Beach Cake

I had a request to make a beach/swimming themed cake for kids. No fondant.
I had a few ideas, some of which I had done before. I was going to do a cake with blue jello (I made it one year for one of my kids and I swear, it's the ONLY cake I've ever made for my kids' parties that was eaten COMPLETELY) Anyways, when I realized that the cake was to be chocolate, I had to switch plans.... chocolate cake and blue jello just don't work together.

So, in the end, I made this cake.... and surprisingly, when I finished it, my kids were saying they want swimming parties for their next birthdays and they want this EXACT cake. Now, THAT is not a request I ever hear.... normally my kids don't like my cakes. So, that's a huge compliment. Thank you kids! And yes, it was a fun cake to make and I'd definitely make it again.

Well, here's the pictures from today's cake......

I love being able to create little details. I even put one bear diving into the water. ha ha.Back view

• This was an 8" cake. 2 layers.
  
• Covered in buttercream icing.
• "Sand" is graham crumbs.
• Blue water on top was blue/white buttercream topped with blue tinted piping gel.
• Bears are teddy grahams with chocolate faces and icing swim suits
• "Inner tubes" are lifesaver gummies
• Palm trees... trunks are fondant covered skewers. Leaves are made from royal icing. Made one day in advance to allow time to dry

There you have it.... in case you ever want to try and make a cake like this.