My daughter has left the single digits forever, and officially turned 10 last month. Ever since she was a baby, I would hear the adage, “they grow up so fast.” I am not sure I truly comprehended it until now. How could 10 years have gone by already? Every year, I let my kids design their own birthday cake and then I bring their design to life. These are fleeting moments, and ones I really cherish. This year it was all about mermaids. Actually, it was going to be unicorns and mermaids, but as all little girls do, she changed her mind. 😉 She had some grand design ideas, and I had to remind her that I am not a professional, lol! I agreed to make one 3D mermaid because sculpting faces is not my thing. She sketched a very girly underwater cake, and it was great fun bringing her design to life. She also made up a mad lib all about mermaids for the kids, came up with mermaid crafts, and put together some really cute gift bags. It was an awesome way to bring in the double digits! 😀
The cake is a homemade chocolate cake, from Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. The icing is also homemade, and it’s made with real butter (see recipe below). This type of buttercream is more difficult and temperamental to work with than the vegetable shortening variety, but I prefer it, and am willing to live with a few icing cracks and imperfections.
When frosting a cake, frost the top first and then the sides. Place a large amount of icing on top of the cake (you can remove the excess later), to prevent crumbs from mixing with your icing. After icing the top and sides, smooth out with a cake spatula and remove excess icing, and then place the cake under a stove fan and light for about 20 minutes to slightly harden the icing. Afterwards, smooth the cake by using a smooth paper towel (Viva works well). Place the paper towel on one a section at a time, and gently smooth with your hand. Repeat, until the cake is where you want it. I also use the paper towel to smooth the edges, by placing the paper towel on the edge, and gently smoothing from the side to the top. At this point, the cake is ready to decorate. I use a disposable cake box to store the cake in, until it is ready to put the decorations on and time to put on display.
I used spray icing color, instead of pre-coloring the icing. It made a more realistic water color, because I could vary the color in different areas of the cake. The decorations are made out of fondant and gum paste.
- The 3D mermaid is made out of white and red colored fondant, and her tail was made out of a 50/50 mix of fondant and gum paste, in order to keep it pliable and sturdy. I used food safe color dust to color the tail. I used food safe markers for the eyeballs, fondant for the lips, and gum paste for the eyes, which were colored with food safe color dust.
- All the other decorations were made out of gum paste and colored using a variety of food safe color dust. I love using color dust because you can vary the colors and also give added texture to designs.
- I used some candied pearls on the mermaid’s head and in the clam shell.
- I used a gum paste glue to adhere the decorations to each other and the cake (made with 1 Tbsp water and 1/4 tsp. gum paste). I placed all the decorations on the cake a few hours before the party, but got everything ready the night before, including icing the cake.
I look forward to bringing my daughter’s birthday cake to Fiesta Friday #238! Your lovely cohosts this week are Mollie @ The Frugal Hausfrau and Mikaela @ Iris and Honey.
Ingredients
- 6 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
- 8 cups pure cane confectioners sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp real vanilla extract
Instructions
- With the flat beater attachment, beat the butter until smooth (about 45 seconds). Add the sugar (sifted if possible or at least whisked well) and beat for about 30 seconds or until combined. Add the vanilla and beat on high until very fluffy (around 2 minutes). Store in a sealed container and use within a day or 2.
What a cool cake! Love the design, great job. Hope you all enjoyed the Day. We went for (ascending) Unicorn, Flamingo and Coco 🙂
Thanks, Inese! It was a very nice day and the kids had fun picking which sea animal they wanted to eat with their cake. 😉 Great choices, I like all three of those. You could do a really cool cake with a Coco theme! Have a nice weekend!
Thank you! We did have the themes, but our cakes came from a store 🙂 It is why I am admiring yours 🙂
Thank you 😀
That is just gorgeous. Who could eat it! I remember when I used to make a lamb cake for Easter–shaped like a lamb! Truth, the kids had no problem digging into the head or body.
Thank you so much, Jacqui! Right, they don’t care! I think it’s actually fun for them, which is so funny. Have a fantastic weekend! 😀
I love always reading about the birthday cakes you make Antonia! Your little ones will cherish the memories of your cakes. Our daughter just turned 10 months and already it seems as though the time is flying. I’ll probably blink my eyes and she’ll be a teenager!
Thank you, Heather! Congratulations, how wonderful! What a great age, you must be having so much fun with her. Have a great weekend! 😀
What a beautiful cake Antonia! It truly is so special that your kids design the cakes and you bring them to life! Loved the idea of spray painting the icing.
Wishing Zoe a belated Happy Birthday!
Thank you, Sandhya! I can’t believe she is already 10! Have a wonderful weekend, and it is nice to hear from you! 😀
What a special and perfect cake! I prefer cracks and imperfections. The ocean isn’t “wrinkle-free” either and who wants a cake that looks plastic, anyway? I’m sure the kids loved it!
Thank you for the kind words, Jas! You are very right! They did and each picked their favorite part of the cake to eat. I don’t mind, it makes it more fun for the kids! Have a fantastic weekend! 😀
Kids grow up in the wink of an eye..The cake looks awesome..sure your daughter had a great birthday
You are so right. It is amazing how fast it goes by. Thank you so much, Lathiya, and have a great weekend! 😀
Belated birthday wishes to your daughter 🙂 Fabulous job, Antonia! The cake looks beautiful 🙂
Thank you, Freda! Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
You know I love your cakes you make for your two kids Antonia. So cute and you did a much better job on the mermaid than I could have ever done 🙂
You are so kind, Judi! Thank you! Enjoy your Sunday! 😀
Cute cake! Thank you for sharing on Fiesta Friday!
Thanks, Mikaela! Happy Fiesta Friday, and have a great day! 😀
I love your fun and happy cakes! They’re joyful and exuberant!! You have a couple lucky kiddos!! Thanks for bringing your dish to Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Thank you so much, Mollie! Happy Fiesta Friday! Have a wonderful day! 😀
Hi Antonia!! This looks like a 10 year old girl’s dream cake!! It’s really too adorable to eat! Hope she had the best birthday– and I agree they do grow so fast– We have a grand-girl turning 10 in September. Love this age. She’s all arms and legs and full of crazy fun! Happy Celebrating!! So glad you’re back to blogging! I’ve missed your pretty posts! hugs!
Thank you so much, Rhonda! Haha, it is an awesome age! I’ve missed catching up too! Have a wonderful Thursday! 😀
Glad you’re back at it Antonia!!
Thanks, Rhonda! I’m trying, lol! 😀
Sweet cake! I’m sure Zoe had a wonderful time at her party! 🙂
Thanks, Linda! She did, and as she put it, “it was mermazing.” LOL! Have an awesome day! 😀
I think it looks phenomenal, Antonia! Really is one of the cutest cakes I’ve ever seen! You did an awesome job! Happy belated birthday to your daughter! Btw, just a reminder that you will be cohosting this Friday with Lathiya #fiestafriday
Thank you for the kind words, Angie! She is growing up so fast! I am looking forward to co-hosting! Have a great day! 😀
It’s amazingly beautiful, Antonia! Your daughter is as creative as you to make such a design. Lots of love to the little mermaid.. <3
Such kind words, thank you Maniparna! Have an awesome (or as my daughter would say, ‘fintastic’) weekend!
Haha… I wish her a “fintastic” and fun-filled weekend too… 🙂
Thanks! 😀
What a fabulous beautiful cake! Well done, Antonia!
You are so kind, thank you Sophie!
Mermaid Cake is what I got my daughter too
Little girls love mermaids! 😀