# 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 Steps:
01 - Preheat 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.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Mix just until combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cupcakes completely.
06 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla. Add milk as needed to reach a fluffy, spreadable consistency. Tint with blue gel food coloring.
07 - Divide fondant and tint portions with desired gel food coloring. Shape small ovals for fish bodies and flatten slightly. Shape tiny triangles for tails and fins, attaching with a dab of water.
08 - Use edible black marker or a tiny brush with black food coloring to create eyes on each fish. Let toppers air-dry on parchment paper.
09 - Frost cooled cupcakes with blue buttercream, swirling to resemble water. Place a fondant fish topper on each cupcake.
