If you're planning a Mermaid-themed birthday or a special under-the-sea celebration, a Mermaid Cake is the perfect way to make a splash. Whether you are a bit of a baker or a mum looking to try something new, this guide will help you create a stunning, Instagram-worthy mermaid cake that will wow your guests.
What should a Mermaid Cake look like?
A Mermaid Cake is a whimsical, ocean-inspired dessert featuring vibrant colours, shimmering details, and playful sea-themed decorations. Think pastel buttercream swirls for waves, edible pearls, fondant mermaid tails, and seashells. It's a cake that brings the magic of the sea to life.
Choosing Your Mermaid Cake Style
Mermaid cakes come in various styles to suit different preferences and skill levels:
Ombre Buttercream: Create a gradient effect using shades of blue, purple, and teal to mimic the ocean waves. We use a wave scraper in our Mermaid cake kit that makes wave texture in buttercream easy, you can check it out here.
Scales Design: Use a spatula and single blob piping technique to form mermaid scales with coloured buttercream.
Card/Fondant Decorations: Add intricate details like mermaid tails, shells, and sea creatures using printed card, edible image or fondant. Fondant decoration is recommended if you're an intermediate to advanced decorator, however we do offer pre-made fondant mermaid tails and shells in our Mermaid cake kit to keep things simple for our customers. You can also purchase these individually here. Printing card decorations or sourcing edible images is an easy way to achieve these details too.
Step-by-Step Mermaid Cake Tutorial
1. Bake the Cake
Ingredients: Use your favourite cake recipe or a woolies mud cake hack to make things easy. Alternatively, we offer high quality cake mixes with our cake kits that allow you to bake a high quality cake without the hassle of organising the ingredients.
Baking Tip: Bake in round cake pans and level the tops for even layers.
2. Prepare the Buttercream
Colours: Divide your buttercream into separate bowls and tint each with gel food colouring in shades of blue, purple, and teal.
Consistency: Ensure the buttercream is smooth and spreadable.
3. Assemble the Cake
Layering: Place the first cake layer on a cake board or serving plate.
Filling: Spread a layer of buttercream between each cake layer.
Crumb Coat: Apply a thin layer of buttercream over the entire cake to seal in crumbs.
Chill: Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to set the crumb coat.
4. Decorate the Cake
Wave Technique: Spread the buttercream around the cake using a spatula and then run a wave textured scraper across the buttercream to make wavy lines.
Top Decorations: Add fondant mermaid tails, edible pearls, and seashells to the top and sides of the cake.
Finishing Touches: Dust with edible glitter for a magical effect.
Top Mermaid Cake Decorating Tips
Practice Piping: Before decorating the cake, practice piping techniques on parchment paper.
Use Gel Colours: Gel food colours provide vibrant hues without altering the consistency of your buttercream.
Edible Glitter: Add a touch of edible glitter for a shimmering, under-the-sea effect.
Personal Touch: Incorporate your child's favourite sea creatures or colours to make the cake unique.
Where to Find Mermaid Cake Supplies
Looking for cake toppers, edible glitter, or fondant tools? Here are some local stores in Melbourne where you can find everything you need:
Clever Crumb: Offers an all-in-one cake kit with everything that you need to make a mermaid cake at home. Complete with photo instructions and pre-made decorations making the process fun and easy.
Bake Boss: Offers a wide range of cake decorating supplies, including mermaid-themed items.
Spotlight Stores: Carries a selection of cake decorating supplies.
Baking a Mermaid Cake is a delightful way to celebrate a special occasion. With a little creativity and the right tools, you can create a cake that's as magical as the sea itself. Happy baking!