Description
Sour Octopus Cupcakes are bright, fun, and full of fruity-sweet flavor! These soft, colorful cupcakes are topped with swirled frosting and finished with a sour gummy octopus on top. Perfect for kids’ parties or ocean-themed events, they’re as fun to look at as they are to eat!
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
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1 box vanilla or funfetti cake mix
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Ingredients listed on box (usually eggs, oil, water)
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional boost in flavor)
For the frosting:
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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3-4 cups powdered sugar
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2-3 tablespoons milk
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Food coloring (blue, teal, or your choice for ocean effect)
Toppings:
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12 sour gummy octopus candies (like Trolli Octopus Gummies)
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Sprinkles, edible glitter, or crushed graham crackers (optional for decoration)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
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Prepare cake batter according to box instructions. Stir in vanilla extract if using.
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Fill liners about 2/3 full with batter.
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Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
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Make the frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well. Add milk and vanilla and continue mixing until light and fluffy. Adjust consistency with more milk or sugar as needed.
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Add food coloring and swirl or mix to your desired ocean color.
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Frost cupcakes using a piping bag or spoon.
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Top each cupcake with a sour gummy octopus. Add sprinkles or crushed graham crackers for a beachy look if desired.
Notes
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Want multicolored ocean frosting? Use two shades of blue in your piping bag for a swirl effect!
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These cupcakes are best served the same day, especially if using gummy toppings.
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You can also make these mini-size for party platters—just reduce baking time to 10–12 minutes.