There’s nothing to fear from these stealthy sharks, whose paper fins peek out from waves of blue buttercream. Alongside is a cupcake made to resemble a sandy dune, with graham-cracker crumbs and a paper parasol.

　　

Ingredients

　　

Make sharks

Step 1

Cut out fin shapes from blue construction paper or card stock (one for each cupcake). Tint half of the Swiss meringue buttercream (page 304) blue with gel-paste food color. Using a small offset spatula, frost a dozen cupcakes, swirling and swooping into small peaks to resemble waves. Just before serving, press paper fins into frosting.

　　

make sand dunes

Step 2

Frost the remaining dozen cupcakes with untinted buttercream, smoothing into dome shapes. Place graham-cracker crumbs in a small bowl. Dip each cupcake into crumbs, coating completely. Just before serving, insert a paper drink umbrella into each cupcake.

　　Martha Stewart's Cupcakes