Black, white, orange, red and yellow ready-to-roll icing
20 1/2 20.5cm (8in) round fruit cake
2 Tbsp. smooth apricot jam
500 g (1lb 2oz) marzipan
500 g pack royal icing sugar (we used Silver Spoon)
100 g (3 1/2oz) Fox's glacier mints, unwrapped
You'll also need
Cocktail sticks
Florist's wire
Iridescent sparkles, optional
Ribbon for tying
Blue food colouring
Directions
Step 1
For penguins, use black icing to make an oval for the body and a small ball for the head. Flatten two pieces of black icing to make wings, followed by a white flat oval for the stomach. Form a beak and feet from orange icing. Brush water on to the head, wings, stomach, beak and feet and stick to the body. Use a cocktail stick to make indents for eyes. Repeat as desired.
Step 2
For the polar bear, roll a white oval for the body and a ball for the head, pinching it slightly to form a snout. Roll four white sausage shapes to make arms and legs. Brush water on to the head, arms and legs and stick to the body. Make white ears and a black nose and stick to the head. Prick eyes using a cocktail stick.
Step 3
Make hats, scarves, presents and fish from coloured icing. Tie wire around cocktail sticks for fishing rods. Allow decorations to dry for at least 4hr or overnight.
Step 4
Put cake on a serving plate and spread top and sides with the jam. Dust the worktop with icing sugar and roll out marzipan to a 33cm (13in) circle. Position on top of the cake and smooth over sides. Trim.
Step 5
Make royal icing according to pack instructions. Use a palette knife to swirl it over the cake, reserving a little for later. Shape
a recess in the icing for the pond. Sprinkle sparkles over the cake, if using. Tie ribbon around the base.
Step 6
For the pond, preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Cut a 28cm (11in) square of foil, fold in half, then shape into a cup. Put mints into foil, stand on a baking sheet, then heat in the oven for 20min or until mints have melted. Working quickly, use a cocktail stick to stir a tiny amount of blue food colouring into the syrup, then pour into the pond recess.
Step 7
Use reserved royal icing to stick figures on the cake. Add some Christmas tree decorations, if you like. Store in a cool place for up to three days.
Mint Pond
The mint pond will soften when exposed to air.
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