Pisces Cupcakes Fish Fondant (Printable Version)

Vanilla cupcakes topped with colorful fondant fish, ideal for zodiac-inspired gatherings and special occasions.

# What You Need:

→ Cupcakes

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk

→ Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Blue gel food coloring

→ Fondant Fish Toppers

14 - 8 ounces white fondant
15 - Gel food coloring in blue, green, orange, and yellow
16 - Edible black marker or black food coloring
17 - Cornstarch for dusting

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, alternating with milk in three additions. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined; do not overmix.
06 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each approximately two-thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely in the tin before frosting.
07 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until smooth. Add milk one tablespoon at a time as needed to achieve a fluffy, spreadable consistency. Tint with blue gel food coloring to desired shade.
08 - Divide white fondant into portions. Tint each portion with gel food coloring in blue, green, orange, and yellow using a toothpick or small tool to blend colors evenly.
09 - Shape small ovals from colored fondant for fish bodies and flatten slightly. Create tiny triangles for tails and fins. Attach fins and tails to bodies using a dab of water. Use edible black marker or a small brush with black food coloring to add eyes.
10 - Place completed fondant fish toppers on parchment paper and allow to air-dry for at least 2 hours before placing on cupcakes.
11 - Frost cooled cupcakes with blue buttercream, swirling the frosting to resemble water waves. Crown each frosted cupcake with a fondant fish topper.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The vanilla cupcakes are tender and buttery, giving you that perfect crumb that holds frosting without crumbling.
  • Fondant work looks intimidating but becomes oddly meditative once you start shaping—your hands learn the rhythm quickly.
  • Every guest will ask how you made the fish toppers, and you'll get to reveal how simple it actually was.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional—cold eggs and cold butter will make your batter look curdled and lumpy, resulting in dense cupcakes.
  • Fondant toppers need time to set; don't assemble them the morning of a party or they'll slide around on fresh frosting like they're ice skating.
  • Gel food coloring is your friend for both frosting and fondant because liquid coloring will make your frosting weep and thin out.
03 -
  • Make the fondant fish the day before and let them air-dry completely in an airtight container—they'll be sturdier and less likely to slide on frosting.
  • Use an offset spatula for frosting cupcakes; it gives you much better control than a knife, and the swirls will look intentional and beautiful.
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