Best Train Cake Recipes

TRAIN CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease or spray bottoms only of two 8x4- or 9x5-inch loaf pans. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.
• Bake yellow cake 28 to 36 minutes and devil's food cake 31 to 39 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes; remove from pans to cooking racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze cake 30 to 60 minutes until firm.
• Meanwhile, divide vanilla frosting evenly among 4 small bowls; tint 1 bowl frosting red, 1 bowl frosting yellow,1 bowl frosting blue and 1 bowl frosting green with food colors. Spoon 1/2 cup chocolate frosting into resealable plastic bag; set aside.
• Using serrated knife, cut rounded top off each cake to level surface; place each cake cut side down. Cut first cake as shown in diagram to make engine, being careful not to cut all the way through piece 1 when removing piece 2. Place piece 2 on top of piece 1 as shown in diagram, with a small amount of frosting between pieces. Cut second cake into 4 equal pieces to make cars as shown in diagram. Spread thin layer of chocolate frosting over top and sides of engine to seal in crumbs. For each of the car cakes, spread thin layer of red, yellow, blue and green frosting over top and sides of each car to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate or freeze cakes 30 to 60 minutes or until frosting is set.
• Using chocolate frosting in resealable plastic bag, snip off small corner of bag. Pipe train tracks onto serving tray. Frost engine cake with remaining chocolate frosting. Frost boxcars with remaining colored frosting. Using large spatula, transfer cakes to serving tray.
• Cut pieces of licorice twist; place on front of engine, slanting outward, for the cow-catcher. Use licorice twist to add "trim" to the engine. Add gumdrops for engine "face" and chocolate candies for smoke stack. Top back of engine with crumbled cookies. Add gummy candy rings for wheels. Cut pieces of licorice twist to add "trim" to each of the cars. Add gummy candy rings for wheels. Top each car with assorted candies. Store loosely covered.

BIRTHDAY TRAIN CAKE

Steps:

• Line up cakes on large tray or serving platter for train cars.
• Cut 2-inch-thick crosswise slice off front cake; place at back end of the first cake to resemble train engine. Repeat with last cake, placing the removed cake slice in the middle of the last cake to resemble caboose.
• Divide whipped topping among four small bowls; tint with food colorings as desired. Use to frost cakes. Add decorations as desired. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

TRAIN CAKE

Steps:

• 1- Heat oven to 350°. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 9 x 5 x 3 inches, with shortening. Make cake mix as directed on package, using water, oil and eggs. Pour batter into pans.2- Bake 38 to 42 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pans to loosen cakes remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.3- Cut first cake as shown in diagram to make engine, being careful not to cut all the way through piece 1 when removing piece 2. Cut second cake into 4 equal pieces to make cars as shown in diagram. Trim pieces 3 and 5 flat on top if desired. Freeze pieces uncovered about 1 hour for easier frosting if desired.4- Cover large flat rectangular tray or piece of cardboard with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place piece 1 on tray for engine, stacking piece 2 on top for engine house as shown in diagram. Frost with chocolate frosting. Place ice-cream cone on front of engine house. Place wafer cookies on side of engine for wheels. Cut licorice twists into pieces place on front of engine for cow-catcher. Decorate with candies.5- Place pieces 3, 4 and 5 on tray for cars. Frost with vanilla frosting (tinted with food colors if desired). Decorate with candies.6- Place piece 6 on tray for caboose. Trim to make shorter and rounded on top if desired. Frost with vanilla frosting (tinted with food colors if desired). Decorate with candies. Connect cars together with pieces of licorice twists if desired. Store loosely covered at room temperature.High Altitude (3500 to 6500 feet): Make cake mix following high-altitude directions on package. Bake 40 to 45 minutes.1 Serving: Calories 575 (Calories from Fat 235) Fat 26g (Saturated 15g) Cholesterol 55mg Sodium 340mg Carbohydrate 85g (Dietary Fiber 2g) Protein 4g. % Daily Value: Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 6% Iron 8%.Betty's Tip: Instead of baking the cake in two large loaves, you can use one 9-inch loaf pan and four miniature loaf pans, 4 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 1 1/4 inches each. Pour 1/2 cup batter into each mini loaf pan. Pour remaining batter into 9-inch loaf pan. Bake mini loaf pans 20 to 25 minutes 9-inch loaf 35 to 42 minutes.Cutting and Assembling Train Cake* Cut narrow strip lengthwise from each side of one loaf. Trim front corners on the diagonal.* Being careful not to cut all the way through piece 1, remove a section from piece 1 that is 1 1/2 inches wide and 1 1/2 inches thick. Place piece 2 on top of piece 1 for engine house.* Cut second loaf crosswise into fourths.From "Betty Crocker's Ultimate Cake Mix Cookbook." Text Copyright 2004 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.