These delicious Shark Cupcakes are great for ocean-themed birthday parties, Fourth of July barbecues and Shark Week gatherings! They use boxed cake mix with a tasty homemade frosting, decorated with scary edible sharks. Shark cupcakes are fun to make and eat!
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These Shark Cupcakes are guaranteed to be a total hit at summer birthday parties, Fourth of July barbecues and as a treat during shark week. They are a great dessert for sea creature and ocean parties and one that the kids will surely get a kick out of, just like they do our mermaid cupcakes.
This easy recipe uses a box of cupcake mix to make the cupcakes, which are frosted with an incredible homemade cream cheese frosting and then decorated with your choice of fun shark shapes and fins. Complete the look with sugary red and white sprinkles to mimic a shark attack.
*The most timely part of this recipe is making the decorative candy shark toppers so make sure to plan for that part in advance. I usually do this the night before and it takes about 30 minutes to prepare candy toppers for 24 cupcakes.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes and candy shark decorations you need:
- Boxed cake mix
- White candy melts: to make edible shark cupcake toppers. Fondant can also be used.
- Red crystal sprinkles: to make blood
- White shimmer sprinkles: the make foamy waves
For the frosting you need:
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)
- Vanilla extract
Tools Needed
To make these shark cupcakes you need:
- Shark fin silicone molds: I use these ones to make a variety of sharks and shark fins.
- Electric hand mixer for the frosting.
- Cupcake tin, standard size.
- Cupcake liners: I like blue liners to go with the theme but any color will do.
- Piping bag and piping tips: I use a reusable piping bag with screw on tips similar to this one. It's so much easier to work with piping tips that screw into place and are secure.
- Food coloring: gel food coloring is best to use when making icing because it doesn't add liquid to it. If you only have liquid food coloring, that is okay- just don't use too much!
How To Make Shark Week Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to the temperature indicated on the box of cupcake mix (usually 350° Fahrenheit). Line the muffin tin with muffin liners. Make the cupcake batter as indicated on the package and fill each liner. Bake in the preheated oven for the time suggested on the box, usually 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the oven when done and place on a workspace to decorate. Let cool for at least 15 minutes before frosting.
- While the cupcakes bake, make the shark fins and sharks using the candy melts. You can also do this step the night before, as it will take time to make all of the sharks. Prepare the candy melts according to the instructions on the package and fill each shark in the silicone mold. Let cool for a few minutes in the fridge then remove edible sharks from the molds. Continue until you have as many as you need.
- Make the frosting by combining room temperature butter, room temperature cream cheese and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Using the electric hand mixer, beat on low speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar 2 cups at a time and continue to beat on low speed until smooth. Add the blue food coloring (enough to make the hue you desire) and mix until the color is evenly incorporated into the frosting.
- Select the piping tip you'd like to use and secure it to the piping bag. Fill the piping bag halfway with frosting. You may need to frost the cupcakes in batches depending on the size of the piping bag. Twist the top where the frosting ends and hold securely while squeezing the frosting onto each cupcake.
- Decorate each cupcake with the edible sharks and red and white sprinkles. The white sprinkles can be poured near the sharks so that they look like foam from waves and the red can sprinkled around the cupcake to look like blood.
- Serve within a few hours or store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Variations
- Stuff your cupcakes with red sprinkles or strawberry jam to make a shark attack explosion, like I do with these Fourth of July cupcakes.
- Forget about the blood and make a little less scary by using only white sprinkles and edible sharks.
- Dye the cupcake batter blue or red, or use a different flavor such as chocolate.
- Use shark fin cupcake toppers instead of making edible sharks and fins if you're short on time.
- Make your favorite frosting recipe if you have one in place of my cream cheese frosting. Either way they will be delicious!
- Add various sea creatures, like fish and turtles, to the ocean of frosting.
Recipe Tips
- Plan accordingly to prepare the candy sharks. This takes about 30-60 minutes depending on how many you're making. It can be done the night before or even a few days before.
- Fondant and candy melts are both really simple to work with when making candy molds. Only use regular chocolate as a last resort as it won't hold the shape as well and melts easily.
- The cupcakes can also be made a day in advance (don't frost them). Store unfrosted cupcakes in the fridge, then a few hours before the party make the frosting and decorate them. This will save you time the day of your party!
- Don't try to dye your white candy melts gray or black to look like a real shark. The candy melts will change texture and appearance.
Yes! Use the same ingredients but place the edible shark candies all around the cake and sprinkle it with red and white sprinkles. You can frost the cake with a knife instead of the piping bag to create a smooth look.
White chocolate also works to make candy molds. You can even dye the white chocolate using black food gel to make a gray color. White chocolate will need a little longer to harden and melt if left out in the heat, so keep this in mind.
Do not add food coloring to the white candy melts. It will cause the melted candy to lose it's smooth texture and you'll be left with chunky, semi-soft candy to work with.
Cupcakes are best eaten fresh the day they are made. But they can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store them in the fridge in a covered container.
Recipe
Shark Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
Frosting
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 8 cups confectioner's sugar
- blue food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to the temperature indicated on the box of cupcake mix (usually 350°F). Line the muffin tin with muffin liners. Make the cupcake batter as indicated on the package and fill each liner. Bake in the preheated oven for the time suggested on box, usually 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the oven when done and place on a workspace to decorate. Let cool for 15 minutes before frosting.
- While the cupcakes bake, make the shark fins and sharks using the candy melts. Prepare the candy melts according to the instructions on the package and fill each mold. Let cool for a few minutes in the fridge then remove the candy sharks from the mold. Continue until you have as many as you need. (This step can be done in advance as it will take time to make all of the sharks.)
- Make the frosting by combining butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl. Beat on low speed with an electric mixer until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar 2 cups at a time and continue to beat until smooth. Add the blue food coloring and mix until the color is evenly incorporated into the frosting.
- Secure your piping tip to the piping bag. Fill the piping bag halfway with frosting. Twist the piping bag closed and hold securely while squeezing the frosting onto each cupcake.
- Decorate each cupcake with the edible sharks and red and white sprinkles. The white sprinkles can be poured near the sharks so that they look like foam from waves and the red can sprinkled around the cupcake to look like blood.
- Serve within a few hours or store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Amy Liu Dong says
It is such a unique cupcake design, looks so yummy. This cupcake will definitely be an instant favorite.
Gloria says
Super cute cupcakes. These would be a hit at any birthday party for sure. I will make some for my grandkids.
Leslie says
I love how fun this recipe is and I also love your suggestion of having these on the 4th of July! I think that's a recipe idea that will be a big hit this year!
Tammy says
What a fun and festive summer cupcake for themed birthdays! This looks so moist and delicious too!
Colleen says
These cute cupcakes are going to be such a fun thing to do with our grandkids. Thanks for sharing!
Dani says
Not only was the recipe easy to follow, but I also loved how the use of frosting and candy transformed ordinary cupcakes into adorable little sharks. The cupcakes themselves were moist and delicious, making them a hit with both kids and adults alike. Whether you're hosting a beach party or simply looking for a playful dessert idea, these Shark Attack Cupcakes are definitely worth a try.
Dennis says
I made these with my granddaughter, not only did she enjoy making them, but we all really enjoyed eating them! They were a big hit with our family!
Dee says
Another fun recipe to enjoy making with the kiddos. You come up with such fun and exciting ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Hayley Dhanecha says
What a fun recipe and cute cupcake design, can't wait bake these cupcakes for my little niece whos birthday is this month!
Ramona says
I have never made cupcakes like this and now seeing this recipe I’m convinced I should! These look super colourful and delicious, thank you for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to try them out!
Juyali says
This was so fun to make with kiddos! A total hit. They turned out just like the pictures. so cute. Thanks!!