Nga Nguyen

Mermaid Birthday Cake

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Just a snapshot of our lives with toddlers…

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Yesterday I made a birthday cake for a little girl named Marina. A mermaid she is! My hubby said the cake looks more like a chubby little girl than a mermaid. Either way, it’s still cute and delicious! And so is Marina!! Happy one-month birthday 🙂

Mermaid birthday cake

For 2 8″-sponge cakes
(Adapted from Savoury Days)
70 g cornstarch
70 g all-purpose flour
50 g canola oil
25 g milk (room temperature)
7 eggs (separated, room temperature)
140 g sugar
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 small pinch of salt

For fillings
4 tbs jam (I used orange marmalade)
240 ml heavy cream (divided)
4 tsp espresso powder
8 tsp sugar

For decoration
100 ml heavy cream
3-4 drops of yellow color
4 tsp sugar
100 ml heavy cream
3-4 drops of green color
4 tsp sugar
1 drop of red for the lips (or a reddish candy)
10 ml heavy cream
20 g chocolate chip
Cheerio cereals (optional)

Cake template (cakepdf_mermaid – courtesy of Parenting.com)

  1. To make sponge cakes, follow the same instruction here.
  2. Use a serrated knife to cut and shape cakes according to the mermaid template.
  3. Carefully slice the cakes horizontally into two layers.
  4. Use microwave to heat jam for about 30 seconds.
  5. Brush jam on top of the first cake layer. Set aside
  6. In a clean bowl, beat 240 ml heavy cream with sugar until stiff.
  7. Scope about 4 tbs of the white whipped cream and set aside. This will be used for the mermaid’s face.
  8. Add espresso powder to the rest of the cream, and beat until stiff.
  9. Spread espresso-whipped cream on top of the jam on the first cake layer.
  10. Place the second cake layer on top.
  11. Cover a thin layer of the espresso-whipped cream all around and on top of the cake.
  12. Place the cake in fridge for about 30 minutes.
  13. Spread the rest of the espresso-whipped cream on the cake.
  14. In a small bowl, beat 100 ml heavy cream with 4 tsp sugar and a few yellow drops until stiff. Set aside.
  15. In another small bowl, beat 100 ml heavy cream with 4 tsp sugar and a few green drops until stiff. Set aside.
  16. First, spread the white whipped cream for the face.
  17. Then fill the yellow whipped cream in a piping bag with a drop flower tip. Pipe some hairs.
  18. Fill the green whipped cream in a piping bag with a basketweave or petal decorating tip. Pipe some fish scales.
  19. Heat 20 g chocolate chip with 10 ml heavy cream in the microwave for 20 seconds.
  20. Pipe eyes, nose, and lips.
  21. Sprinkle cheerios.