How to Make a Mermaid Cake

Before buying a mermaid cake, consider making your own cake with common items found in your kitchen. Mermaids are a popular theme for a child's birthday party, just as their mythical and mysterious appearance makes them a favorite in children's books, movies and television shows. Making your own mermaid cake is not as difficult as you may believe and allows you to personalize the cake. Choose a cake flavor, and begin planning and decorating your own masterpiece.

Things You'll Need

• 13-by-9-inch cake
• Mermaid picture
• Toothpicks
• Cake icing
• Piping bag
• Round icing cake tip
• Small spatula
• Small candies
• Sprinkles

Instructions

1. Bake a cake in a 13-by-9-inch pan. Make the cake according to the recipe or directions on the cake box. Allow the cake to cool completely before you begin decorating.

2. Find a picture of a cartoon mermaid. Look in coloring books, online or sketch your own mermaid on a piece of paper.

3. Cut out the mermaid picture. Place this picture on your cake. Use thumbtacks or toothpicks to hold the picture in place on the cake.

4. Frost the cake around the picture. Remove the mermaid picture. The outline of the mermaid is now on the cake.

5. Use a piping bag filled with black icing and a round cake tip. Trace the outline of the mermaid onto the cake.

6. Begin creating the outlines of the mermaid's body with the black icing. Look at the mermaid picture, and trace the lines for the mermaid's head, tail and seashell bikini.

7. Fill in the mermaid with colorful cake icing. Use a paintbrush or a small spatula to apply icing to the mermaid's body.

8. Apply accents to the mermaid. Add the mermaid's facial features, create the scales on her tail and add details to her bikini and hair. Use everyday items to add the accents, such as small candy, bright sprinkles and ribbon bows.

9. Decorate the rest of the mermaid cake. Use any additional room on the cake to add a message or ocean scenery around the mermaid.

10. Store the cake in the refrigerator to prevent the cake icing from running. Store the cake at at room temperature if you are serving it in less than 24 hours. Keep the cake covered to prevent the icing from crusting over.

Tips & Warnings

• Find an image large enough to cover most of the cake. Use a knife to trim the cake around the mermaid for a mermaid-shaped cake.

References

• Mermaid Cake
• Make a Mermaid Cake
• Sweet! Mermaid Birthday Cake Design