Personalised cake toppers have become a vital part of cake decorating as they elevate the overall beauty, add intricacy to the cake design and serve as a final touch when it comes to decorations. Adding a topper will imminently add a bit of special flair to your cake for every special occasion and event. With so many custom designs and materials to choose from, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice when you’re planning your next extravaganza.

What Are Cake Toppers?

In short, they’re decorative motifs placed on wooden skewers that you can stick directly into the top of a cake to quickly add pizazz without spending a fortune on traditional decorations. This is a great way to add colour and a distinctive twist to store-bought or handmade cakes. By personalising the toppers with special messages, you can create a cake that truly celebrates the occasion, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or any other special event.

Unlike candles or frosting, which are only used once, toppers are completely reusable. Not only can you use them again and again, but you can also keep them as a memento of the event and pass them down to future generations.

Cake toppers come in a variety of shapes and designs, ranging from fresh flowers to letters, numerals, and custom figures. With a huge selection of colours, starting with the classic black and white combo and all the way to pastels, vibrant hues and glitter acrylic, you can easily find a cake topper to suit every taste and preference.

How to Choose the Right Size

The size of the topper is directly related to the size of the cake, so it’s important to get the measurements right before purchasing or making one. A general rule of thumb is to select one that has the same diameter as the cake, or is slightly smaller. This ensures that it’s proportionate and won’t look out of place.

For instance, if the cake topper is small and short in height but 25 cm in diameter, the top layer of the cake must fall in the 20-25 cm range. For multi-tiered cakes, make sure that the size of the uppermost layer is no more than the width of the topper itself.

What Are the Different Types of Cake Toppers?

Apart from the size, the overall design of the topper is equally as important. Toppers come in a variety of materials, making it difficult to choose the ideal one for your cake. Let’s do a quick breakdown of all the major types:

Edible Cake Toppers

The edible models are made up of actual layers of icing that are then cut and sculpted into different shapes. The cutouts are pressed onto a flexible plastic backing that can be removed before eating. Icing sheets are a common sight, with their designs often printed using edible inks. They are easy to set up, and the colours and print quality significantly outperform Wafer papers and cards.

Their main advantage is that they can be personalised to feature any image, logo or message. This gives you the opportunity to make your cake topper as personal or as creative as you want.

The only downside is that they need to be kept refrigerated until you’re ready to use them. If not, the heat will cause the colours to run and the designs to bleed.

Acrylic Cake Toppers

Acrylic is a lightweight glass-like casted plastic that is incredibly versatile and comes in a wide range of colours and finishes. They’re also quite durable, meaning that they can be used multiple times without losing their lustre. Because of their sturdiness, acrylic toppers are a popular choice for heavy fondant cakes and those that will be travelling long distances.

One thing to keep in mind is that acrylic toppers can sometimes give off a plastic-like smell, so if you’re sensitive to smells, it’s best to opt for another type of design instead. Some companies offer toppers made out of food-grade acrylic, which doesn’t have the same smell.

Cardboard Cake Toppers

These are the most affordable option as they’re made out of, well, cardboard. They’re often double-sided, so you can choose to have a message or image on one side and a blank white background on the other. They’re also quite lightweight, making them ideal for small cakes or fragile designs.

The main downside of cardboard toppers is that they’re not as durable as other materials and can’t be reused. They’re also not ideal for humid conditions as the moisture can cause the colours to run and the paper to swell.

Wooden Cake Toppers

Wooden toppers have a rustic charm that can add a touch of elegance to any cake. They’re usually made out of maple or birch wood and can be left natural or stained in different colours. Because of their artisanal look, wooden toppers often come with a higher price tag but are definitely worth the investment if you’re looking for something unique.