Birthday

Party Hat Cupcakes

BY RUTH CLEMENS

These lovely cupcakes make a great alternative to a big birthday cake – each is decorated with a homemade party hat and streamers cake topper.

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy-peasy

You Will Need

Six cupcakes

White sugarpaste

White sugar florist paste (SFP)

Green, blue and purple gel paste colours

Buttercream

Fluted circle cutter 5.5cm (2¹⁄₄in) diameter

Round cutter 5mm (³⁄₁₆in) diameter

Large open star piping nozzle

Disposable piping bag

1. Knead together equal amounts of white sugarpaste and white SFP. Colour portions light green, blue and purple, leaving the remainder white. Roll out the light green paste to 2mm (³⁄₃₂in) thick. Cut out six fluted circles and set aside to dry.

2. Shape six cone-shaped hats 3cm (1¹⁄₈in) high by rolling white paste first into a ball, tapering the top and then flattening the base. Secure each hat onto the green discs using a little water.

3. Create the details for each hat in blue, purple and green. Roll a 7mm (⁹⁄₃₂in) ball for the top and secure with a dab of water. Roll a thin sausage 7cm (2³⁄₄in) long and wind around the base. Roll out a little paste to 1mm (¹⁄₁₆in) thick, cut out five dots and add around the side of the hat.

4. Roll out a little blue and purple paste very thinly. Use a roller cutter to cut strips 10cm (4in) long by 5mm (³⁄₁₆in) wide. Wind gently around a cocktail stick then slide off.

5. Add a purple and blue streamer to the side of the party hat. Fit the open star nozzle to a piping bag and fill with buttercream. Pipe swirls to the tops of each cupcake and place your cupcake toppers in position.