The kids will go overboard for these fun and far-from-fearsome creatures of the deep - perfect for a children summer pool party.
- Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line a 12-hole (1/3-cup-capacity) muffin pan with blue paper cases.
- Using an electric mixer, beat butter, vanilla, sugar and eggs for 5 minutes or until thick and pale. Add 1/2 the flour and 1/2 the milk. Stir until just combined. Add strawberry-flavoured powder, remaining flour and remaining milk. Stir to combine.
- Divide mixture evenly among paper cases. Bake for 25 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly touched. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Meanwhile, make Royal Icing: Whisk egg whites in small bowl until foamy. Add icing sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and combined. Stir in lemon juice. Place 2 tablespoons icing in a bowl. Using food colouring, tint icing red. Leave remaining icing white. Spoon icing into separate snap-lock bags. Snip off 1 corner of white icing bag (keep bag of red icing sealed so it doesn’t dry out).
- To make life buoys, place rice cookies on a wire rack set over a baking tray lined with baking paper. Pipe white icing over biscuits to completely cover, allowing excess to drain off. Stand for 30 minutes or until set. Snip off 1 corner of red icing bag. Using the picture as a guide, pipe red icing onto rings to form rope. Stand for 30 minutes or until set.
- Make Buttercream: Using an electric mixer, beat butter for 8 to 10 minutes or until light and fluffy. Gradually add icing sugar, beating until well combined. Add milk. Beat until combined. Using food colouring, tint buttercream blue. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm-fluted nozzle.
- Using the picture as a guide, trim lolly teeth to form sharp teeth. Using the picture as a guide, cut 6 fin shapes and 6 tail shapes from sour straps. Using the picture as a guide, pipe icing in a large swirl onto 6 cupcakes. Lightly press 2 lolly teeth into icing on each cupcake to form a mouth. Lightly press 2 candy eyes into icing. Lightly press 1 fin and 1 tail into each cupcake to form sharks.
- Using picture as a guide, pipe a blue buttercream swirl onto remaining cupcakes. Place 1 life buoy on each cupcake. Serve.
You may need it
Food Storage Container Set
Surface Utensil Holder
Kitchen Utensil Set