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These Easy Mermaid Cupcakes will be sure to make a splash at any birthday celebration! Decorating them is easy and fun – perfect for kids and adults alike. 

cupcakes in scaled cupcake wrappers with candy mermaid tails on top.


Easy Mermaid Cupcakes

Ursula from Disney’s The Little Mermaid said it best, “Life’s full of tough choices”. Especially when it comes to making a new recipe for me. I had so many mermaid cupcake ideas and didn’t know what flavor cake mix to use, or if I should add candy melts, sprinkles, and so much more… 

And you know I like to make things easy for you, especially if you’re preparing for a party. That’s why these mermaid tail cupcakes start with a cake mix and finished with mermaid tails and other fun sprinkles.

As for the frosting, store-bought works or my easy vanilla frosting recipe which I used as pictured.

Everyone’s going to be snapping pictures of their adorable mermaid tail cupcake! They make the best addition to a mermaid birthday party since they’re so adorable! 

Ingredients needed

  • Cupcakes: you can use a cake mix or follow one of your favorite homemade Cupcake Recipes. I decided to use my  Funfetti Cupcakes recipe because it adds a fun pop of color. 
  • Frosting: I used vanilla buttercream. You can either make your own frosting or if you’re in a hurry, you can use store-bought. 
  • Decoration: You’ll need candy melts, a mold, and sprinkles!

Tools Used

The kit I used is no longer available, but here are some options for you:

process shot of mermaid cupcakes.

How to make mermaid cupcakes

  1. Melt the pink and blue candy melts in two separate microwave-safe bowls until melted and smooth. (Learn how to melt candy without crying!)
  2. Place melted candy into one of the piping bags and snip off the tip. 
  3. Pipe into the mermaid tail molds.
  4. Cool down to room temperature then release them from the mold by turning them upside down.
  5. Frost onto cupcakes with the desired tip from the cupcake kit. 
  6. Top cupcakes with sprinkles and a mermaid tail!

Variations

  • Use gel food coloring for the vanilla frosting to dress up your cupcakes even more
  • Change up the cupcake flavors by using a different cake mix flavor!
cupcakes in scaled cupcake wrappers with candy mermaid tails on top.

Expert tips

  • I like to use paper bowls for easy cleanup when microwaving the candy melts
  • Use your favorite sprinkles, cupcakes, and frosting combinations.

FAQs

Can you freeze cupcakes?

Yes! You can freeze the cupcakes without the frosting in an airtight container. 

How far in advance can you make mermaid tail cupcake toppers?

Make these mermaid cupcakes up to 3 days in advance. 

cupcakes in scaled cupcake wrappers with candy mermaid tails on top.

Easy Mermaid Cupcakes Recipe

5 from 1 vote
These DIY Mermaid Cupcakes have fun toppers and are super easy to make for a birthday party! These are easy cupcakes made with a fun kit!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Yield 12 cupcakes
Serving Size 1 cupcake

Ingredients
 

  • 24 cupcakes baked and cooled (see notes for links)
  • 1 recipe vanilla frosting
  • Blue and pink candy melts
  • Sprinkles
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Instructions

  • Place the pink candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Tip: I like to use paper bowls for easy clean up. Melt in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Place melted candy into one of the piping bags and snip off the tip. Pipe into tail molds, tap molds to settle. Chill to set.
  • Once the pink tails are hardened, release from the mold by turning upside down.
  • Repeat step 1 with the blue candy melts.
  • Frost cupcakes with desired tip from the cupcake kit. (The kit comes with a round tip and a start tip.)
  • Top cupcakes with sprinkles and a mermaid tail.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can use store bought cupcakes or a box mix, or make one of my favorites:
Products I used:

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 281mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

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Last Updated on July 17, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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