Summer themed desserts

(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The summer is finally here and we are all heading to summer themed celebrations. Here with details of a perfect sweet treat to take to your next party is Kelly Delaney, the owner of Cakes for Occasions in Danvers, has some summer themed dessert ideas.

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Sail Boat Cake recipe:

What’s needed
8” square cake (flavor of your choice)
1 qt butter cream frosting
2 pounds white fondant (available at any craft store)
1 cup of confectioners’ sugar (sifted)
12 white lollipop stick or wooden dowel
Powdered food coloring (of your choice)
1 oz clear alcohol (vodka, rum or Kirsch)
Assorted small paint brushes
1 package of clear gelatin (Knox brand)*
Blue liquid food coloring
Candied fish (preferably fish candy that will not disintegrate once warm gelatin is poured on)
Large platter with ‘lip’ around it

For the boat:
Procedure:
Place the 8” square cake on a board. Position the cake so the square looks like a diamond shape (with one of the corners pointing towards your belly).
Using a 10” or larger serrated knife, shape the cake into a boat shape by slicing from the bow to the stern to create a curve. Repeat for the opposite side.
Frost the cake with a “crumb coat” of butter cream and place it in the refrigerator to chill, for at least one hour.
Once cake is chilled, remove the cake from the refrigerator and final coat the boat with butter cream (color of your choice).
Place in refrigerator to chill.

For the ocean:
Follow the directions on the back of the Knox gelatin package.* you may need 2 boxes, depending on the depth of the platter you are using.
After you have made the gelatin to liquid stage, add 2-4 drops of blue food coloring and stir to combine. Depending on the color of ‘ocean’ you want, you may need additional drops.
Pour the ‘blue gelatin’ into the platter and coat the bottom of the platter evenly with the gelatin.
Add your fish to the ‘ocean’
Set in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (time may vary, due to the depth of the ocean)

For the Sail: needs to be done 1-2 days prior for best results
Sprinkle sifted confectioners’ sugar onto your work surface. (use only what’s needed)
Coat your rolling pin, lightly, with confectioners’ sugar
Break off about ½ to 3/4 pound of fondant and knead until ‘pliable’
Roll out the fondant, with your rolling pin, until it is as thin as a sheet of paper (or close to it), picking up and moving the fondant between rolls so it doesn’t stick. (Much the same as pie dough).
Using a sharp paring knife, cut out a large triangle for one sail and a smaller triangle for the additional sail.
Take your white lollipop stick and place it on the left-hand side of the triangle (sail), place it about 1” in. Adhere, with melted white chocolate and fold over the excess fondant. Let dry for 15 minutes
For the smaller sail; pipe a line of white chocolate down the right hand side of the triangle and place ‘sealed sail’ on top of white chocolate line and let dry for 15 minutes.
Place the ‘sail’ in a cool dry location and dry for 1-2 days.

Nautical Flags:
Roll out a ½ pound of fondant just like above (same method as the sail)
Using a small square cutter, cut out the pieces.
Using the same square cutter, angle it as a ‘diamond’ and cut to make flag shape.
Mix powdered food coloring with a drop or two of clear alcohol and mix together. (be mindful not to add to much liquid, you are only adding enough liquid so you can paint on the food coloring.)
With your assorted paint brushes, paint the flags accordingly
Let dry in cool dry place (depending on the amount of liquid and the temperature at the time, these may take up to several hours to dry completely)

Assembly:

1. Place your platter of ‘ocean’ on the table
2. Remove the boat from the refrigerator and place in the middle of the water
3. Pick up your ‘sail’, carefully, and place excess lollipop stick into center of the boat and push down, softly to secure your sail.
4. Garnish the sail with your nautical flags, by sealing them with white chocolate
5. Enjoy the compliments from your family and friends!