These adorable rocket ship cupcakes were a favorite detail from our son’s To Infinity and Beyond party. Topped with little rocket cake pops, they work beautifully with either buttercream frosting or fondant.
The kids went wild when they saw these! Below is a clear, step-by-step tutorial so you can make rocket ship space cupcakes for your next party.
Ingredients for Space Cupcakes
You can make the cupcakes and frosting from scratch or use store-bought mixes — both give great results. This list covers what you’ll need to assemble the rocket cake pops and finish the cupcakes.
- 12 cupcakes — any flavor, homemade or boxed
- 1 baked cake — from a box mix or homemade, for cake pop dough
- 2 cans buttercream frosting — one for the cake pop dough and one for frosting the cupcakes
- Fondant — yellow, blue, and pink (or colors of your choice)
- Shortening or cornstarch — for working the fondant
How To Make Space Themed Cupcakes
1. Make the cake pop dough: crumble the cooled baked cake into a large bowl. Stir in about 3/4 of a can of frosting and mix until it holds together. One batch will make roughly 15 rockets.
2. Shape the rockets: form about 3 rounded tablespoons of the cake pop dough into a cone or rounded rocket shape. Chill on a tray in the refrigerator until firm, at least 30 minutes.
3. Prepare the fondant cover: dust your work surface lightly with shortening or cornstarch. Roll a golf-ball-sized piece of fondant to about 1/8 inch thick.
4. Cover the rockets: pick up the rolled fondant and gently drape it over a chilled rocket. Smooth the fondant from the top down so it adheres to the shape without tearing.
5. Trim and finish: remove excess fondant and fold the edges under to create a smooth bottom edge. Use fondant smoothers if you have them to refine the shape.
6. Frost the cupcakes: spread buttercream on each cupcake, then gently press a finished rocket onto the center of each cupcake so it stands upright.
7. Make the wings and windows: roll fondant to 1/8 inch thick. Cut a 1½-inch circle, then slice it in half and trim off the lower quarter to form a wing shape — you’ll need three wings per rocket. Cut a small circle for the window.
8. Attach details: use a tiny amount of water to adhere the wings and window to each fondant-covered rocket. Let them dry briefly before serving.
Arrange the cupcakes on a cake platter or colorful tray with other space-themed treats for a fun display.
More Space Themed Party Ideas
- A To Infinity and Beyond first birthday celebration
- Make a custom birthday candle using a cookie cutter
- DIY family space costumes
- Space-themed activities and crafts for toddlers
Party photos by Mary Costa Photography | Step photos by Jeff Mindell
Recipe by Theresa Rountree
It’s so satisfying when a project turns out just like you pictured — these space cupcakes definitely did. If you’re planning any space-themed event, they’re a must-make!
How To Make Space Cupcakes
Ingredients
- Basic cake pop dough — recipe follows
- 12 cupcakes, any flavor
- 1 batch buttercream frosting (store-bought or homemade)
- Fondant in yellow, blue, and pink
- Shortening or cornstarch
For the cake pop dough
- 1 baked cake from a box mix (baked according to package)
- 1 can frosting
Instructions
- Make the cake pop dough: crumble cooled cake into a large bowl and stir in about 3/4 of the can of frosting until combined. One batch makes about 15 rockets.
- Form about 3 rounded tablespoons of dough into a cone-shaped rocket. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
- Roll out a golf-ball-sized piece of fondant on a surface dusted with shortening or cornstarch to about 1/8 inch thick. Drape over the chilled rocket and smooth to adhere. Trim excess and fold under the bottom for a neat finish.
- Frost the cupcakes with buttercream and gently press each rocket into the center of a cupcake.
- For wings and windows: roll fondant to 1/8 inch thick and cut 1½-inch circles. Cut each circle in half, then trim off the bottom quarter to create two wing pieces. You’ll need three wings per rocket and a small circle for the window. Attach with a drop of water.
Notes
- If you prefer not to work with fondant, try frosting the rockets or dipping them in candy melts instead.