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How to Make Shark Cupcakes {Shark Week Recipe!}

Are you ready for Shark Week?! Let us show you how to make shark cupcakes that are perfect for your viewing party, birthday, or for any special sharp-toothed fish enthusiast! These cupcakes have a cute DIY fin topper too! 

Shark week Cupcakes with fin, blue and purple frosting in paper cupcake wrapper

When I was younger, I was obsessed with animals, nature, and the ocean and spent a lot of time reading all the Time-Life books I could get my hands on- The Sea was one of my favorites. 

The Sea Life Nature Library book by Time

Can you believe I FOUND this?? If you are over 40, then you know these books!

This was our internet.  

Anyway, when I was 8, I begged my father to take me to see the movie Jaws. I was SO excited to see it and had absolutely no clue what was in store. 

The movie scarred me for good and I can tell you with certainty, that I never swam in the ocean again. Don't misunderstand- the ocean is my favorite place, but the only thing that goes into the water are my toes.

In fact, it took a great amount of courage for me to step foot on my first cruise because of the belief if the ship ever sank, then sharks would eat me of course. 

Discovery Channel Shark Week

Enter Shark Week on the Discovery Channel and I've been hooked ever since it debuted in 1987. I am obsessed with this show and have made it a point to tune in every single year to learn all about the fish that scares me the most

Shark cupcakes with ocean blue frosting

Shark Cupcakes Are Great For Shark Week or Themed Birthday Party!

Are you having a Shark Week party? These delicious cake mix cupcakes are perfect to have on the treat table. They are also a super fun way to celebrate an under-the-sea or sea creature-themed birthday party! 

If you like theme party ideas, you may enjoy our post for Top 5 Things You Need For Bob Ross Themed Party,  or our cute flamingo cupcakes

 

Frosting in tubs and in pastry bag for shark cupcakes

 

Ingredients for Shark Cupcakes

To make these fun and delicious cakes you will need 4 simple ingredients:

  1. A box of Funfetti Cake Mix (or your favorite white cake mix)
  2.  Frosting in three colors: blue/aqua, purple, and white (Used Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting)
  3. Fish sprinkles 
  4. Black Fondant– see tip below for a non-edible sharkfin topper option

Fun Fin Tip: If you would like to make your DIY fin topper edible, use fondant. If you want a non-edible version, you can use black construction paper and secure it on a toothpick. If you prefer to just go with a pre-made topper, I found these Shark fin toppers on Amazon!

Tools Needed to Make Cupcakes

shark cupcake prep sprinkles

 

How to make Shark Cupcakes for Shark Week

Prepare cupcakes according to cake mix directions.

Add about ½ cup each color frosting to its own piping bag. You will have 3 bags. 

Snip the end off the piping bags.

Prepare a fourth piping bag with the open star tip at the bottom.

Slide the three other piping bags into the fourth and twist the open ends to force the frosting down into the tip.

shark cupcake prep frosted

Pipe frosting over cupcake in a circular direction working from the inside of the cupcake towards the outer circle and back to the middle to create a peak.

Roll fondant flat and cut into triangles.

Shark Cupcake fondant fin topper

Press one triangle into each cupcake at the peak of the frosting.

Decorate with sprinkles.

shark cupcake prep sprinkles

More shark cupcake ideas

There are many shark cupcake and shark cake ideas! Here are some of our favorites:

  • Last year Baby Shark was all the rage from the Baby Shark song to Baby Shark pajamas. I love the Baby Shark cupcake toppers and birthday decorations! They are so cute! 
  • If you decide to forego the DIY fondant fin, there are so many shark cupcakes toppers to choose from! I've seen shark cupcakes with Oreos, gummy shark cupcakes, and even a whole decorating set for a shark cake and cupcakes! 
  • I LOVE this Shark storage bin! You can use it for decorating, or for playing a birthday game of toss!
Shark Storage Bin

And a great party favor or use for decorating a shark cake is this big bucket of sharks! Perfect real-life-looking toy sharks you can decorate with and then use for playtime!

My family knows how much I love this time of the year when Shark Week starts!  I cannot wait to make these shark cupcakes to celebrate! 

If you make our Shark Cupcake recipe, please help me share the love by sharing on Facebook and pinning to your favorite Pinterest board! 

Shark week Cupcake idea with fin topper

 
We have so many wonderful recipes and helpful tips when it comes to creating delicious meals and scrumptious desserts!

Yield: 12

Shark Cupcakes

Shark week Fin Cupcakes with blue and purple frosting in paper cupcake wrapper

Easy and fun Shark Cupcakes recipe is a perfect treat to share as you celebrate Shark Week! Shark cupcakes are also fun for a themed birthday party too!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 cupcakes from your favorite recipe or boxed mix
  • 2 to 3 cups vanilla frosting in three colors: blue/aqua, purple, and white (Used Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting)
  • Fish sprinkles (Used from Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting in Bright Aqua)
  • Black fondant, or purchased shark fin topper

Instructions

  1. Add about ½ cup each color frosting to its own piping bag. You will have 3 bags.  
  2. Snip the end off the piping bags. 
  3. Prepare a fourth piping bag with the open star tip. 
  4. Slide the three other piping bags into the fourth and twist the open ends to force the frosting down into the tip.
  5. Pipe frosting over cupcake in a circular direction working from the inside of the cupcake towards the outer circle and back to the middle to create a peak.
  6. Roll fondant flat and cut into triangles. 
  7. Press one triangle into each cupcake at the peak of the frosting.
  8. Decorate with sprinkles.

Notes

You will also need:

Large open star tip (Wilton 1M Open Star Piping Tip)

Piping bags

Fish Sprinkles

Fun Shark Week party decorations!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 872Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 512mgCarbohydrates: 132gFiber: 2gSugar: 116gProtein: 6g

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Original post: 7/25/19

Updated post: 7/13/20, 6/30/23

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