Ideas for Cupcake Toppers

Once frosted, cupcakes are blank canvases for a variety of topper possibilities. While a topping is an ingredient that covers a cake, such as sprinkles or chopped nuts, a topper is like the centerpiece of a cupcake. Toppers can be edible or non-edible, simple or extravagant. They can help celebrate any occasion in style and can even serve as mementos for guests. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Candy

Candy is the perfect, no-fuss, ready-made cupcake topper that's always a hit with kids and adults alike. Unwrapped candy works best, but wrapped candy, such as chocolate kisses or mini chocolate bars, make great toppers for Valentine's Day or birthday cupcakes.

Candy toppers depend entirely on the cupcake flavor. Place candied ginger on gingerbread cakes, peppermint wheels on chocolate-mint cakes, and peanut butter cups on peanut butter cakes. Save fruity candies, such as jelly beans, gummy bears and gumdrops, for lighter cupcake flavors like vanilla and lemon.

Cookies

Cookies are not your typical topper, but they are easy to personalize. Small sugar cookies can be cut into virtually any shape that fits your theme. Use cookie cutters to make cookies in the shape of animals or initials for a child's birthday; babies, rattles and bottles for a baby shower; candy canes, ornaments and stockings for Christmas; and hearts for Valentine's Day. The sky's the limit.

Fruit

Fresh fruit toppers help lighten the dessert and usher in seasonal flavors. Fresh raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, currants, blackberries and cherries are all great toppers for virtually any flavor of cupcake. Place pineapple slices on top of coconut cakes, mandarin orange slices on top of orange cakes, and apples on top of spice cakes. If you're using softer fruits, such as peaches, plums and bananas, cut them and place them on cupcakes just before serving.

Flags and Signs

Miniature flags are great for holidays such as the Fourth of July, Bastille Day, Cinco de Mayo or any other celebration that honors a country or nationality. You can also make tiny signs, or banners, that you can attach to toothpicks. Cut small bits of paper, and write your message on them, such as "Happy Birthday, Jake," "Congratulations, Class of 2010" or "Good Luck, Jenny & Phil."

Toys

Children love toy toppers on cupcakes because they get two treats in one. Small plastic rings, dinosaur figures, plastic people and virtually any small token or figurine can be placed on a cupcake. Scour dollar stores and party stores for toys that can be placed in frosting without being ruined. Remember that cupcakes with toy toppers should be given only to children over the age of three.

Sugar Sculptures

Sugar sculptures include frosting flowers and figures sculpted from sugar paste. You can pipe buttercream frosting roses onto wax paper. Use fondant or gum paste (both are edible, sugar-based modeling clay) to sculpt small people, animals, fruits, letters, numbers or other figures. Allow frosting flowers and sugar sculptures to harden slightly before placing them on cupcakes.

Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers are elegant and add the finishing touch to any cupcake without adding any more sugar. When you're placing fresh flowers on cupcakes, adhere to the "less is more" rule. Since cupcakes are miniature cakes, one flower with one or two leaves placed in the center of the cake is sufficient. Wash all flower petals gently but well before adding them to cupcakes, and instruct guests to remove the flowers before eating the cupcakes (unless you're using edible flowers).