How To Make a Reusable Cupcake Tower: With Step By Step Instructions and Photos

I'd like to share with you how easy it is to make your own Cupcake Tower that can be used over and over again for different occasions. Not only is it economical to make, it's bound to please your guests.

To make a cupcake tower you will need the following supplies:

Large cardboard pieces from sturdy discarded boxes

You can also use Styrofoam sheets you can find at a Craft Shop. I find Styrofoam hard to cut. I don't have a heated knife to make good clean cuts.

Heavy duty plastic disposable cups 3 to 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches high

Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Utility knife with SHARP BLADE to cut out the cardboard

Acrylic Spray Paint

Decorative Ribbon or Lace

Compass for marking and cutting rounds out of cardboard,

if you don't have a compass, you can make one using a pencil with a string tied to the top.

Measure the distance of the string to obtain the distance from the pencil top to the point.

If you use all five of the tiers, the tower will measure 15 inches high.

The 3 inch cups raise the tiers to give you ample room for cupcakes topped with Frosting.

As you can see from my photos, I made one of my towers taller, using more tiers.

I have to tell you right up front that cutting out heavy cardboard is NO fun. You must have a sharp utility knife! Lay the cardboard down on a surface like concrete. Don't try to use scissors: you'll kill your fingers. It's important to use heavy cardboard or your tower will not be strong.

Mark and cut out one 20 inch round piece

Mark and cut out one 17 inch round piece

Mark and cut out one 14 inch round piece

Mark and cut out one 11 inch round piece

Mark and cut out one 8 inch round piece

Spray paint the pieces of cardboard what ever color you want. For the Christmas tower, I painted the pieces dark green.

Spray paint the plastic cups.

Later, for the Baby Shower Tower I just covered the pieces with baby wrapping paper.

To Dry Assemble the Tower:

Don’t glue the cups in place until you are sure they are spaced evenly around the round tops

Lay the 20 inch round cardboard on a flat surface

Place 6 of the plastic cups on the round top upside down.

Lay the 17 inch round on top of the plastic cups

Place 4 of the plastic cups on the round top upside down.

Lay the 14 inch round on top of the plastic cup

Place 4 of the plastic cups on the round top upside down.

Lay the 11 inch round on top of the plastic cups

Place 3 of the plastic cups on the round top upside down.

Lay the 8 inch round on top of the plastic cups

You’ll have to move the plastic cups around until they are evenly spaced.

When you are satisfied with how the tower looks at this point, go back and hot glue the plastic cups in place.

For extra strength and security, you can put a big spot of hot glue on the bottoms of the cups to hold the round pieces firmly in place.

The first time I constructed one of these towers, I used cardboard instead of the plastic cups, but then I discovered the cups work just as well.

For the Christmas tower, you can use red or gold tinsel to cover the plastic cups

Using the hot glue gun, I added lace around the edges for the Baby Shower Tower, and Christmas ribbon round the edges for the Christmas Tower.

After the occasion is over that you made the towers for, take them apart and store the pieces flat to be used again at another time. Since you’ve used hot glue, the pieces will come apart with just a little pressure.

If you're lucky enough to have space to store the tower, just drop it down into a plastic trash bag completely assembled for the next celebration.

I don't remember exactly how many cupcakes I made for the Birthday Tower. I used a ready-to-use white cake batter, and I made a basic white frosing.

The leaves are made from rolled fondant and cut out using a small holly leaf cutter.

I made this tower for a Birthday party for my Daughter, Holly. This little 8 inch cake was perfect for the top tier.

As you can see, all you need is a little imagination to create a beautiful cupcake tower. It's a lot of fun, and you'll get all kinds of appreciation and praise!

You can use your creation over and over again. Just decorate it with your new theme!

I can just see my tower used again this year for Halloween! I will place a small pumpkin on the very top. At Easter, I can use a small Easter Basket......the possibilities go on!