Baking Tutorials & Recipes

Easy DIY Harry Potter Fondant Cupcake Toppers

How to make Harry Potter cupcake toppers: Beginner Friendly Tips & Ideas - no molds, no complicated steps

Okay, full confession: these Harry Potter fondant cupcake toppers were not a 10-minute craft project. They took a while, and there were definitely moments when I was like, “What even am I doing?” But here’s the thing - if you treat fondant a little like play-dough and just play until you like what you see, you can make something truly magical.

Here’s exactly how I made mine + what I learned along the way (including the things I wish I’d known before hand).

What You’ll Need (Yes, All of This)

Here’s my toolkit - nothing super fancy, just the essentials:

Fondant - Black, Red, Yellow, White, Brown
Rolling pin
Circle cutter (I used a glass)
Icing tips (For the glasses)
Sharp knife or a fondant tool set
Small detail brush
Gel colours (optional, for more vibrancy)
Powdered sugar (for dusting) - this is your secret weapon

Check out my video for some useful tips and tricks

Step-by-Step: How I Made the Toppers

🔮Prep Your Fondant
First, knead your fondant until it's soft and pliable. If it’s sticky, dust your surface (and your rolling pin) with a light coating of powdered sugar. It makes everything way easier to shape.

✨Make the Base Circles
Roll out the white fondant and cut small circles using your cutter. These act as the base for all your details, so don’t make them paper-thin - you want them thick enough to pick up later. I used a wood grain mold and cocoa powder to give my cupcakes a darker look, but that is totally optional.

🧙Dye your Fondant
Dark colors can take a little time to get just right. I’ve found that adding a bit of cocoa powder to your fondant first really speeds up the process - especially when you’re aiming for deep blacks or rich reds.

🧣Create the Gryffindor Scarf
Roll out red and yellow fondant into thin strips. Then gently twist them together to give that classic scarf look. Doesn’t have to be perfect - little imperfections add character.

👓Shape the Glasses
Roll tiny snakes of black fondant and bend them into two circles, then connect them in the middle. A trick I love: use different sized round icing tips as cutters. Cut the big circle first, then use the smaller tip to cut out the center - voilà! Harry’s iconic black glasses are ready.

⚡Add the Lightning Scar
Use a tiny piece of yellow fondant (or paint with edible gold) to make the lightning bolt. Keep it delicate. Too big and it looks cartoony.

🧩Assemble the Pieces
Dip just the tiniest bit of water (or edible glue) on the back of each piece and attach them to your circles. Press gently so nothing warps.

🧹Let Them Dry
This is so important. Let your toppers sit out for a few hours - or better yet, for a day or two, if you can. They need time to firm up so they don’t droop or lose their shape.

Why They’re Tricky - And My Real Advice

These didn’t come together instantly. I spent time “playing” with the fondant, reshaping parts, and really tweaking until it looked right. Do yourself a favour and give yourself plenty of time, and be patient and kind to yourself!
Make them well ahead of time. Once they’re dry, they hold up so much better.
Add toppers to your cupcakes just before serving. Because fondant sucks the moisture out of buttercream, leaving them on too long can cause drooping or melting.
For the tiny details - like the books or small lettering - use edible markers. Trust me, it saves so much frustration and gives you clean lines that look way more professional.

A Few Variations You’ll Love

If you want to get creative, here are some fun ideas to mix in:

A Golden Snitch (just a little ball + two wings)
Mini spell books (with edible marker details)
Hogwarts house scarves (switch up red + gold for Gryffindor, etc.)
Wands or tiny open books

Mixing and matching makes your cupcake display feel magical and cohesive.

My Final Thoughts

Honestly, these toppers weren’t “easy” in the sense of “quick craft.” But they were fun. It felt like playing with clay - messy, a little frustrating, but ultimately super satisfying when I saw the final result. If you give yourself space to experiment, you’ll end up with something that looks like it belongs in the wizarding world.

If you try them, I want to see! Tag me on Instagram (@justsweetenoughcupcakes) or TikTok (@justsweetenough) - I live for your recreations.

Check out my video for some useful tips and tricks

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