Swimming Pool Cake

Cover bottom and sides of 13" X 9" cake pan with plastic wrap. Make Jell-O as per instructions but use only 3/4 cup cold water; pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 1 hour or until completely set.

Meanwhile, cut cake into kidney shape; place on cake board. With spoon, hollow out 1/2 inch from top of cake, leaving 3/4 inch thick walls as border. Freeze cake scraps for other use.

With palette knife, spread icing over sides and border of cake. Trim wafers to match height of cake. Alternating colors, press wafers onto side of cake for fence, leaving 2 inch space uncovered for ladder.

With spatula, pick up long slabs of blue Jell-O, arrange in hollowed-out center of cake, rippling to resemble waves.

Cut red piece of licorice in half; arrange both halves on space on side of cake for ladder edges, pressing ends into cake to secure. Cut green licorice into small pieces for ladder steps; secure in place with icing. At opposite end from ladder, press wafer in place for diving board. At pool-side, arrange pink chocolate rounds and multi-colored sprinkles for landscape. Arrange chocolate finger cookies for wooden planking. Just before serving, place toy people or gummy bears in doughnut shaped candy for swimmers in rafts. Add gum balls for beach balls. Makes 16 - 20 servings.