1h
PREP TIME
13
INGREDIENTS
SERVINGS: 8
PREPARATION
- 1 Prepare and bake cake mix as per instructions in a greased and lined 22 cm round cake pan. Transfer cake to cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
- 2 Prepare the jelly, with 1 cup of boiling water only. Set aside uncovered until almost set, but still pourable (30-45 minutes approx.).
- 3 Maintaining a 2 cm edge, score a semi-circle and carve out a 3 cm deep portion of one side of the cake. Place this on top of the other side of the cake cut side up, and attach with some vanilla frosting, creating a “sand dune”.
- 4 Generously cover the cake with frosting, and line the ocean “pool” with the frosting also, sealing well.
- 5 Attach the vanilla wafers around the outside of the cake, trimming them randomly to vary the height. Spread a little frosting around the surrounds and decorate with ocean sprinkles.
- 6 Avoiding the ocean section, carefully sprinkle the biscuit sand over the sand dune and around the edges. Position the mermaid tail or tails in the soon to be ocean. Gently pour the almost set jelly into the ocean cavity until almost full. Refrigerate until set firm.
- 7 Position the palm trees on the sand dune with the towel and mermaid sugar figurine, if using.
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8
To Make Fondant Decorations
Reserve some of the white fondant and use remaining fondant and food colouring to create 3 different coloured fondants (note a little goes a long way).
To make mermaid tails- Use cornflour to dust your silicone mould and tap out the excess. Then take small amounts of each colour and randomly press into the mould repeatedly pressing and pushing and cleaning off excess with your fingers. Slowly peel the mould away and lay the tail on baking paper (you can twist the tail left or right or leave straight). Gently push a lolly pop stick into the thickest part so it is hidden and allow to air dry for at least 24 hours. (You could YouTube “how-to" if more instructions are needed)
Alternatively, you can purpose Mermaid Tail Lollipops like these ones from Big W
To make fondant towels- Roll the three colours and some of the white fondant into 4 thin lengths. Position a white length on either side of the 3 colours or in any design you like. Using a rolling pin, flatten out to join colours and trim to the size towel you prefer. Use a sharp pointed knife to create a fringe on your towels. Set aside with the tails to air dry for at least 24 hours.