Rosie's Blog

Little Mermaid Birthday Cake

Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011

by Grandma

Ariel Little Mermaid Birthday Cake

This Little Mermaid cake was a labour of love.  All those hours playing with plasticine when I was a kid finally paid off.  Who knew I was practicing my cake decorating skills. 

My grand daughter requested a mermaid cake for her birthday. Luckily I had the Ariel and Prince Eric figurines from my MacDonald's Happy Meal toy collection. I could have bought a cake from the grocery store bakery for $30.00, but noooo, I had to make it. Here is the breakdown in dollar and cents:

2 boxes of Duncan Hines cake mix on sale $2.00

2 tubs of Duncan Hines frosting on sale $2.00

6 eggs $1.50

1 box of fondant with coupon $8.50

Silver cardboard cake base $1.50

Miscellaneous: icing colour, oil etc. $1.00

Ingredient total: $16.50 not including taxes

Labour: 6 hours at $10.25/hr (minimum wage where I live)

Total cost of cake: $78.00

The look on my grand daughter’s face: priceless

Ha ha I had to add that Mastercard line.  And if I had to buy the Ariel and Prince Eric figurines (if I could even find them) you can add another 10 bucks. Insane. Right? If you look at it from an economic perspective it doesn’t make sense to make this cake. The bakery would have air brushed a perfect photo of Ariel on the top. Just drive 15 minutes to the bakery and pick it up for 30 bucks.  Easy peasy. Well, it’s not always about money.  Sometimes it’s about spending time together and making memories. When my grand daughter saw her finished cake she said, “I LOVE IT!” And we both get to feel real special.