Happy Huladays: How to Make Fondant Penguins for a Tropical Christmas Cake

Though Christmastime is often portrayed as taking place in the snowy time of winter, half of the world celebrates the holiday during the summer! Taking the Southern Hemisphere into account, be tropically festive and learn how to make these fondant penguins in hula garb — the perfect addition to your tropical Christmas cupcakes or cake decorating!

Here’s how to create festive penguins for a tropical Christmas cake.

Materials Needed:

• Black, white, green, red and orange fondant
• Water/edible glue and brush
• Large circle fondant cutter
• Medium oval cutter
• Heart-shaped cutter
• Small teardrop cutter
• Miniature flower cutter
• Round decorating tips #5, #10 and #12
• Fondant rolling pin with 1/8″ guide rings
• 1/4″ wooden dowels
• Rolling pastry cutter
• Knife tool
• Large modeling tool
• Precision knife
• Vegetable shortening to soften your fondant
• Powdered sugar/dusting pouch for your work surface

Step 1:

Roll out black fondant thick with the rolling pin and wooden dowels as guides. Cut out a circle with the large round cutter.

Step 2:

Roll the black circle into a ball, then shape it into an oval with your fingers.

Step 3:

Roll out white fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings. Cut out a medium oval with the cutter.

Step 4:

Use the top of the heart cutter to trim the top of the oval. Round out the points with your fingers.

Step 5:

Glue the white fondant to the front of the black oval to begin creating the penguin.

Step 6:

Use the large modeling stick to make holes for the penguin’s eyes.

Step 7:

Roll out black fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings and cut out two circles with round decorating tip #5. Roll them into balls and glue them in the holes to create the penguin’s eyes.

Step 8:

Roll out green fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings and use the rolling pastry cutter to cut a long strip.

Step 9:

With the knife tool, make indentations across the green fondant strip all the way across.

Step 10:

Use the precision knife to make small cuts on the indentations to create the grass skirt, making sure you don’t cut all the way.

Step 11:

Use the knife tool to indent a border at the top of the grass skirt all the way across. Use the very tip of the knife tool to make two little indentations just underneath the border and indent the very bottom of each panel of the skirt upward for added interest.

Step 12:

Form the grass skirt around the penguin and use the precision knife to trim as necessary. Apply glue to the upper part of the skirt to attach it to the penguin, flaring out the bottom a bit with your fingers.

Step 13:

Roll out orange fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings and cut out a circle with round decorating tip #10. Roll it into a ball, then pinch the front with your fingers to create the penguin’s beak. Glue it in place.

Step 14:

Roll out green fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings and cut out a few circles with round decorating tip #12. Pinch one end to create a teardrop shape, then use the knife tool to create indentations for the leaf veins. Start with one line lengthwise, then make diagonal indentations on each side. When finished, pinch the other end together. Glue them to the penguin’s head.

Step 15:

Roll out red fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings. Cut out two circles with round decorating tip #12. Make indentations with the knife tool, starting with one lengthwise in the center, then diagonal lines each way, all meeting at the bottom center to create the shell bikini.

Step 16:

Roll out red fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings. Cut out 12-14 miniature flowers with the cutter and use the tip of the knife tool to make indentations on each petal. Form the flowers around the penguin’s head and glue them in place, creating a floral headband.

Step 17:

Use one flower to glue in the center of the bikini and glue the remaining shells on each side.

Step 18:

Roll out black fondant with the rolling pin and guide rings and cut out two teardrop shapes with the cutter. Pinch the end and shape it in a small, wavy motion. Form it on each side of the penguin to create the flippers doing a hula. Glue them in place.

Optional:

Create additional penguins and vary the head pieces!