Chocolate Transfers for Cakes

Chocolate transfers are edible cake decorations made by tracing a picture or pattern with melted chocolate or candy melts. Once the design hardens, it can be placed on a frosted cake, cupcake, cookie cake, or dessert.

This page is part of the Kids Cake Decorating Ideas section and connects with cake decorating patterns, frozen buttercream transfers, and creative kitchen activities.

Chocolate transfers are made much like a buttercream transfer, but instead of using buttercream frosting, you use melted chocolate or candy melts. The chocolate image is then chilled or frozen until firm and added to a frosted cake.

What Are Chocolate Transfers?

A chocolate transfer is a picture or shape made from melted chocolate or candy melts. You place a pattern under wax paper, trace the design with chocolate, fill in the colors, chill the design, and then move the finished chocolate decoration to a cake or cupcake.

This method works well for simple pictures, butterflies, frogs, flowers, letters, numbers, shapes, cupcake toppers, and cake accents.

Supplies Needed

How to Make Chocolate Transfers

Use this quick visual guide to see the chocolate transfer process from pattern to finished design.

1. Choose a Pattern

Find a picture, coloring page, or cake decorating pattern you would like to use. Simple designs with clear outlines work best for beginners.

2. Cover the Pattern With Wax Paper

Place wax paper or parchment paper over the image. Tape the pattern and wax paper down so they do not slide while you trace.

3. Melt the Candy Melts

Melt the candy melts in the colors you want to use. Spoon the melted chocolate into a disposable pastry bag or small freezer bag. Work carefully and quickly so the chocolate does not harden before you finish the design.

4. Outline the Design

Use melted chocolate to trace the outline of the pattern. You can use a decorating bag with a small tip, or you can use a clean food-safe paintbrush for thicker outlines.

5. Fill In the Colors

Fill in the design with the colors you want. Smooth small areas with a clean food-safe paintbrush, small spatula, knife, or clean fingertip.

Chill and Strengthen the Transfer

Place the chocolate transfer in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until it is firm. You can also make chocolate transfers ahead of time and store them flat in freezer bags.

To make the transfer stronger, add a layer of melted candy melts or chocolate over the back of the chilled image. Place it in the freezer again until firm. When you place the transfer on the cake, the backing layer will be underneath and the design will show on top.

Place the Transfer on a Cake

When the chocolate transfer is firm, gently peel it away from the wax paper and place it on a frosted cake, cupcake, cookie cake, or dessert. If the design is thin or delicate, move it carefully with a spatula.

After the transfer is on the cake, add borders, sprinkles, frosting dots, or other finishing details.

Important Mirror Image Tip

The chocolate transfer image will be flipped when you place it on the cake. If your design includes words, letters, numbers, or direction-specific details, print the pattern in reverse before tracing it.

You can use this same transfer method with buttercream icing instead of melted chocolate by making a frozen buttercream transfer.

Chocolate Accents

You do not always need a full picture. You can also use chocolate transfers to make simple chocolate accents, swirls, shapes, letters, flowers, hearts, or cupcake toppers.

Paintbrush Method

Instead of using a disposable pastry bag, you can use a clean food-safe paintbrush to paint the outline of your image. Then add details with black candy melts or pipe black frosting.

Place the finished chocolate transfer in the freezer for several hours if needed. When you are ready to decorate, place the image on top of a frosted cake and peel the wax paper off carefully. Then add any extra details you would like.

Chocolate Transfer Video Tutorial

Use Chocolate Transfers On

Chocolate transfers are helpful when kids want a shaped decoration, picture, topper, or accent that can be made ahead and placed on a cake, cupcake, cookie cake, or dessert.

More Cake Decorating Ideas

Try these related cake decorating pages next to practice patterns, transfers, frosting designs, and beginner decorating skills.

Chocolate Transfers FAQ

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