Shark Week Cupcakes!!
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s Shark Week.
And thank goodness. It arrived in the nick of time, right on the heels of the Olympics. The boys really needed something to wean them off the hours and hours of thrilling television. What better than watching people get their faces and limbs eaten off?
Personally, I am not a very sharkey person.
We went to Destin for vacation this Summer, and one day there were tons of fish and seaweed and stuff in the ocean. I went ahead and ventured in because it was super hot. Plus, I was wearing a blue maternity one piece, so I kinda felt obligated to loll around in the water like a whale.
Anyways.
I happened to look down (making sure none of the tiny fish were trying to nibble my toes or whatever they do) and I saw what looked exactly like a shark, only it was like a foot long.
I hauled my pregnant butt out of there, fist in mouth, fighting the urge to scream “SHARK!! SHARK!!!”, which would surely send the beach into such a frenzy I was not sure I’d be forgiven.
There were a few people sitting near the water who saw me splashing and frantically running out of the water, I’m sure they thought I was having some type of bathroom emergency or something.
My family tried to tell me that those kind of tiny sharks don’t hurt people, but whatevs. It it’s big enough to bite off a finger, we don’t belong in the water together.
Basically, that is all my experience with sharks, besides Soul Surfer, and that is quite enough if you know what I’m saying.
From here on out, I’m sticking to fake sharks. Made of food.
These cupcakes are super duper easy and so much fun. Perfect for any Summer or beachy themed party.
Start with any cupcakes. And frosting.
You’ll want to stripe your piping bag before filling with frosting.
This is most likely the worst photo of all time, but hopefully it gets the point across.
You need to put your piping bag in a tall glass to hold it open, then using a paintbrush, “paint” stripes of food color gel along the sides of the bag.
I used baby blue and royal blue, alternating.
Fill the bag with white frosting and pipe away!!
The result is this pretty blue swirly look.
(I know you’re going to ask, so here it is –I used a large open star tip for piping. You can buy one HERE)
The fins were totally easy.
I used an Airhead candy (love them because they are pliable, but still sturdy and taste better than fondant), and cut it as directed above.
I then coated it in grey candy melts. I actually used white candy melts mixed with a drop of black candy color.
(when coloring candy melts, you HAVE to use CANDY, not FOOD coloring. Candy coloring is OIL based and not water based, so it won’t make your candy seize up. You can buy candy coloring at your local craft store, or HERE)
Just pop the toppers on top of your frosting and you’re all set!!
For a scary twist, fill your cupcakes with red preserves.
I used cherry and it worked great!!
Just cut a hole in the top of your cupcake, spoon the preserves in, and put the cake “lid” back on top. Frost like normal.
If you’re interested in these adorable liners (isn’t the chevron so great?), you can buy them at Sweets and Treats Boutique.
Enjoy and have a happy Tuesday!!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I realize you could be doing more important things with your time. Like watching the news or washing socks. I hope you stay awhile. Much more fun than socks, I promise. 
I like the idea of using airheads instead of fondant, I think they taste a lot better.
People and fish do not belong in the same areas. That is my rule for life.
I won’t go and invade their home, as long as they stay out of mine.
And really it would be pretty scary if a fish straight walked in my front door, so I am not chancing fate and officially staying out of the ocean.
BUT these cupcakes certainly are allowed in my house because their fins are made from airheads. That’s my rule. Airhead fins = Welcome Home.
How fun are these cupcakes?! :) LOVE the striped frosting trick and they are SO COOL filled with red preserves!! :)
They look like so much fun! :D
The last time I was in a lake was in 1988. I didn’t stay in there very long because the sunfish were nipping at my feet!
I will not try the ocean at all. I can only imagine what would be nipping, or biting or devouring my feet there!
For reals? Mini sharks? What the heck!! If it were me, I’d totally be vacating the water screaming “Shark, Sharrkkkk… SHAAARRRRKKKK!” in a frenzied panic. And if I were pregnant, I might’ve added something like ‘baby-eating’ in there too.
Any idea where this shark week originated from? I’ve never heard of it until now. Is it a US thing, or worldwide? I’m intrigued.
And the cupcakes look great. So fun. Love the striped frosting. The shark tails look fab too and totally digging the inner gore. Heh!
Thank you for this! I was trying to think of an easy way to make these for my son’s party this weekend. I’m too busy to make fondant.
Shark week! Shark week! I won’t even get in my bathtub for the next few days ’cause I’ll be fearing toothy sharks for REALZ!!
I LOVE your technique for the swirly-colored frosting, and I’ll totally be tapping some prickly pear preserves to make my cupcakes extra carnage-y on the insides.
Shark week! Shark week! I can’t wait to whip these up to celebraaaaaaate!!
BAHAHAHA i love this! all your stories are hillarious but this one might be my favorite–it’s great when i laugh out loud at the computer and get awkward looks from co-workers!
you’re way too brilliantly creative i love these cupcakes! the inside makes it all!!! you are great!!
What is the frosting recipe that you used?
P.S. These are adorable! Love them but hate sharks.
I just learned about this frosting coloring technique this week and now i’m seeing it everywhere… on the front of a magazine in the checkout and on your site! It’s adorable. My family just discovered and loves the movie Soul Surfer, it’s great. My son did a shark birthday 2 birthday’s ago, but these would have been cute.
Thanks for sharing the stripe technique…love that! Your cupcakes look great and the fin is perfect!
[...] shark week cupcakes with blood red fruit filling. /* [...]
I make my fondant with marshmallow fluff and icing sugar, so it tastes better than regular fondant, but not quite as good as airheads.
Where do you buy the black candy colour, I can only ever find the Wilton 4 pack of primary colours and whatever other colour is in there, green probably.
SHARK WEEEEEKK!!! So exciting. I can’t get over how awesome this is.
The shark week commercial where the tv is dripping and JAWS totally jumps out of the screen FREAKS me out.
Is it sick and wrong that I love the fact that the centers are bloody? That’s the best!
ps i would have been hysterical if I saw even a 2 inch shark in the water. I give you mad props!
Ohmaigawdddd! These are adorable. And I feel like each year, Shark Week is the same people talking about their experiences or showing off their huge, jagged scars. How many times do we need to see it? Forreals. These cupcakes, on the other hand, are a delightful thing to see! So freaking cute and I LOVE the “scary cherry” in the middle. I definitely would be excited to watch reruns of old Australian men showing off their shark bites if I had a plate of these in front of me.
These are amazing! I love that you filled them, and I agree: Airheads are far superior to fondant.
Bwah ha ha! You so make me laugh. Thank you!
You`re too adorable! I love how you used the airheads.
love these!! The red preserves on the inside are a great touch. And yes, I saw soul surfer and can never go in the ocean again.
These are SOOOOO Coool! Love ‘em!
xoxo
Joy
I love these! I’m going to send this link to my sister who loves Shark Week! Thanks for sharing.
AHAHA! Love the red insides! What fun! I’ve never gotten the appeal of shark week (maybe because I’ve never watched any of it?) but these cupcakes are something I can get behind.
These are totally adorable!
How cute!!! Yay shark week!
Well, except for the Swedish fish, the fins & the bloody insides, you could always use them for Smurf Week…
;)
Shark Week is so five minutes ago. I wish they would start having whale week, because whales are far cooler than sharks! Celebrating shark week is totally in style and cool, though. Especially the way you do it!
I never thought to use airheads instead what a good idea. I love they are filled with fruit filling I know the boys would Love these. We watch shark week every year its their little tradition. & I’d have ran too.
I love your creativity, your so neat and polished!! I enjoy your blog so much!
I can’t believe that you almost got attacked my a mini-shark and no-one came to rescue you!! You poor thing. Hopefully you took care of yourself and had a nice dinner out after your aquatic battle. PS — Those swirls are SO GORGEOUS!! I am leaving your page up just so I can look at them all day.
Our rule over here is southern Cali is you see dolphins and your good to go. No sharks will be coming around anytime soon. As for me I do not like fish of any kind and I only go in the ocean up to my waist if even its pretty much cold year round and really bad for your hair yuck! But ADORABLE cupcakes gonna make them for my co workers who are also fans of shark week!
You made it to LOLcats!! Your cupcakes are on the “My Food Looks Funny” site for Icanhazcheesburger. Congrats!
This is the only kind of shark I want to be encountering!!
Ha! Caleb’s bday is on Sunday! this is THE RECIPE! He’ll love the “blood”!
[...] I made cupcakes!! [...]
These are absolutely amazing!! You are so creative!
Loved the idea of coloring the piping bag
that inspires me a lot and makes me think of other ideas to do
You are such a creative person
good luck…