Deep Diver Cake

instructions

*Combine Violet and Rose for violet shown. Combine Brown with Red-Red for brown shown.

In advance: Make hair. Use tip 16 and brown royal icing to pipe 35 to 40 wavy lines, each approximately 1 1/2 in. long, on waxed-paper-covered board. Make extras to allow for breakage; let dry. Also: Make hands and ears. Knead 1/4 teaspoon of Gum-Tex with 3 oz. of white fondant. Roll out 1/4 in. thick. Cut hands using pattern (reverse for 1). Cut ears using wide end of tip 2A; cut circle in half. Let all dry on surface covered with cornstarch.

Bake and cool 1-layer round cakes and bear cake. Trim arms, ears and muzzle off bear. Prepare round cakes for Stacked Construction; ice smooth with buttercream. For diver’s arms, cut 2 dowel rods 3 in. long; fill top half of dowel rods with fondant to hold hands. Insert in bear cake sides. Attach hands to lollipop sticks with melted candy; insert in dowel rods. Attach ears with dots of icing. Outline trunks with tip 3; fill in with tip 16 stars. Pipe tip 3 dot nose; overpipe for dimension. Outline and pipe-in mouth with tip 3 (pat smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch). Pipe tip 3 bead tongue (pat smooth). Cover head, body, arms, ears and feet with tip 16. Pipe tip 12 ball toes. Insert hair. For mask, tint 3 oz. of fondant violet. Roll a 1/4 x 13 in. long log; attach around face with dots of icing.

For fish, tint 3 oz. of fondant each orange and yellow. Roll out 1/8 in. thick. Use smallest round cutter from set to cut 6 orange and 5 yellow bodies. Use patterns to cut contrasting color fins. Attach bodies to 10 in. cake using dots of icing; attach fins with damp brush. For mouths, roll 1/4 in. logs of fondant; fold in half and attach with damp brush. Pipe tip 3 dot eyes and pupils. Pipe tip 5 bead bottom border on 10 in. cake. Pipe tip 21 c-motion waves on 12 in. cake.