Pirate Ship Cake

by Ally Chumley
(Australia)

I used two rectangular plain sponge cakes, and built up the structures on the bow and stern (and the treasure chest) with lamingtons - a good old Australian sponge cake coated in chocolate icing and coconut.

I used buttercream piped on as long planks - very easy.

I made the masts from plastic chopsticks, and cut out simple paper shapes for the sails. These were taped to the chopsticks. Each sail was double-sided, which was a little fiddly but not difficult.

Other ingredients include:

Kit Kat - for the 'walk the plank' extension
Rolo - for the cannons
M & Ms - for portholes
liquorice straps cut on angles - for the shark fins
a plastic toy pirate figure
Cachous - silver and gold for the treasure chest
Ready-made lettering for the name and greeting
Candles - watch their proximity to the paper sails though!