Cute sea creature cupcakes even amateur bakers can make

These cute sea turtle and crab cupcakes are perfect for any pool party and really easy to make in bulk.

The candy aisle of most grocery stores will have all the gummy candies needed to create these underwater friends, and you can snag candy eyes at stores or online.

Start by frosting your cupcakes. I used bright blue food coloring in my frosting. You can also use buttercream instead of canned frosting if you’d like.

To make the crab, place a candy cherry slice toward the front of a cupcake.

Using clean shears, cut off 2 ends of another cherry slice.

Cut a triangle out of each end to give you the crab claws.

Place the claws next to the crab’s body.

Cut a red spice drop in half.

Press candy eyes into the cut side of each half.

Place the eyes above the crab’s body, and you’re done. Yep, it’s that easy!

For the sea turtle, place a peach ring candy slightly to one side of center on the cupcake.

Cut off the small end of a spearmint leaf candy.

Use your scissors to expose a sticky spot on each side of the large end of a spearmint leaf, then press a candy eye onto each side.

Place the turtle head in front of the peach ring.

Cut another spearmint leaf in half, through the sides.

From each half, cut a curved shape.

Place the long curved pieces at the front of the peach ring for flippers.

Place the smaller oval pieces at the back of the peach ring for flippers.

Cut off the top of a red spice drop, and press the bottom, sticky side down, into the peach ring.

Repeat with the remaining cupcakes for a whole family of candy crabs and turtles.

Sea creature cupcakes recipe

These cute little sea creature cupcake toppers are quick and easy to make. If you are running low on red spice drops from your bag of candy, you can use orange ones for the turtle shells instead.

Yields 24

Prep time: 45 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 24 prepared cupcakes (use the flavored mix of your choice)
• 1 can vanilla frosting
• Food coloring (I used bright blue Wilton)

For the crab cupcakes

• 24 cherry slice candies
• 12 red spice drop candies
• 24 candy eyes

For the turtle cupcakes

• 12 peach ring candies
• 24 spearmint leaf candies
• 24 candy eyes
• 12 red spice drop candies

Directions:

1. While your cupcakes are cooling, dye your frosting to the color of your choice. I went with blue for ocean water.
2. When the cupcakes are cool, use a knife to spread frosting onto each one.
3. To make the crabs, place a candy cherry slice toward the front of each of 12 cupcakes.
4. Cut off the 2 ends of another cherry slice, then cut a triangle out of each end to give you the crab claws. Place the claws next to the crab’s body.
5. Cut a red spice drop in half, press candy eyes into the cut side of each half, and then place the eyes above the crab’s body.
6. For the sea turtles, place a peach ring candy slightly to one side of center on the remaining 12 cupcakes.
7. Cut off the small end of a spearmint leaf candy, use your scissors to expose a sticky spot on each side of the large end of a spearmint leaf, and then press a candy eye onto each side.
8. Place the turtle head in front of the peach ring.
9. Cut another spearmint leaf in half, through the sides, and cut a curved shape from each half.
10. Place the long curved pieces at the front of the peach ring, and the smaller oval pieces at the back of the peach ring for flippers.
11. Cut off the top of a red spice drop, and press the bottom, sticky side down, into the peach ring.

More cute cupcake recipes

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Cactus cupcakes in terra-cotta pots
Cupcakes in disguise: Guacamole-filled molcajetes