Crab Cupcakes
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These cute crab cupcakes are perfect for any under-the-sea party, beach party, or pool party. Made with gummy candy and toothpicks, they are as easy to make as they are cute.
Summertime is such a fun time of year. I love all the summer-themed desserts like these Frozen Banana Penguins, Patriotic Chocolate Covered Pretzels, and Popsicle Rice Krispies Treats.
The best part about these fun crab cupcakes is that they are so easy to make. No baking required, unless you want to. Grab some store-bought or make your own cupcakes and decorate them with gummy candy to transform them into an under-the-sea-themed cupcake that is perfect for your next summer potluck.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cupcakes – Any flavor. Homemade or Store Bought.
- Frosting – Blue or White would be perfect. You can add crushed graham crackers to a white frosted cupcake to resemble sand.
- Gummy Orange Slices – for the body
- Gum Drops, Spice Drops, or Dots – (orange) for the eyes.
- Peach Rings
- Candy Eyes
Equipment Needed
Toothpicks – cut in half
How to Make Crab Cupcakes
Frost the cupcakes – I used a star tip to pipe frosting onto the cupcakes.
Make the eyes: Use frosting to attach candy eyes to the flat part of an orange gum drop or Dots candy. Then stick a toothpick into each eye.
Make claws: Cut gummy rings or fruit slices in half. Slide each half onto a toothpick.
Assemble the Crab: Using an orange slice as the body, place the claws and eyes on it to form a crab.
Place the gummy crab on top of the frosted cupcake.
Expert Tips
Eyes – vary the eye positions to make some wide-eyed or cross-eyed crabs for extra fun.
Sandy Beach – Crush graham crackers or Vanilla wafers to make sand and sprinkle it over the cupcakes
Assemble the crab on a flat work surface before setting them onto the cupcake.
Variations
Pirate Cupcakes – Add a pirate hat cupcake topper to the crab for a fun pirate theme
Pearls – Add pearl sprinkles to make a treasure chest type of cupcakes
FAQ’s
Can I Make these Ahead of Time?
Yes. Assemble the crabs and frost the cupcakes, but don’t put the crabs on the cupcakes until the day you serve them. Store each at room temperature in an airtight container.
Do I Need to Use Homemade Cupcakes?
No. Feel free to use store-bought cupcakes for this fun idea.
Can I Freeze Cupcakes?
You can freeze frosted cupcakes, but it is not recommended to freeze the candy decoration.
More Cupcakes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
This will make about 18 cupcakes, but you can easily double or triple for more.
Printable
Crab Cupcakes
Equipment
- toothpicks cut in half with scissors
- Scissors
Ingredients
- 18 cucpakes prebaked and cooled
- 16 oz. frosting blue preferred or craush graham crackers to make sand and sprinkle over white frosting
- 32 peach rings
- 32 gum drops or Dots candy – orange
- 32 candy eyes
- 18 orange slice gummies
Instructions
- Frost the cupcakes – I used a star tip to pipe frosting onto the cupcakes.
- Make the eyes: Use frosting to attach candy eyes to the flat part of an orange gum drop or Dots candy. Then stick a toothpick into each eye.
- Make claws: Cut gummy rings or fruit slices in half. Slide each half onto a toothpick.
- Assemble the Crab: Using an orange slice as the body, place the claws and eyes on it to form a crab.
- Place the gummy crab on top of the frosted cupcake
