How to make your own enchanting chocolate mermaid tails for a magical birthday cupcake topping!
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If you have a young daughter like I do then you probably already know just how much mermaids are all the rage right now. In fact, my little princess in training loves just about anything that is fairytale inspired, from mermaids to unicorns to rainbow glitter everything! And as someone who loves getting creative in the kitchen, I knew I wanted to use this inspiration to master the mermaid theme to create a truly enchanting experience. So I whipped up my very own Chocolate Mermaid Tails!
These awe-inspiring treats turn out even more charming than they sound! My daughter absolutely loved them and they created the exact kind of enchantment I was looking for. Plus these are incredibly easy and quick to make! Whether you want to make these adorable mermaid tails for a magical birthday experience or just to add some fun flare to a pool party, these homemade chocolates are the perfect snack or dessert topping to add that little touch of magic that you’re looking for!
To make easy chocolate mermaid tails all you need is some colored candy melts, coconut oil, glitter dust, a candy melt pot (or 2), some silicone molds, a food brush, and a cake spatula. Just melt the candies and oil together in the melting pot, pour the melted candy into the molds, scrape off any excess chocolate, and set flat in the fridge for 10 minutes.
Magic- Making Equipment
The best part about simple and quick recipes is that they don’t require a whole lot of kitchen tools or equipment. Luckily, that’s the case here too, with these super easy magical chocolate treats.
- Food brushes
- Mermaid Tail Silicone Mold
- Cake Spatula
- Baking sheet
- Saucier Drizzle Spoon
- Wilton Candy Melt Pot
- For this recipe, it’s better to use 2 of these at the same time so the candy can all be melted simultaneously.
Kitchen Tip:
I specifically like using my candy melt pot over all other melting methods for any kind of candy projects because it keeps the chocolate at the perfect temperature- never overcooking it- making the whole process much easier and stress free!
Magical Mermaid Tail Ingredients
Luckily, this recipe does not call for a bunch of fancy ingredients either. Just a handful of a few different colorful candy melts, some coconut oil, and, of course, some dazzling edible glitter dust!
- ½ cup Wilton Turquoise Candy Melts or Wilton Blue Candy Melts
- ⅛ tsp Coconut oil
- ½ cup Wilton Green Candy Melts
- ⅛ tsp Coconut oil
- ½ cup Wilton Lavender Candy Melts
- ⅛ tsp Coconut oil
- Glitter Dust
Mermaid Theme
Making Homemade Chocolate Mermaid Tails
Now it’s time to melt into the magic of making these easy homemade chocolate mermaid tails. If you’re making these as a topper for a birthday cake or cupcakes then I suggest making these ahead of time and storing in the fridge until it’s time to assemble the treats. This will save you a lot of time and stress on party day!
- First, gather up all the necessary equipment and measure out all of your mermaid tail ingredients.
- Next, get the candy melt pots ready, making sure to line one of the melting pots with a two- compartment silicone liner. Drop the colored candies into the separated sections and add in the coconut oil.
- While the candies and oil are melting together, make sure to stir each section frequently with a heat resistant spatula until the candies have melted completely.
- Then, set the mermaid tail silicone mold on a baking sheet to keep it flat. Use a saucier drizzle spoon to carefully transfer the melted candy into the mermaid tail molds. Tap the molds to remove any air bubbles.
- I like to mix the colors in the mermaid tails to give them a much more whimsical look.
- Next, scrape off the excess melted candy using a cake spatula and then transfer the whole baking sheet to the fridge and let them sit for 10 minutes.
- Remember to keep it totally flat!
- When the chocolates are set, carefully pull the edges of the silicone mold to gently separate from the mermaid tail candies, then carefully pop the candies out from the molds.
- Try not to handle the homemade candies with your bare hands too much as the heat from your skin can make the chocolates melt.
- Then, carefully cut away any excess candy from the edges and move the candies to a cookie sheet or flat silicone mat.
- Finally, use the food brushes to apply the glitter dust to each of the mermaid tails.
Alternative Chocolate-Melting Method
If you don’t have a nifty candy melting pot in your kitchen collection, here is a simple microwave melting method that will work for anyone!
How to Melt Candy Melts in the Microwave:
- First, pour the candy melts into a heat-safe bowl or silicone measuring cup.
- Then, heat the candy melts in the microwave at 50% power, or on a defrost setting, for 1 minute.
- Next, stir the candies thoroughly.
- Use a towel or an oven mitt to protect your hand from the heat when handling the bowl or cup.
- Then, continue to microwave the candies at the same low setting in 15-30 second intervals, stirring in between each interval, until the candy is almost melted.
- Finally, let the candy sit for about 1 minute to let the residual heat take care of any small unmelted pieces of candy leftover.
- If you try another interval of cooking at this point, the candy could overcook and burn so it’s better to let the candy sit and take care of itself.
For more chocolate-melting methods and tips, check out my simple guide on How to Melt Candy Melts.
Homemade Chocolate Candy Storage
These homemade chocolate mermaid tails can actually stay fresher for much longer than other homemade desserts, like cupcakes or cookies, if they are stored properly. Or they can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
- Transfer the chocolate mermaid tails to an airtight container or a ziploc bag.
- If desired, you can use small cuts of parchment paper or wax paper in between the layers to help keep the chocolates separated and intact.
- Homemade chocolates can be stored for up to 2 or 3 weeks, either stored in the fridge or in a cool, dry place out of the sun’s warm reach.
- Always note the date when storing so you can keep track of the freshness and quality.
Whimsical Mermaid Tail Serving Ideas
These adorable homemade chocolate mermaid tails can be served sweetly on their own for a fun summer snack or can be served with other magical homemade treats for a completely enchanting birthday party experience. Actually, come to think of it, there’s a lot you can do with these charming homemade treats!
To set a magical party mood, serve these chocolate mermaid tails with:
Serve in or on top of:
- cupcakes
- Birthday cake
- brownies
- Ice cream or sundaes
- Or in party favor treat bags
Perfect for setting an enchanting mood at:
- Mermaid- themed birthday party
- Mermaid- themed baby shower
- Summer pool party
Other homemade chocolate candies:
Chocolate Mermaid Tails
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Wilton Turquoise Candy Melts or Wilton Blue Candy Melts
- ⅛ tsp Coconut OilCoconut oil
- ½ cup Wilton Green Candy Melts
- ⅛ tsp Coconut OilCoconut oil
- ½ cup Wilton Lavender Candy Melts
- ⅛ tsp Coconut OilCoconut oil
- Glitter Dust
Instructions
- First, gather up all the necessary equipment and measure out all of your mermaid tail ingredients.
- Next, get the candy melt pots ready, making sure to line one of the melting pots with a two- compartment silicone liner. Drop the colored candies into the separated sections and add in the coconut oil.
- While the candies and oil are melting together, make sure to stir each section frequently with a heat resistant spatula until the candies have melted completely.
- Then, set the mermaid tail silicone mold on a baking sheet to keep it flat. Use a saucier drizzle spoon to carefully transfer the melted candy into the mermaid tail molds. Tap the molds to remove any air bubbles. I like to mix the colors in the mermaid tails to give them a much more whimsical look.
- Next, scrape off the excess melted candy using a cake spatula and then transfer the whole baking sheet to the fridge and let them sit for 10 minutes. Remember to keep it totally flat!
- When the chocolates are set, carefully pull the edges of the silicone mold to gently separate from the mermaid tail candies, then carefully pop the candies out from the molds. Try not to handle the homemade candies with your bare hands too much as the heat from your skin can make the chocolates melt.
- Then, carefully cut away any excess candy from the edges and move the candies to a cookie sheet or flat silicone mat.
- Finally, use the food brushes to apply the glitter dust to each of the mermaid tails.
Video
Notes
- Transfer the chocolate mermaid tails to an airtight container or a ziploc bag.
- If desired, you can use small cuts of parchment paper or wax paper in between the layers to help keep the chocolates separated and intact.
- Homemade chocolates can be stored for up to 2 or 3 weeks, either stored in the fridge or in a cool, dry place out of the sun’s warm reach.
- Always note the date when storing so you can keep track of the freshness and quality.
Food Photography & Video Tips from My Studio
Here’s a peek at the tools, gear, and camera setups I use to film my recipe videos and photograph food at home. Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of different setups, and now I’m sharing what actually works for me—whether I’m filming overhead shots for YouTube or styling still photos for my blog. If you’re curious about how I create the content you see here, these posts are a great place to start.
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