Classic Car Cakes Recipes

CAR CAKES

Steps:

• Set up the grill for direct cooking over medium heat and oil the grates.
• Slice the pound cake into 3/4-inch thick slices with a serrated knife.
• Using car-shaped cookie cutters, cut out car shapes from the slices of cake. Brush with butter and place on the grill. Cook until nice grill marks appear, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the whipped topping, cream cheese, and coconut extract.
• Frost the car shaped cakes with a small amount of the coconut frosting.
• To decorate the cars: Use ribbon candy as racing stripes, rock candy as windows, and mini chocolate sandwich cookies as wheels.

LITTLE CAR CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms only of three 8x4-inch loaf pans, or spray bottoms with cooking spray.
• Make cake batter as directed on cake mix box. Divide batter evenly among pans.
• Bake 25 to 32 minutes (28 to 37 minutes for dark or nonstick pans) 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 cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Freeze cakes uncovered about 1 hour for easier frosting.
• Remove 1/4 cup frosting from each container; set aside. To make purple frosting, stir 8 drops blue food color and 8 drops red food color into 1 container frosting. To make bright green frosting, stir 3 drops green food color and 3 drops yellow food color into other container frosting.
• Place 2 loaves, rounded sides down, on tray. To seal in crumbs, frost one with a thin layer of purple frosting; frost the other with a thin layer of green frosting. Cut remaining loaf crosswise in half; taper the cut edges slightly to form windshields. Place one half on each cake for cab, placing about 3 inches from front edge and with tapered windshield side toward front of car. Frost windows of cabs with a thin layer of reserved vanilla frosting; frost top and edges with a thin layer of colored frosting. Refrigerate or freeze cakes 30 to 60 minutes to set frosting. Frost entire cars with same colors.
• Use licorice to outline windows and make bumpers. Add starlight candies for headlights and taillights; add cookies for wheels and the spares. Place gumdrop on top of 1 car for beacon and add candles for radio antennas. Store loosely covered.

OFF-THE-ROAD CAR CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches. Make cake mix as directed on package, using water or milk and eggs. Pour into pans.
• Bake 33 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Cut and remove 3 inches from end of 1 loaf. Position pieces as shown in diagram for desired automobile. Freeze cut pieces uncovered about 1 hour for easier frosting if desired.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the frosting. Tint remaining frosting with food color. Place whole loaf on tray. Frost top with 1/3 cup tinted frosting. Top with cut layer, positioning for desired car. Trim corners for more rounded look if desired. Attach cookies for wheels, using small amount of frosting. Draw outline of windows with sharp knife. Frost windows and hubcaps with reserved white frosting. Frost sides and top of car with remaining tinted frosting, building up around wheels for fenders.
• Outline windows, hood, doors and bumpers with decorating gel. Use licorice beans for grill, door handles and signal lights. Cut gum balls in half; use for headlights and taillights. Make spoke markings on wheel with knife. Press 1 silver nonpareil in center of each wheel. Use silver nonpareils for hood ornament if desired. Silver nonpareils are not edible; remove them before eating cake.