A super cute animal cupcake for kids, these Narwhal Cupcakes pay homage to the unicorn of the sea!

Narwhal Cupcakes Recipe

Are your kids obsessed with unicorns? 

Let me introduce you to the unicorn of the sea: the narwhal.

The narwhal lives in the chilly Arctic waters of northern Canada, Russia and Greenland, and it’s defining feature is a large “tusk” that bears a magical similarity to a unicorn horn. It’s closest living relative is the beluga whale.

My kids did not believe me when I told them about narwhals until I showed them about 14 Youtube videos proving their existence. It’s a less scary alternative during Shark Week for squeamish kids that still allows them to get in on the ocean-themed fun!

These cupcakes are made super easy with a boxed cupcake mix – but we do make everything else from scratch, because boxed frosting is a no-go in my house.

The fondant tails need to be prepared the night before, but other than that, these cupcakes are low-maintenance and super easy to make.

If you want, you can use candy eyes instead of piping on the little Kawaii-style eyes.

Today’s cupcake recipe is part of a blog hop with some of my favorite bloggers! We’re all sharing delicious cupcake recipes today – so be sure to check out:

Houseful of Nicholes – Red Velvet Cupcakes
How Was Your Day – Elegant Champagne Cupcakes
Kiss My Tulle – Doctored Up Cake Mix Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Someday I’ll Learn – Coffee Cupcakes
Sugar Spice and Glitter – White Chocolate Cupcakes

Narwhal Cupcake Ingredients

Narwal Fondant Tails

• 1 package of blue fondant
• 1 Whale Tail cut out
• 1/2 C powdered sugar 

For the Narwal Cupcakes:

• 1 box of french vanilla cake mix cake mix
• 3 large eggs room temp
• 1/2 C of softened unsalted sweet cream butter
• 1 C whole milk
• 1TBSP pure vanilla extract
• Sky Blue gel food coloring 

For the Cupcake frosting:

• 2 C unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 5 C powder sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 6-10 TBSP heavy whipping cream
• Sky blue, soft pink and black gel food coloring 
• 1 package of unicorn horn royal icing transfers found at Hobby Lobby

Makes 18 cupcakes.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Cutting board
• fondant rolling pin
• Exacto knife
• White cupcake liners
• Cupcake tray
• 1 medium ice cream scooper
• 1 disposable piping bag with medium round tip
• 2 disposable piping bag with a #3 piping tip

How to Make Narwhal Cupcakes

For the fondant tails (prepare the night before):

Sprinkle powdered sugar onto cutting board and roll fondant into 1/4 inch thickness

Cut out the shape of the Whale Tale

Allow to dry out overnight

For the cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 
Line muffin pan with the white cupcake liners
In a medium bowl, add the cake mix, butter, milk, and vanilla extract and stir until combined
Mix in a few drops of the blue food coloring into the cake batter 
Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 way full
Bake in the oven for about 18-20 minutes. 
Pull out the cupcakes and allow to cool before frosting.

For the Frosting:

Using a stand mixer, combine all ingredients and mix on medium speed.

Mix until you see stiffed peaks in your frosting.

Once the frosting is made, split it into 3 bowls

Scoop about 1 C of the frosting into one bowl and add in a black food coloring

Scoop about 1/2 C of the frosting into the second bowl and add in a few drops of pink food coloring

Mix in a few drops of the sky blue gel food coloring into the remaining frosting

Scoop about 2 C of blue frosting into the medium round tip

Scoop the black frosting into one #3 tip piping bag

Scoop the pink frosting into the other #3 piping bag

Using the ice cream scooper, scoop some blue frosting onto the cupcakes

Place a “Unicorn horn” into the top center of the frosting

Using the black frosting pipe out a smile

Using the pink frosting pipe two dots for the cheeks

Using the medium round tip, pipe the whales “flippers” on the side by piping a small dollop on both sides

Stick the tail into the top back of the frosting

Enjoy!

Pin this Super Cute Narwhal Cupcake recipe to surprise your kids:

Grab your free printable for our easy Narwhal Cupcake recipe:

I hope your kids adore this super simple and sweet cupcake recipe!

For more cute animal-inspired treats for kids, check out our Ladybug OREOS tutorial or our Cute and Easy Owl Cupcakes recipe.