Octopus Cupcakes

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5 from 42 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

Octopus cupcakes make your tropical ocean party so easy. Topping the cupcakes with a candy octopus not only makes them super easy but also super cute.

4 octopus cupcakes on a black and white checkered cloth

These octopus cupcakes are perfect for your child’s birthday party, pool party or just because they are fun treat day. They come together quick and easily with a box cake mix and require no decorating skills to create. Perfect for your son’s pirate party or a girl’s mermaid party.


MORE FUN CUPCAKE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Strawberry Milk Cupcake Recipe | Rainbow Colorful Cupcakes | Teddy Bear Cupcakes


What We Love About This Recipe

Fun, whimsical cupcakes do not have to be hard to be a hit. These easy cupcakes are a great way to celebrate a birthday party or summer splash event.

  • 30 Minute Dessert: Easy, quick and adorable.
  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry.
  • Family Friendly: They are so cute no one will be able to resist. Plus it’s easy for the kids to help make.
  • Adaptable: Can make it low-carb or sugar free.
a closeup of 4 octopus cupcakes on a black and white checkered cloth

Ingredient Notes

  • White Cake Mix: Truly, you can use any flavor of cake mix for this recipe, chose your favorite. Also you will need to have the ingredients to prepare per package instructions.
  • Cream Cheese Frosting: Two containers of store bought frosting.
  • Gel Food Coloring: Blue to replicate the ocean.
  • Gummy Octopus: Trolli makes a gummy: Trolli Sour Brite Octopus Gummy
ingredients needed to make octopus cupcakes

Equipment Needed

How to Make Octopus Cupcakes

These are the basic steps for making Octopus cakes. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutritional information.

STEP 1: PREP

First, preheat the oven and line your cupcake tins. Then make cake mix following the instructions on the box. Fill cupcake tins and bake following directions. Allow to cool thoroughly.

STEP 2: FROSTING

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add both containers of cream cheese frosting. Add the blue gel food coloring, and mix with a mixer until combined and the frosting is colored blue.

STEP 3: DECORATE

Finally, frost the cupcakes and top with the octopus.

Prep and Storage Tips for Octopus Cupcakes

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

You can bake cupcakes up to two days ahead; arrange them (unfrosted) on a baking sheet, wrap the whole sheet with plastic wrap and store at room temperature or in an airtight container. Before you are ready to serve, decorate as described in the recipe card.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

To freeze, arrange unfrosted cupcakes on a baking sheet and wrap the whole sheet in plastic wrap, then in foil. Freeze up to three months. When ready to serve, place in the refrigerator overnight to thaw and then decorate as described in the recipe card below.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE HEALTHIER?

Sugar free or gluten free cake mixes can be used for this recipe to meet your dietary requirements.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE BLUE VELVET CAKE MIX?

Of course, Duncan Hines makes a blue velvet cake mix, use gel food coloring to dye your cake mix blue or create your own recipe.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE USED TO MAKE MINI CUPCAKES?

Indeed, this recipe can make mini cupcakes, simply use the appropriate tin and decorate as usual.

MAKE YOUR OWN OCTOPUS?

Truly it is easy to make your own. For example, use marshmallows for the body and gummy worms for the tentacles. Or make your octopus out of fondant. However, the gummy ones are cute and are much easier.

overhead view of 3 octopus cupcakes on a black and white checkered cloth

Expert Tips for Making This Octopus Cupcake Recipe

  • This Recipe Can be Doubled: A great recipe for a crowd.  Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into several cupcake trays before baking.
  • Add Sprinkles: Sea inspired sprinkles with shell add a real fun twist.
  • Fish: Feel free to add gummy fish or sharks to your cupcakes.
  • Variation tip: Sea themed cupcake liners are a fun way to decorate these cupcakes.
  • Alternate ingredient: Add an additional egg to your cake mix to make a more professional mix.

What to Serve with this Unique Cupcake Recipes

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5 from 42 votes

Octopus Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Octopus cupcakes make your tropical ocean party so easy. Topping the cupcakes with a candy octopus not only makes them super easy but also super cute.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 1 white cake mix, plus ingredients from the back of the box
  • 2 cream cheese frosting, 2 containers
  • 12 gel food coloring, drop blue
  • 24 gummies, Octopus

Instructions

  • Prepare the cupcakes according to the directions on the back of the box. After baking, allow them to cool on a wire rack.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add both containers of cream cheese frosting. Add the blue gel food coloring, and mix with a mixer until combined and the frosting is colored blue. If needed, you can add additional food coloring to get the shade desired.
  • Once cupcakes have cooled, add frosting to a piping bag, and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
  • Top each cupcake with a gummy octopus.

Expert Tips

  • This Recipe Can be Doubled: A great recipe for a crowd.  Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split into several cupcake trays before baking.
  • Add Sprinkles: Sea inspired sprinkles with shell add a real fun twist.
  • Fish: Feel free to add gummy fish or sharks to your cupcakes.
  • Variation tip: Sea themed cupcake liners are a fun way to decorate these cupcakes.
  • Alternate ingredient: Add an additional egg to your cake mix to make a more professional mix.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Cupcakes
Cuisine: American

This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe.  I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.

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6 thoughts on “Octopus Cupcakes”

  1. 5 stars
    This is so easy to make and really cute! Highly recommended! For sure, I will have this again! Thanks a bunch for sharing! Loved it!

    Reply

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