Mermaid Cake
Learn to bake a mesmerizing mermaid cake with easy-to-find ingredients. Featuring moist vanilla cake layers, silky buttercream, and shimmering mermaid scales, this stunning dessert is perfect for birthdays and themed celebrations.
Equipment
- Round cake pans, stand mixer, mixing bowls, measuring cups, measuring spoons, offset spatula, bench scraper, piping bags, Wilton #5 or #6 piping tips, wire cooling rack, serrated knife, silicone seashell molds, microwave-safe bowl, cake turntable
Ingredients
Cake Layers
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups confectioners' sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Decorations
- Turquoise gel food coloring
- Sky blue gel food coloring
- Lavender gel food coloring
- Soft pink gel food coloring
- White chocolate
- Sugar pearls
- Edible glitter
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and line cake pans with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk.
- Divide batter between pans.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes.
- Cool completely on wire racks.
- Beat butter for buttercream until creamy.
- Add confectioners' sugar gradually.
- Mix in cream, vanilla, and salt.
- Divide and color buttercream into ocean-inspired shades.
- Level cake layers and stack with buttercream.
- Apply a crumb coat and chill for 20 minutes.
- Cover cake with blue buttercream.
- Pipe overlapping scales using colored buttercream.
- Create white chocolate seashells and attach to cake.
- Finish with pearls, glitter, and sprinkles.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning buttercream.
- Chill the cake before piping scales for cleaner results.
- White chocolate shells can be prepared up to one week ahead.
- Practice piping scales on parchment paper before decorating.
Storage
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature 30–45 minutes before serving.Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
Suitable For
Birthday Parties, Mermaid Parties, Baby Showers, Ocean-Themed Celebrations, Children's Events.