These cute space cupcakes were one of my favorite details from our son’s To Infinity and Beyond Party. They had little rocket ship cake pops on top, and can be made with buttercream frosting or fondant!
These were perfect and the kiddos freaked when they saw them!!! Today we’ve got the full tutorial on how to make rocket ship space cupcakes for your next kiddo party!!
Ingredients for Space Cupcakes
While you certainly could make the cakes and frosting for these space themed cupcakes from scratch, you can easily make them with store-bought mixes and frosting too! They’ll taste just as delicious, and will be showstoppers regardless!
- 12 Cupcakes – from a box mix or from scratch, whatever flavor you’d like!
- 1 box mix cake – baked
- 2 can of buttercream frosting – one for making cake pop dough, one for frosting cupcakes
- Fondant – in yellow, blue or pink
- Shortening or cornstarch – for smoothing fondant
How To Make Space Themed Cupcakes
1. Make the cake pop dough. Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Stir in about 3/4 of the can of frosting and mix well. One batch of cake pop dough makes enough for around 15 rockets!
2. Form about 3 rounded tablespoons of cake pop dough into a rounded cone shape. Chill in the fridge till firm, at least 30 minutes.
3. To cover the rockets, roll out a golf ball sized amount of fondant on a smooth surface coated with a thin layer of shortening or corn starch to about 1/8 inch thick.
4. Gently pick up the fondant and drape it over the chilled rocket cake pop. Gently rub the fondant from the top down to the bottom of the rocket ship to adhere.
5. Trim off any extra fondant and fold under to create a smooth finish around the bottom. You can use two fondant smoothers to shape and smooth the rockets even more if you’d like.
6. Frost the cupcakes with buttercream and gently press the rockets on top of each cupcake.
7. For the rocket ship wings, roll out fondant to 1/8 inch thick and cut out a 1 1/2 inch circle. Cut the circle in half. Then cut off the bottom 1/4 of the circle to create 2 wings. You will need 3 wings per rocket. Cut out a small circle for the window.
8. Attach the wings and windows onto the rockets using a little bit of water to help them stick.
Serve on a cake platter or colorful tray alongside other space themed desserts!
More Space Themed Party Ideas
- A To Infinity and Beyond First Birthday Party
- How To Make A Custom Birthday Candle With A Cookie Cutter
- DIY Family Space Costume
- Space Themed Activities and Crafts
Party Photos by Mary Costa Photography | Step Photos by Jeff Mindell
Recipe by Theresa Rountree
It’s always so exciting when something comes to life exactly how you imagined it and that’s the case with these space cupcakes!! If you’re throwing any sort of space themed party, you gotta make ’em.
How To Make Space Cupcakes
Ingredients
- Basic cake pop dough recipe follows
- 12 Cupcakes any flavor
- 1 batch Buttercream frosting store bought or home made!
- Fondant in yellow, blue and pink
- Shortening or Corn Starch
For the cake pop dough
- 1 baked cake from a box cake mix baked according to package
- 1 can frosting
Instructions
- Make the cake pop dough. Crumble cooled cake into a large bowl. Stir in about 3/4 of the can of frosting and mix well. One batch of cake pop dough makes enough for around 15 rockets!
- Form about 3 rounded tablespoons of cake pop dough into a rounded cone shape. Chill in the fridge till firm, at least 30 minutes.
- To cover the rockets, roll out a golf ball sized amount of fondant on a smooth surface coated with a thin layer of shortening or corn starch to about 1/8 inch thick. Gently pick up the fondant and drape it over the chilled rocket cake pop. Gently rub the fondant from the top down to the bottom of the rocket ship to adhere. Trim off any extra fondant and fold under to create a smooth finish around the bottom. You can use two fondant smoothers to shape and smooth the rockets even more.
- At this point, frost the cupcakes with buttercream and gently press the rockets on top of each cupcake.
- For the rocket ship wings, roll out fondant to 1/8 inch thick and cut out a 1 1/2 inch circle. Cut the circle in half. Then cut off the bottom 1/4 of the circle to create 2 wings. You will need 3 wings per rocket. Cut out a small circle for the window. Attach the wings and windows onto the rockets using a little bit of water to help them stick.
Notes
- Not interested in working with fondant? Frost the rocket ships instead, or dip them in candy melts!
Indya | The Small Adventurer says
My train of thought whilst scrolling through these photos was: “Oh, that’s a good idea”, “Haven’t thought of that before”, “Why have I never tried these tricks before?!” I thought the entire rocketship was fondant, but your way is far better!
All fondant would be expensive, and not as tasty. I also hadn’t thought of using fondant smoothers like that before, OR to use piping tips to cut circles! I’m actually convinced you’re all geniuses’!!
Elle says
Home made fondant is yummy!
IndigoCard says
I was actually reading your article and found some really interesting information. The thing is quite clear that I just want to thank for it.
Natalie says
Hi! Thanks for this fun tutorial! How much in advance of the party can these be made?
Kelly says
I would say 1-2 days in advance would be ok! =)