It seems that not only is Spring the season for Weddings but also for baby births, at least in my part of the world. It seems some of my friends are having babies and my first reaction to a Baby Shower invitation is “Would you like some Cupcakes?”. I’m a bit lost when it comes to Lamaze or Baby Einstein whatever they may be, but in Cupcake territory I feel somewhat safe. So while everyone talks about Maternity pads, breast pumps and nipple chafing and other bodily occurances, I’ll be the one happily arranging the cupcakes in the corner.
Forgive me for the gender stereotyping here but I feel that I can’t impose just any colours on a baby girl. I love making decorations with fondant, it allows me to shape things in a less messy version of clay. I have seen some great baby booties made in fondant so I set about making some. I had no idea how to shape them and after several unsuccessful attempts I finally figured out how to make a decent approximation of them.
I have a stash of the little pink hearts also in red and white and I love using them wherever possible. Thankfully the weather wasn’t too hot today so there was no risk of the buttercream melting which is always a fear of mine after completing a wedding cake in Mid January where the temperatures reached almost 40 degrees. I had visions of pink booties floating down a Dali-like melting river of yellow buttercream. The cream centre is entirely optional, if you have hot weather or cannot be bothered with that extra part, you could certainly eliminate this step.
I follow the cupcake recipe with a step by step guide on how to make the booties, it’s a cinch once you have the pieces together. The reason why the booties in the pictures below are in purple are because I accidentally deleted the photos of me making the pink booties and all I had left was violet fondant. So you see not everything went smoothly with these although I’ll take a bit of photo deletion over a melting buttercream river any day.
Vanilla and Passionfruit Cream Cupcakes
Makes 12 cupcakes
- 1 cup self raising flour mixed with 2 tablespoons cornflour
- 125g butter softened
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1/3 cup passionfruit pulp
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- 1/2 cup whipped cream sweetened with 1 tablespoon of caster sugar
For decoration
- Vanilla buttercream (see below)
- Pink pearl droplets
- Booties (see below)
1. In a large bowl cream the butter until smooth and gradually add the sugar. Beat for 3 minutes until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With a spoon fold in the flour in lots of three alternating with the passionfruit and vanilla. If the mixture is too thick, add some milk (about 1/4 cup). Do not overmix.
2. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners about 3/4 full. Bake in a 170c oven for 20-25 minutes. Cool in tin.
4. Cut out a cone from the top of the cupcake and spoon in a little whipped cream. Trim cone and replace on top.
5. Pipe buttercream using a medium-large star tip nozzle. Then top with tiny pink pear droplets. Add a pair of Booties on the top and dust with more iridescent powder.
Adapted from the Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes book
For Booties
You will need:
- Coloured Fondant
- a toothpick
- a chopstick (I used a non disposable Japanese one with a tapered end)
- Heart decorations (bought, don’t drive yourself crazy making them)
- Iridescent edible powder in pink or violet
Roll one small ball and one smaller ball (about 1/3 of the size of the larger one) of fondant.
Holding one end make an oval and press down on the other end to make the “sole” of the bootie. Then place the small ball on the left end of the bootie sole.
Insert a chopstick’s thinner end and jiggle it about to make a slightly bigger hole. Voila! You have a bootie, now it’s just the finishing touches.
Using the chopstick to hold the bootie in place use the toothpick to gently but firmly press to make “stripes” on the top part of the bootie.
Then use the toothpick to make a row of dots around the main shoe area. Then stick on a small heart using a tiny amount of water. Then finally dust with some edible iridescent powder
For Buttercream
- 250grams butter softened
- 3 cups icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Beat butter in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, beat in sifted icing sugar and milk in two batches until fluffy.
This is also my entry to the Sugar High Friday event hosted by Foodbeam! 
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23 Comments | Add your own
Those Cupcakes are so gorgeous and cute!
You’ve done such a great job and what better way to transport them, than in your pink cupcake courier.
I’m eagerly waiting my sister to fall pregnant, so I can make her some!
Ah, NQN you are just so good! I just don’t have the patience to make things like that…what a legend! I’d be very happy to be on the receiving end of your cupcakes any day!
Holy crap that’s fantastic!! I must use this for something!
wow, thanks so much for the instructions! I have been wanting to know how to make these, but I’m not as creative as you, so this really helps!!
Cute! Moulding fondant is the bane of my existence!!
I though it’s hard to shape these booties. Hey, you made it’s look easy. Any more tips on fondant shapes?
Hee hee soo cuutee and looks very tasttyy mmmm.
So cuuuuuuuuuuuuuute. Love the booties. I have heaps of baby showers coming up as most of my GF are pregnant!! This might help me get over my fear of fondant!
Hi Anita-Thankyou so much!
The CupCake Courier helped me transport them flawlessly which was a relief I must say 
Hi Reemski-Thanks! Most of the time I don’t either but I did them in steps doing the booties ahead of time, the cupcakes the night before and the icing and putting it together on the day. All at once would have done me in I think
Hi JustJENN-hehe find a baby quick!
Hi tammy-You’re welcome
It’s so easy once you have directions. I had a few unsuccessful attempts which left me frustrated until I tried using two balls and then voila!
Hi Bria-I felt that way the firs time I made them using one single piece. My husband didn’t recognise them at all
Hi Lilia-Once you have the instructions it’s a cinch, believe me
I’ll have some more fondant baby shapes in an upcoming cupcake story!
Hi Ffichiban-Thankyou so much!
Hi Minko-Oh cool, well this will hopefully come in handy. As I mentioned a few comments ago, I have another baby themed cupcake coming up!
oh my goodness gracious, those are adorable! such detailed and intricate work–i’m super impressed.
Wow! These are simply the best baby theme cupcakes I have ever seen!
Would love to publish your recipe, instructions and pics on my site (fully ackowledging you and providing a link)- I think any maternity bride would be soo happy to have these at her bridal / baby shower don’t you?
Do let me know - meanwhile can’t wait to see more fabulous baby creations (and do you have any ‘pregnant bride’ ideas?
What fabulous cupcakes, and such attention to detail. I would have loved, LOVED, to receive cupcakes like this at my baby shower. Lovely work, and ever so sweet! These cupcakes are inspiring me (to bake that is, not to have another baby, just in case there was confusion).
Those booties are adorable! I loooove how cute baby booties are, and I love going to baby showers, if only for the opportunity to buy booties .. hehe..
Wow they look great,boy Loraine your so clever & talented.
Thanks for the site I really do love this site.So many useful information & great ideas too.
Lorraine! Those booties are just adorable! (And so much easier to make than I expected. Thanks so much for the step-by-step guide.) A few of my friends are having second babies *shudder* so I’ll keep these beauties in mind. One munchkin is quite enough for me
Hi grace-I actually was going to leave them without drawing any of the details but can never leave well enough alone and kept adding things
Hi Coralie-Thankyou! Of course that would be great. Sure, any expecting mum would like these I think
I don’t know if I have any pregnant bride ideas specifically but next week I’ll have another baby themed cupcake (it’s the season!).
Hi Sandie-Thankyou! That’s so sweet of you to say
Haha yes they’re good to bake for someone else 
Hi Y-I like kitchen tea and baby showers, if only for the
chance to make new cupcakes
Hi Anna-Thankyou so much! I’m glad that you find it helpful. Thanks for your lovely comment
Hi Angela-Thanks!
Yes once you have the method down, it’s so easy. Cool! Believe me, you’ll be most praised if you show up with these 
My talented friend with gorgeous and magical hands, thank you for the tutorial - these cupcakes are fabulous! Lorraine, I love the flavors, too.
Hi Patricia-Thankyou so much for that
What a sweet compliment!
Hi there,
In the last couple of months I have been getting into cupcake baking. I have a friend who is having a baby shower and your instructions with the booties has inspired me to give fondant a go! Thanks!
Hi Renee-That’s great! Cupcakes and babies seem to go together so well
I’ll have another Baby Cupcake story up tomorrow just in case you were looking for other ideas.
Thank you for such wonderful photos and instructions for making these adorable booties.
Hi Pleasance-You’re more than welcome! Thanks for your lovely comment
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] I keep telling myself that when I get time I’ll have a go at modelling with fondant (or “fondahhhnt”, for those to want to pronounce it properly) and finally got inspired enough to get my act together when I saw Not Quite Nigella make it look easy. [...]
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