Lions and tigers and... monkeys, oh my! Whether planning a safari-themed birthday party or baby shower, jungle-themed cakes and cupcakes are bare necessities for a roarin' good time!

Swing on over to learn how to make three different jungle animal cupcake toppers with these easy-to-follow fondant tutorials!

Materials needed:

• Tan, brown, orange, white and black fondant
• Fondant rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings
• Water/edible glue and brush
• 2 1/4" scalloped circle cutter
• circle cutters
• Thin foam mat
• Large flower forming cup
• Modeling tool
• Round decorating tips #7, #10 and #12
• Small teardrop cutter
• Small modeling stick
• Medium heart cutter
• Large ball tool
• Rolling pastry cutter
• Precision knife
• Vegetable shortening
• Powdered sugar/dusting pouch
• White soft gel paste & toothpick

Lion tutorial

Step 1:

Roll out brown fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out a circle with the 2 1/4" round scalloped cutter.

Step 2:

Dust a bit of powdered sugar over the thin foam mat and place the dark brown fondant circle over it. With the modeling tool, make linear indentations around the scalloped circle, beginning close to the center, outward. Make the indentations around the entirety of the fondant circle and repeat, if necessary.

Step 3:

Dust the large flower forming cup with a bit of powdered sugar and place the brown fondant on it to allow it to dry a bit. Do not put it all the way into the cup, but instead, allow it to sit loosely over the top, allowing the perimeter of the circle to flute upwards, creating the lion's mane.

Step 4:

Roll out tan fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings and cut out a circle with the __" round cutter for the lion's face.

Step 5:

Utilize the modeling tool make two oval-shaped indentations on the tan circle for the lion's eye cavities.

Step 6:

Roll out tan fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out two small circles with round decorating tip #12 and two teardrop shapes with the small cutter.

Step 7:

Take the two teardrop fondant shapes and join the pointed tips together in the center, while the larger ends of each teardrop flare out in opposite directions. Glue them together, then trim the tip off with the bottom of a round decorating tip.

Step 8:

Use the small modeling stick to make little indentations on each of the teardrop shapes. Glue it to the lion's face.

Step 9:

Take one of the small tan circles cut with round decorating tip #12 and place it on the thin foam mat. Use the modeling tool to indent the center, then press the top together and flatten the bottom to form an ear. Repeat this step with the second tan circle and glue the ears to the lion's head.

Step 10:

Roll out brown fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings and cut out three circles with round decorating tip #12.

Step 11:

Take one of the circles and shape it into a triangular shape to form the lion's nose. Glue it to the lion's face.

Step 12:

Take another brown circle and form it into a teardrop shape with your fingers. Indent the shape with the modeling tool, then repeat this step with the second circle. Glue the tips of both shapes and pinch them together. Trim the pointed end off with the bottom of the round decorating tip, then glue it to the lion's head.

Step 13:

Roll out black fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out two circles with round decorating tip #7, roll them into balls, then shape them into ovals. Glue them inside the eye cavities on the lion's face, then glue the entire face to the mane. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Monkey tutorial

Step 1:

Roll out brown fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out a circle with the __" round cutter and two smaller circles with the larger end of round decorating tip #12.

Step 2:

Roll out tan fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out two small circles with round decorating tip #12.

Step 3:

Take one of the small tan circles and flatten it out with your fingers, making sure you preserve the circular shape. Repeat this step with the second tan circle.

Step 4:

Place one of the small brown circles over the thin fondant mat and glue one of the tan circles in its center. Use the large ball tool to indent the center.

Step 5:

Pinch the bottom together, then trim off the pinched section off a bit with the bottom of a round decorating tip, creating the monkey's ear. Repeat this step to create the second ear.

Step 6:

Glue the ears to the sides of the larger brown circle/the monkey's face.

Step 7:

Roll out tan fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings and cut out a circle with the __" round cutter.

Step 8:

With the medium heart cutter, trim off the top off of the tan circle. Take the bottom piece and round out the tips with your fingers to create the monkey's face.

Step 9:

Glue the tan fondant to the monkey's head and make circular indentations to create the eye cavities with the fondant modeling tool.

Step 10:

Roll out tan fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out one circle with the larger end of a round decorating tip #12 and two circles with round decorating tip #10.

Step 11:

Shape the larger circle into an oval and round out its perimeter with your fingers. Use the bottom of a round decorating tip to indent a smile onto the oval by holding it and pressing down at a 45º angle. Glue it to the monkey's face.

Step 12:

Take the tan fondant circle cut out with tip #12 and shape it into an oval to create the monkey's nose. Glue it to the monkey's face.

Step 13:

Roll out black fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings and cut out two circles with round decorating tip #7. Roll them into two balls, then glue them in the eye cavities on the monkey's face.

Step 14:

Take one of the tan fondant circles cut out with tip #10 and form it into a teardrop shape with your fingers. Indent the shape with the modeling tool on the thin foam mat, then repeat this step with the second circle. Glue the tips of both shapes and pinch them together. Trim the pointed end off with the bottom of the round decorating tip to create a small tuft of hair.

Step 15:

Glue the little tuft of hair to the monkey's head and allow to dry thoroughly.

Tiger tutorial

Step 1:

Roll orange fondant out with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out one circle with the __" round cutter and two circles with round decorating tip #12.

Step 2:

Make oval indentations on the larger orange circle with the fondant modeling tool to form eye cavities for the tiger.

Step 3:

Take one of the small orange circles cut with round decorating tip #12 and place it on the thin foam mat. Use the modeling tool to indent the center, then press the top together and flatten the bottom to form an ear. Repeat this step with the second orange circle and glue the ears to the tiger's head.

Step 4:

Roll out white fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out two teardrop shapes with the small cutter. Take the two teardrop fondant shapes and join the pointed tips together in the center, while the larger ends of each teardrop flare out in opposite directions. Glue them together, then trim the tip off with the bottom of a round decorating tip.

Step 5:

Use the small modeling stick to make little indentations on each of the teardrop shapes. Glue it to the tiger's face.

Step 6:

Roll out black fondant with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Cut out two circles with round decorating tip #7 and one with round decorating tip #12.

Step 7:

Form the two smaller black circles into ovals, then glue them inside the cavities in the tiger's face. Shape the larger circle into a triangle for the tiger's nose and glue it in place.

Step 8:

Roll black fondant out with the rolling pin and 1/8" guide rings. Utilize the rolling pastry cutter to trim seven thin strips to make the tiger's stripes, ensuring one end of the strip is pointed.

Step 9:

Place the strips on the tiger's face in the desired locations with two stripes on each side of its face and three on the top. Glue them down and trim the excess off with the precision knife.When all the jungle animal toppers are sufficiently dry, dip your toothpick in white soft gel paste and add little white glimmer spots to their eyes.