My childhood was populated with hollyhock fairies. They are fast and easy to make and can be made without any tools.
Hollyhocks are edible, so the hollyhock dolls make an elegant, but frugal decoration for cupcakes. You can use old-fashioned hollyhock flowers or double hollyhock flowers. Both are lovely for garden parties and tea parties.
Make sure your hollyhocks come from a source that has not been treated with pesticides and other chemicals. You need to rinse the hollyhocks well, if you are going to use them to decorate cupcakes. After rinsing the hollyhock flowers, pat them dry before assembling.
How to Make Hollyhock Dolls
Items needed to make 1 hollyhock doll:
- 1 hollyhock bud
- 1 partially opened hollyhock flower
- scissors (optional)
- toothpick (optional)
If you are using the hollyhock dolls to decorate cupcakes, the multiply this amount by the number of cupcakes you want to top.
Directions:
1. Pull off the sepal petals on the bud to expose the “eyes”:
2. Pull or cut off the stem to create the “mouth”:
3. Insert the stem of the flower into one of the holes in the bud:
Now stand your hollyhock doll up and she is ready for the party:
How to Use Hollyhock Dolls to Decorate Cupcakes
You can use a toothpick to make your doll more secure. Insert it through the middle of the hollyhock, leaving a bit of toothpick sticking out on top to attach the head, and a little on bottom to insert it into a cupcake:
Once the head is attached you can stick the toothpick into a cupcake:
You can also add rosemary or lavender twigs for arms if you choose. I doubt that most people will want to eat their hollyhock doll, but they can if they want to. The petals are slightly sweet, but the white portion of the bud is bitter and is avoided when used for culinary purposes.
Do you have hollyhocks in your garden? If not, here are tips on growing hollyhocks. You can also make candied flowers with rose petals and pansies and use them to decorated cupcakes.
I used this Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake recipe to make the cupcakes and I frosted them with Butter Cream Frosting.
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Teressa says
How long do they last
Alea Milham says
The hollyhock dolls last a day before wilting.
Thelma Day says
They are so cute. I heard about them, but never knew how they were made. Now I know. I’ll be making them next year. Thanks for sharing.
Linda says
I spent summers at my Grandmother’s, and also made these, but we also used small buds and a toothpick inserted through the top of the (body) flower, which would stick out on the each side, and put the small buds on for arms. I have since tried with my Granddaughter, also made “lady in the bathtub” with Bleeding Hearts, such fun!!! I also didn’t know they were edible, thank you so much!!!
Melissa French, The More With Less Mom says
These are so precious. Thanks for posting. Hello from Treasure Box Tuesday.
Melissa says
So adorable! Thanks for sharing at Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party!
Angel says
These are just too adorable. I’ve never seen this before but I love the idea. Thanks for sharing with us at Wake Up Wednesday Linky Party. I’m Featuring your post at this weeks party. Hope you will join us again and share more of your blog.
Angel
tonilea says
oh, how sweet! I used to make these when I was little. I have lived in GA for over 35 years and we don’t have hollyhocks here. Such a shame. I actually did try to grow some years ago but they died out. I think it is just not the right climate here. I miss those sweet flowers — also peonies. And lilacs.
thanks for the memories
tonilea
Cathy says
I remember these as a child – so fun to make them. Thank you so much for sharing your adorable ones with Share It One More Time. Cathy
Minnie L Douglas says
hi there, this so lovely and creative
MICHELA says
meravigliosi…brava!
Lisa says
I have enjoyed sharing hollyhock dolls whenever I see a bush. I have NEVER met anyone who has even heard of them before! Such fond memories of childhood… It is important to keep those little treasures alive from one generation to the next!
Michelle says
I love this!
Aurelia says
Beautiful idea! I didn’t know you could eat hollyhocks, this is something I shall definitely try out 🙂 Thanks for sharing it.
Colorado Girl says
That is the cutest thing! I have different colored hollyhocks growing right now, I think I will try this tomorrow.
vickie says
That is about the cutest thing I ever seen I’m printing and saving this post to have handy. Would be great at a tea party
vickie
Tadka Pasta says
Those are just darling. Thanks for the the tutorial!
Melynda@Moms Sunday Cafe says
These are adorable!
Elsa says
Those are adorable! I’ve never made them before.
Vicky says
So pretty!
Debmom4ca says
I have had hollyhocks growing in my yard for 11 years and did not know about making dolls with them. I am so glad I saw this post.
Jenn Erickson says
Wow! How incredibly beautiful, magical, and original! I wish we had Hollyhocks around here!
Debbie says
These are so cute. I always loved my Nonnie's holly hocks. Thanks for the reminder! I would love for you to join me for this week's edition of What's On the Menu Wednesday. Mister Linky is up and ready for you.
[email protected] says
It looks so cute 🙂
Ott, A. says
I actually used to make holly hock dolls to play with when I was a my grandmas house in the summertime growing up. I would use bobbie pins to hold them together. But they look really cute on top of your cupcake.
HoosierHomemade says
Those are just darling! I've never seen a hollyhock made in a little doll! Super idea!
Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Cupcake Tuesday! I hope you stop back next wk too!
Remember! The Cupcake Challenge starts August 3rd!
~Liz
Brenda says
That is SO beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Melinda says
Oh my! Those hollyhock dolls brought back memories! I made them as a child – but had forgotten how! I never knew you could eat them though – how sweet those cupcakes are!
KatiePerk says
These are precious!
Felicia says
Gorgeous!! I remember playing with Holly Hock Dolls!
Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife says
that could not be any cuter! 🙂
Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet says
THose are absolutely adorable! 😀