diy: how to make dora cupcake toppers using fondant

A lot of people ask if I make my cupcake toppers from scratch and the answer is, yes! I started making them when I discovered my love for fondant. I love the idea of customized cupcake toppers, so I knew I needed to learn how to make them using cookie cutters and other fondant tools.

Ada from Winnipeg asked me if I can do a tutorial on how to make Dora cupcake toppers using fondant.  I can't pretend to be the expert as I think my method still needs a lot of work and that my Dora cupcake toppers still need improvement in capturing the resemblance of these popular characters. But if you're interested in simple instructions on how to make somewhat recognizable Dora characters,  here's the step by step instructions. The key thing is to use whatever tools you have available and to be creative! Tips and ends of cookie cutters can be very useful tools in moulding or making shapes for your cupcake toppers. And for course, a little patience goes a long way =)

For this project, you need dyed fondant in the following colours: black or brown for the hair, flesh/tan, light blue, yellow, white and red.  Okay, ready?? Here we go....

Using your fondant rolling pin, flatten the black/brown fondant to your desired thickness

To start off, use a circular cookie cutter. This will be your base pattern for Dora's hair .

You don't necessarily have to use a tulip cookie cutter to make room for Dora's face. In fact, using Wilton's tools as in the second picture, you can cut out the pieces to make Dora's hair as seen in the next picture. 

I used the tulip cookie cutter on the flesh toned fondant to cut out Dora's face. Using Wilton's tools, I straightened the edge of the top of her face before attaching her hair as seen in the next picture. 

Using food color markers, draw Dora's face. I used red fondant for her lips. 

HOW TO MAKE BOOT'S FACE

Using a flower cookie cutter and a circular cookie cutter, cut out the outline of Boot's face as seen in the picture above.

You may have to use your fondant roller or your hands to make the face more rounded and less jagged. To create his forehead and ears, use the flower cookie cutter and circular cookie cutter.

Put the flesh coloured fondant on top of the light blue fondant as shown above. To make Boot's facial features, roll balls of fondant for the ears, eyes and lips. I used edible food markers for his nose. 

Using the other end of your Wilton tool, make indentations on Boot's forehead for his hair. 

HOW TO MAKE "BACK PACK"

If you have a rectangular cookie cutter, use it. Otherwise, use your Wilton tool to make one. Roll a piece of light blue fondant for the pocket attachment. 

Using the pointed tool, make indentations around the bag as shown in the picture.

Using yellow fondant, add the accents and facial features as shown above.

Roll a piece of light blue fondant for the handle.

HOW TO MAKE "MAP"

Using yellow fondant, cut out an upside down triangle.

Roll the triangle until you've reached your desired shape. You may have to cut out the edges if it seems too pointy. Add the map's facial features. 

Here's all of them!

And here they are as cupcake toppers =)