Ingredients
Fluffy frosting
Method
Jewels at nine
1.Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 22cm x 34cm number 9 cake pan and line base with baking paper.
2.Make cakes according to directions on packets; pour mixture into pan. Bake about 50 minutes. Stand in pan 5 minutes before turning top-side up, onto a wire rack to cool.
3.Using a serrated knife, level cake top. Place cake, cut-side down, on 25cm x 40cm cake board, securing with a little frosting.
4.Spread frosting all over cake. Using picture as a guide, position candy jewellery on cake.
Fluffy frosting
5.In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water; stir with a wooden spoon over high heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Boil, uncovered, without stirring, about 3 to 5 minutes or until syrup is slightly thick. If a candy thermometer is available, the syrup will be ready when it reaches 114°C.
6.Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer until stiff; keep beating (or whites will deflate) until syrup reaches the correct temperature.
7.When syrup is ready, allow bubbles to subside then pour a very thin stream onto the egg whites with mixer operating on medium speed. If syrup is added too quickly to the egg whites, frosting will not thicken. Continue beating and adding syrup until all syrup is used. Continue to beat until frosting stands in stiff peaks (frosting should be barely warm by this stage).
8.Stir colouring through with a spatula.
To keep the glossy finish to the frosting, the cake needs to be frosted no longer than 1 hour before the party. The frosting soon dries out, resembling cooked meringue. You could also decorate this cake with snake and frog lollies.
Note
