Black Dragon Cupcake Decorations

Celebration calls for cupcakes. Cupcakes call for dragons. Well, at least if you're having a monster party.

This instructable shows you how to make black dragon cupcake toppers- completely edible by the way.

This was my entry this into a Renfest cupcake contest 2014.

Frosted cupcakes.

Rice crispy treats

Wilton shape-n-amaze black decorating dough

Wilton shape-n-amaze white decorating dough

Food color pens

Silicone baking mats

Rolling pin

Optional: decorative cupcake wrapper

Food coloring (red and yellow)

Toothpicks

For the sugar flames:

Saucepan

1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons of corn syrup
2 tablespoons of water

Prepare for every part of this step because you will have to work fast. Be cautious!!!

Lay out a large silicone mat and then tape another mat around a rolling pin. Lay the wrapped rolling pin on the other silicone mat with the seam facing down.

To make the flames

slowly heat up:

1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons of corn syrup
2 tablespoons of water

Then slowly bring to boil on high until it reaches 300* F or hard crack. (You should see the your mixture turning crystal clear).

Tip: Make sure it is exactly 300 degrees and then remove from heat.

Immediately add 4 drops of yellow food coloring and stir. With a tablespoon carefully drizzle the yellow melted sugar on the rolling pin. It will drip down the sides and that's what you want to do. Set down your pan safely and drip one drop of red food coloring on each of your yellow piles. Gently drag a toothpick through the sugar to blend the yellow and red.

Let cool completely.

To remove the hardened circles of sugar, slide out your rolling pin and pinch the silicone mat to release the sugar. Gently set these in an airtight container until you are ready to use them. They may be sticky so don't let them touch.

The structure for this decoration comes from rice crispies!

Your over all piece will be about 3" tall so aim for 2 1/2" rice crispy towers to start building your dragon up on.

Let's break down the whole dragon bust into pieces.

You start with the neck and head.

You will add a string down the back of the spine

2 ears

2 horns

2 teeth

3 spikes in back

4 face spikes

1 diamond shaped face piece

2 eyes

Start by taking a wad of your black dough and kneading it until it's workable. Flatten it as best you can to a circle that is about 4" in diameter. Wrap that around the neck and up onto the head.

Add a little bit to the top of the head and start shaping. Smooth out all seams as best you can. This first part will resemble a horse's head without any features.

To start the mouth, take a toothpick and press it into the mouth longways to start separating the top and bottom.

As you're adding the little features, keep in mind to try and smooth seams as you make them.

I like to start with the horns.

For this you need to make two small white cones out of the dough. Work them until they are long. Probably about a 1/2" - 3/4".

Also make two little cakes of black dough and wrap around the base of your horn. Set into place by gently using a toothpick to press down and seal. Be careful not to smash the horn shape you just made. This will help build up the brow.

Next, you can add the ears. These are two more little cakes of black dough. Pinch the sides of the dough to form points on either side. One side of the point will be pressed into either side of the horns. Again, use a tooth pick for precision.

To make the spikes on the spine, start by rolling a long string of black dough and pressing into the spine. You can use water as "glue" for any of these dough-on-dough applications. Mold three spike shapes and press the flat end right against the spine shape you just placed. A tooth pick and water helps on this part too.

The eyes aren't as hard as they look. You will need a little oval ball of white dough and two tiny lengths of rolled black dough. sandwich the white oval between the two pieces of black dough and pinch the ends. place on either side of the head. Smooth down the corners of the eye with a toothpick.

Take one more little cake of black dough and form it into a diamond. Place that on top of the head between the eyes.

Make four narrow rolls of black dough and place two on each side. The placement is under the ear where his "cheeks" would be.

This dough takes a while to set, depending on the humidity. If his neck gets a little heavy you can prop it up on something as it sets.

Time to play dentist. Poke two holes on the underside of the dragon's mouth.

Roll two very tiny bits of white dough. Using your toothpick grab one end of the tooth and shove that end into one of the holes. Repeat on the other side.

Poke two holes on the end of the nose for the nostrils.

Now, you can color in the eyes with food markers and add one vertical black line for the pupil.

Almost there...

Place your candy flame ring on the edge of the cupcake and your set dragon in the middle.

You can make it look fancy by adding a cupcake ring around the whole thing.

Refrigeration is a good idea but not completely necessary.

Display for your party and let your guests enjoy!

I hope you found this instructable of use. : ) Let me know if you have any questions. I know there is a lot of steps O_o