Chef notes
This recipe is beyond adorable and totally Instagram worthy! But, the best part is these cute cupcakes are not difficult to make.
Technique tip: Make the cupcakes "rainbow" by dividing the cake batter into 3-4 colors alternating colors as you fill the cones.
Swap option: Swap out water in the cake batter for orange juice, pineapple juice or lemonade to give the cake a citrusy flavor.
Special equipment: Mermaid tail silicone mold (available at baking supply stores or Amazon).
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup blueberries, smashed slightly
- 1-2 drops blue gel food coloring
- 12 flat-bottomed ice cream cones
- Candy melts in pink, purple, blue and green
- 2 cups buttercream frosting (recipe above)
- Sprinkles
- Edible gold luster dust (optional)
Preparation
For the buttercream frosting:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment (or a bowl using a hand mixer) beat together butter, powdered sugar and salt on low until blended. Then, increase speed to medium and beat for 3-4 minutes. Add vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk or heavy cream and beat on high for 1 minute. Add more milk or heavy cream for desired consistency.
For the cupcakes:
1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Place 12 ice cream cones upright into a muffin tin.
2.Whisk eggs and oil together in a bowl. Add cake mix, vanilla extract and water, and mix until there are no lumps. Fold in blueberries to create a swirl.
3.Pour half of the cake batter into a bowl and tint with blue gel food coloring. Fill cones with batter alternating between the tinted and non-tinted batter until about half of the way full.
4.Bake in the oven for 14-16 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
For the mermaid tails:
Melt candy melts using a double boiler method, or heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then continue heating for 5-10 seconds at a time and stirring until smooth.
Pour melted candy into silicone mold and place in freezer for 6-8 minutes to set (create a watercolor look by pouring different colors into molds and swirling them together). Continue this process until you've created as many mermaid tails as desired.
To decorate:
Once cupcakes are cool, frost cupcakes with buttercream and press mermaid tail into center of cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles and luster dust, if using. Place in refrigerator for a few minutes to set up frosting.
