Thomas the Tank Engine

Welcome to my first cake tutorial... I'm glad you found me! If you're thinking about making a 3 dimensional cake this is a good place to start. You may or may not want to tackle it, but if you have the tools, a little patience, and don't mind making a bit of a mess in your kitchen, you've come to the right place!

Here is a list of tools and products I use:

• 3 batches of crusting buttercream frosting see recipes
• Hershey's Cocoa powder (to add to black frosting, this will help you achieve a true black)
• 11"X15" sheetcake pan (may also use 12"X18")
• Wax paper
• Cling wrap (plastic wrap)
• Cake decorating spatulas (I mainly use the 8" straight spatulas on Thomas)
• Wilton gumpaste tools (for creating Thomas' facial features)
• Wilton Colors Black, Blue, Red, Yellow
• Toothpicks
• Marshmallow Fondant (follow link to recipe) or Wilton Fondant
• Small rolling pin
• Cornstarch or Powdered Sugar for dusting work surface
• Crisco (not the butter variety)
• Quality paintbrush (small)
• Piping bags and tips
• Piping Gel (for the back of Thomas' face)
• 1 Wilton cookie stick (for Thomas' face) I use "8 size
• 1 dowel rod (to be inserted into smokestack)
• prepared cake board (I recommend using foam core or several cake boards bound together. You can cover your boards with colorful paper or material, then cover the top with contact paper. Sounds like another tutorial doesn't it?


Watch the following Amazon slideshow and you'll see a Thomas the Tank Engine case very similar to the one used as a model in this tutorial. Makes a wonderful gift too!




A few important rules to follow:

• Make Thomas' face several days before the party
• Bake cake ahead of time so you'll have time to freeze it
• Have your cake board prepared before you take the cake from freezer
• Have your frostings made and colored before you take the cake from freezer
• Be sure you're using a crusting buttercream recipe (for best results)