This Great Cake Contest entry was submitted by Kimberly-Fisher from Marshall, Texas: Franks Express has 11 cars filled with fun and wonder for one and all at the party. Taste pleasing as well with it's 6 different flavors to choose from.
What you'll need
- 11 foil loaf pans
- shaped train engine 3d cake pan
- toys for decoration
- 2-2x2 photo for conductor
- Decorator tips and parchment triangles
- Cake boards cut a little wider and larger than the loaf pans
- 2 boxes of pound cake
- 5 boxes cake (flavors of your choice)
- Easy cake release
- eggs approximately 23 eggs
- *Black rice treat mix*
- 1-2 bags Marshmallows
- butter
- 1 Large Box Rice Crispy cereal
- Black color paste
- *Butter cream icing* yields approximately 3 cups
- 1 cup solid white vegetable shortening
- 2 Tablespoons water
- 4 cups of powdered sugar
- 1tsp vanilla flavoring
How to make it
Using the pound cake mix make the conductor train following the directions that come with the pan-mold.. Set aside to cool per directions. Mix and bake cakes in tins according to the manufactures directions. Set aside to cool. when cooled cut some flat for transport cars, leave others with a crown for the gravel cars and cut the center out of 2 for the candy cars.
Mix your rice cereal, butter and melted marshmallows. Mix in small amounts of the black color paste until desired color is achieved. Flatten out on covered cake boards to make the track. Leaving some hanging over the edges for over lapping later. Take decorator tip and make 2 rails down your track pieces. Cut some of your large pretzel logs the width of the train cars. Melt the chocolate squares following the directions on the package. Dip cut pretzels in the chocolate. Place on the track spacing them where they will be where the wheels of the train will be. 2 per car and 3-4 for the engine. Carefully place the cars on the logs.
Ice with butter cream icing using a different color for each car. Trim the cars in coordinating colors and using a different decorator tip then you used to ice the cars with. Place the 2x2 (trimmed if need be) photos on the conductor car and trim with icing around them. Place Childs name on the side of the car. Use icing to put the wheels on the side of the cars, then break the mint stick to the right length for the rods that turn the wheels. using more icing (small amount) place on the wheels in different directions to give the appearance of movement.
Place your candies in the candy cars ..your bridge mix in the rock car using icing to hold it in place. cover one of the crowned cars with the black rice treat mix for a gravel car, then the remaining large pretzel logs on the log car ( you may need to use tooth picks or small pretzels on the side as rails to hold them in place.) On the remaining cars decorate with your choice of toys. I used a tank, diesel truck with tractor, dump truck with dot candy in it, plastic gas cans, large jacks, and some plastic barrels. I found in the party favor section.
When you get them all ready then slide the cake boards together over lapping the rice crispy treats so it looks like it is one long piece. Take your decorator tip for grass and put grass in random spots long the track using green butter cream icing. Put on a candle and enjoy all the different flavors of your train."
