Buy Handmade Vegan Sugar Paste Figures: 2026 Picks
Editorial TeamTable of Contents
- Why Handmade Vegan Sugar Paste Figures Are Worth It
- Vegan Cupcake Toppers: What to Check Before You Buy
- Gluten-Free Sugar Paste Figures for Coeliac Guests
- Our Top Handmade Vegan Sugar Paste Figures
- How to Store Sugar Paste Toppers So They Last
- How to Apply Your Toppers Without Cracking Them
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: September 12, 2026
Why Handmade Vegan Sugar Paste Figures Are Worth It
Handmade vegan sugar paste figures are edible cake decorations shaped by hand from plant-based sugar paste, free from dairy, gluten and animal-derived ingredients. Unlike mass-produced plastic or printed rice-paper alternatives, they are designed to be eaten along with the cake, and they suit guests with coeliac disease, dairy intolerance or a vegan diet.
If you have ever watched a child at a birthday party quietly peel a plastic figure off their slice and set it aside, you already understand the difference. That small moment is exactly why this guide from Simply Toppers exists. Since 2013, the Simply Toppers team has handmade sugar paste toppers in Scotland, and every design is 100% vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free. Award recognition from the Free From Food Awards 2025 and Scotland's Prestige Awards 2025/2026 reflects a simple idea: decorations should never be the reason someone at the table has to say no.
Below, we walk through what to check before you buy, how to store and apply your figures without cracking them, and our standout picks for 2026.
Vegan Cupcake Toppers: What to Check Before You Buy
Before ordering vegan cupcake toppers, confirm three things: the full ingredient list, how the maker handles cross-contamination, and whether the decorations are genuinely made to order. A topper can be labelled vegan and still sit in a workshop that handles egg white or gelatine, so it pays to ask directly.
Ingredients to Avoid in Vegan Cake Toppers
The most common hidden offenders in cake decorations are gelatine, shellac, carmine and egg-white-based glazes. Gelatine is animal-derived and used to give toppers a glossy finish (the NHS). Shellac, sometimes listed as confectioner's glaze, comes from insects. Carmine provides a red colour and is made from crushed beetles.
A shelf-stable supermarket topper will often contain preservatives and stabilisers that a handmade figure simply does not need. Ask for a full ingredient list in writing, and check whether colours are plant-based or synthetic.
Allergen Safety for Children's Parties
For a child with a severe allergy, the question is not just what is in the topper, but what it has touched. A maker who produces only vegan, gluten-free decorations removes an entire category of risk before the first figure is even shaped.
Ask two questions before you order: does the workshop handle nuts, and are decorations made in a dedicated allergen-friendly environment? A written allergen statement is worth more than a friendly email, particularly for a party where other parents will ask.
Gluten-Free Sugar Paste Figures for Coeliac Guests
Gluten-free sugar paste figures are made without wheat-derived ingredients, which matters enormously for anyone with coeliac disease. Standard fondant and gum paste can contain wheat-based glucose or starches, so "sugar paste" on a label is not automatically safe (coeliac.org.uk).
For coeliac guests, the practical test is whether the maker can confirm the figures are produced in a gluten-free environment and stored away from flour. Cross-contamination in a home kitchen is the usual culprit, not the recipe itself.
| What to Check | Why It Matters | What to Ask the Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Base ingredients | Wheat starch and glucose syrup are common | Is the sugar paste wheat-free? |
| Production area | Flour dust travels easily | Is there a dedicated gluten-free space? |
| Storage | Shared tins risk contamination | How are finished toppers stored? |
| Labelling | Coeliac guests need certainty | Can you provide a written statement? |
Simply Toppers makes every decoration from vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free sugar paste, so the same figure works for a vegan guest, a coeliac guest and a dairy-intolerant child at the same party.
Our Top Handmade Vegan Sugar Paste Figures
Our top picks cover baby showers, mermaid parties and children's birthdays, and every set is handmade from vegan, gluten-free sugar paste. Prices start at £3.75, and all designs are made to order.
Teddies, Rabbits and Bonnets for Baby Showers
For baby showers, soft pastel figures do the heavy lifting. The 12 Cute Mix Coloured & White Teddies (£6.25) are handmade and measure roughly 3 cm by 2.5 cm, which sits neatly on a standard fairy cake.
The 12 Easter Cupcake Toppers Coloured Cute Baby Rabbits (£4.99) work just as well for a spring baby shower as they do for Easter, and the 12 Colourful Easter Bonnets (£8.50) add a cheerful touch at around 3.5 cm each.
Mermaid and Sea Life Sets for Themed Parties
Mermaid parties need shimmer, and this is where edible glitter earns its keep. The Mermaid Tail Vegan Cupcake Toppers (£3.75) come in blue, pink, silver, gold and purple, each roughly 7.5 cm by 6 cm.
For a full underwater scene, the Glitter Sea Life Cake Decorations (£10.45) include 16 handmade sea creatures, while the 30 Coloured Glittered Edible Sea Shells (£9.50) fill out a tiered cake beautifully.
Brick Men and DIY Tools for Birthdays
For children's birthdays, the 12 Edible Coloured Brick Men Cupcake Toppers (£7.99) are the obvious crowd-pleaser, each around 4 cm and available in multiple colour variants.
If the guest of honour is a builder, mechanic or keen DIY enthusiast, the 12 DIY Tools Cake Cupcake Toppers (£7.99) make a genuinely memorable finish for a birthday or Father's Day bake.
| Design Set | Price | Pieces | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid Tail Toppers | £3.75 | Per pack | Mermaid birthdays |
| Baby Rabbits | £4.99 | 12 | Easter and baby showers |
| Mix Coloured Teddies | £6.25 | 12 | Baby showers and christenings |
| Brick Men | £7.99 | 12 | Children's birthdays |
| DIY Tools | £7.99 | 12 | Father's Day and hobbies |
| Easter Bonnets | £8.50 | 12 | Spring celebrations |
| Sea Shells | £9.50 | 30 | Beach and seaside themes |
| Glitter Sea Life | £10.45 | 16 | Ocean-themed cakes |
How to Store Sugar Paste Toppers So They Last
Store sugar paste toppers in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight, moisture and strong smells, and they will hold their shape for weeks before use. Sugar paste is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air, which is what turns a crisp figure soft and sticky (bsigroup.com).
A few practical rules make the difference:
- Keep them in the box they arrived in, or a sealed plastic tub lined with greaseproof paper
- Store at room temperature, never in the fridge, where condensation will ruin the finish
- Keep away from the kettle, dishwasher and anywhere else steam gathers
- Add a small silica sachet if you live somewhere humid
- Handle with dry hands only
Once the toppers are on the cake, plan to serve within a few hours. Sugar paste softens against buttercream over time, so a figure applied the night before a party will look noticeably less crisp by the afternoon.
How to Apply Your Toppers Without Cracking Them
Apply sugar paste figures by pressing them gently onto freshly piped buttercream, fondant or royal icing while the surface is still slightly tacky. The most common mistake is pushing too hard in the centre, which cracks the figure rather than seating it.
Work through it in this order:
- Let your cake or cupcakes cool completely before decorating
- Pipe or smooth your icing and let it form a light skin, around 10 minutes
- Lift each figure with a small palette knife or dry fingers
- Press lightly at the base, not the middle, and hold for two seconds
- Add a tiny dab of edible glue if the surface has fully dried
- Position larger figures last, once you can see the layout
If a figure does crack, do not panic. A small amount of edible glue and a gentle press will hide most damage, and a dusting of edible glitter covers the rest.
Planning a celebration where every guest can join in takes more than a good recipe. Simply Toppers has handmade vegan, gluten-free sugar paste figures since 2013, with award-winning designs including the Free From Food Awards 2025 and Scotland's Prestige Awards 2025/2026. Every figure is edible, dairy-free and made to order, so you can decorate with confidence whether you are baking for a mermaid party, a baby shower or a builder's birthday. Browse the full range and use the Quick Order Form to get your toppers on their way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all sugar paste figures vegan?
No. Traditional sugar paste often contains gelatine or egg white, and some brands use shellac or beeswax in glazes. Always check the ingredient list before you buy handmade vegan sugar paste figures. Look for a clear vegan statement from the maker, plus dairy-free and gluten-free claims if those matter to your guests. Simply Toppers uses a vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free sugar paste across its range, so every figure is suitable for plant-based diets and most allergen requirements.
How do I store handmade sugar paste figures?
Keep them in their original packaging, wrapped in the tissue or bag they arrived in, inside an airtight container. Store the container somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight, radiators and windowsills. Do not refrigerate sugar paste toppers, as condensation softens them and can make colours run. If you are not using them straight away, a dark cupboard at room temperature is ideal. Most handmade figures keep well when stored this way, so you can order ahead of a party without worrying.
Can I buy gluten-free and vegan sugar paste figures together?
Yes. Many handmade suppliers, including Simply Toppers, make their sugar paste without gluten, dairy or animal products, so a single set of figures works for vegan and coeliac guests at the same event. Check the product page for an explicit gluten-free statement rather than assuming, because wheat-based thickeners do appear in some cheaper pastes. If a guest has coeliac disease, ask the maker how they prevent cross-contact during production, and keep the toppers in their sealed packaging until you decorate the cake.
How long do handmade sugar paste figures last?
Unopened and stored correctly, handmade sugar paste figures typically keep well. Once placed on a cake they are best eaten within a few hours, especially if the cake sits out at a party, because the sugar paste softens and colours can bleed into buttercream. On the day itself, add the toppers shortly before serving rather than hours in advance. If you need to decorate in the morning for an afternoon party, keep the cake somewhere cool and out of direct sun.
Are handmade sugar paste figures safe for children with allergies?
They can be, provided the maker is clear about ingredients and cross-contact. Simply Toppers toppers are vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, which covers many common allergens, but no kitchen can guarantee a nut-free environment unless it is stated. For a child with a severe allergy, read the full allergen information, contact the maker with any questions, and keep the toppers in their sealed packaging until you are ready to decorate. That way you know exactly what is going on the cake.