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DIY Sprinkled Number Cake Toppers Tutorial

January 8, 2020 · In: Featured, Tutorials

Knowing how to make number cake toppers is a skill that has come in handy over and over again. They’re so essential for birthday cakes and important anniversaries, and I even recently whipped them up to ring in 2020 (Happy New Year, by the way)! They only take about 20 minutes from start to finish, which is totally ideal for those times you need a last minute cake topper that looks super professional and fun. They’re pretty much guaranteed to add a little more joy to your cakes!

sprinkled number cake toppers tutorial

I used Wilton Candy Melts as the foundation for these colorful number cake toppers, but you could also use any tempered chocolate as a base and the process would be the same. The best part is that you can use this tutorial to create numbers (or letters) in any font you want! Just print out your favorite numerical look onto printer paper, lay a piece of wax paper over the top, and pipe the Candy Melts or chocolate on top. Cover with your favorite sprinkles and you’re good to go!

how to make a number cake topper
edible number cake topper tutorial

Here’s a quick video I whipped up to show you how to make these sprinkled-covered numbers in just a few easy steps. Give it a watch before you read all about how to make them below:

If you have yet to check out my YouTube Channel, go give it a look! There are tons of video tutorials to help you learn, and I’m working on adding more recipes to the mix. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing!

You Will Need:

  • Printed number templates
  • Wax paper
  • Piping bag
  • Wilton Candy Melts 
  • Bamboo Skewers
  • Your favorite sprinkles (I used these “Hey Sugar” sprinkles by Sprinkle Pop)

Step 1: Pipe the Number with Candy Melts

Melt the Wilton Candy Melts according to the package instructions, then place them into a piping bag and snip off a small (about ⅛ inch) opening. 

DIY edible number cake topper tutorial

Place your printed number template (face up) onto a flat surface and cover it with a sheet of wax paper. Then, pipe the outline of your number with the melted Candy Melts and fill in the center. 

Piping wilton candy melts
how to make a number cake topper

Step 2: Cover with Your Favorite Sprinkles

While the Candy Melts are still wet, generously add the sprinkles to cover the entire surface, gently pressing them into the number without spreading the Candy Melts outside of the lines. 

how to make a sprinkled cake topper
sprinkled number cake topper tutorial

When the surface is perfectly sprinkled, place the number into the refrigerator and let it set up for about 10 minutes. 

how to make diy cake topper numbers

Step 3: Turn it Into a Cake Topper

After the sprinkled number is set, remove it from the wax paper backing and place it face down. Place a bamboo skewer onto the back and cover it with more melted Candy Melts. 

how to attach bamboo skewer to cake topper
how to make your own cake topper numbers

Return the sprinkle number (with the bamboo skewer attached) to the refrigerator and allow it to set up for 10 more minutes.

DIY sprinkled number cake toppers by Sugar and Sparrow

And there you have it, a fun and festive sprinkled number topper: 

number cake topper for birthday cake

These sprinkled number cake toppers are so perfect for topping cakes and totally edible (minus the skewer, of course). And you can even use these same steps to create letter cake toppers in any font you want! Definitely a skill you’re gonna want to have in your back pocket for any cake that needs a custom cake topper like these. Happy cake topper making, people!

how to make your own cake topper number with chocolate and sprinkles

Did you make these number cake toppers? I want to know how it went! Let me know in the comments below or feel free to tag @sugarandsparrowco on Instagram to show me. I love to see what you’re up to in the kitchen! 

By: Whitney · In: Featured, Tutorials · Tagged: birthday cake topper, cake decor, cake decorating, cake toppers, cake tutorial, candy melts, diy cake toppers, number cake toppers, sprinkle numbers, sprinkle pop, sprinklepop, sprinkles, wilton

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Comments

  1. Carolyn says

    January 11, 2020 at 6:11 am

    I could not be more excited about this because I’m about to make your froot loop cake for my baby’s first birthday and wanted to do an edible cake topper. Do you think this might work with crumbled Froot Loops instead of sprinkles? Thank you for your wonderful tutorials!!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      January 13, 2020 at 9:28 am

      Hi Carolyn, this will totally work with crumbled froot loops! That is a brilliant idea 🙂

      Reply
  2. norah lynette ndlovu says

    February 28, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    Hi Whitney, I am really enjoying your blog. Its teaching me a lot of things. I dont know much about baking and still learning so i just want to find out if the candy melts come in different colors or if you added something to make it blue.

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 2, 2020 at 11:03 am

      Hi Norah! So happy you found my blog and it’s helping you learn 🙂 Wilton Candy Melts come in all sorts of different colors, so I always buy whichever color I need instead of adding anything to color it.

      Reply
  3. Melissa Montgomery says

    April 21, 2020 at 11:15 am

    How do you get the sprinkles in clusters on the sides of the cake?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      April 21, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      There is definitely a trick to the sprinkle clusters: Spread the sprinkles out on a flat surface, press your fingertip onto the sprinkles, then gently touch your sprinkle-covered fingertip to the cake. If you find that the sprinkles aren’t adhering to your fingertip, you can always touch your fingertip onto a damp paper towel before pressing it into the sprinkles.

      Reply
  4. Mary says

    September 8, 2020 at 12:47 pm

    Hi! I’m making a cake topper for a party this weekend (with four letters) and I’m concerned about the candy melt letters melting when the cake is being transported (it’s going to be about 80 deg F). Do you think that would be an issue? My other idea was sugar cookies but the candy melts would def be easier and quicker, so that’s my preference! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      September 9, 2020 at 2:25 pm

      Hi Mary! Unless they’re in the direct sun for a really long time, the candy melts should be pretty stable as cake toppers. I would keep them in the refrigerator until the last minute just to be safe, but they should be good!

      Reply
  5. Lindi says

    March 23, 2021 at 8:16 am

    I can’t wait to make this for my daughter’s cake! Quick question- will they melt with cake candles lit around it?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      March 23, 2021 at 8:42 am

      Hi Lindi! So excited for you to make this topper for your daughter! It will not melt with candles around it (unless the flames are touching it of course).

      Reply
  6. Mel says

    April 11, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    Late to the party but I love this idea! How many inches should the template number or letters be? Thanks for all the help!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      April 12, 2021 at 8:53 pm

      The template can be any size! This one was about 3.5 inches tall and went on top of a triple layer 6 inch cake.

      Reply
  7. Allie Cate says

    May 26, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    Hey Whitney! I have tried a few times now to make these and I keep failing. The chocolate spreads as soon as I put the sprinkles on. I’ve tried waiting a little longer to let the chocolate firm up a bit, but I’m still having the same issue. Any thoughts?

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      May 31, 2021 at 9:15 pm

      Hi Allie! What kind of chocolate are you using? I’ve only tried this technique with Candy Melts and melted semi-sweet chocolate chips and didn’t get too much spreading on the edges. It sounds like what you’re using is a bit thin if it’s spreading far enough to ruin the shape.

      Reply
  8. Sienna says

    June 5, 2021 at 10:54 am

    Hey! I love this topper and I want to make one for my son’s first birthday…. however, we have a lot of food allergies in our close family, specifically dairy in this case. Do you have alternative suggestions besides candy melts? I have a great dairy free buttercream frosting I use (family decided they like the dairy free one better than regular!)

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      June 7, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Sienna! The reason I chose Candy Melts for this tutorial is because they firm up enough to become a topper. You could try with buttercream and refrigerate it to make it firm, but since I’ve never used that medium before I’m not sure how it will turn out.

      Reply

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