae.
- Allow the butterflies to dry on the cardboard biscuit box support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Gum Paste Stick to Buttercream?
You can definitely use gum paste decorations on buttercream.
Can Gum Paste Be Used to Cover a Cake?
Cakes aren’t covered in gum paste because it dries out hard and brittle. Unlike fondant, gum paste dries quickly, making it ideal for decorations rather than for covering cakes.
Does Edible Glue Stick to Buttercream?
If you’re curious about using edible glue on different types of icing, here’s a quick guide:
For fondant or marzipan, a small amount of edible glue works perfectly to secure your decorations. When it comes to buttercream, be sure to apply a bit of edible glue before it hardens to hold your topper in place.
How Do You Keep Gum Paste from Sticking?
To keep gum paste from sticking to your hands, simply rub a small amount of vegetable shortening on them whenever needed. If the gum paste starts to get too sticky, just add a bit of icing sugar to adjust the texture.
I would love to hear from you.
I would love to hear how your gum paste butterflies turned out—share your creations in the comments below!
