3D Thomas Train Cake Recipe
Would your Thomas obsessed pre-schooler love a themed birthday party with an amazing cake in the shape of the famous little blue train? Well, you’re not alone. Thomas the Tank Engine toys are amongst the best-selling preschool items in the US, UK and Australia. Kids everywhere love a Thomas party and thankfully, plenty of other brave parents have paved the way (check out their party ideas here). And read on for step by step instructions to make the 3D Thomas train cake.
To make this Thomas Cake you will need:
The Cake & Fondant Template
This Thomas cake will serve 40 people, you can scale it down if you have less guests.
Cake: two and a half times the rich chocolate cake recipe baked into five trays 25cm (9.84 inches) x 38cm (14.96 inches) baked at 356F (180 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes.
Fondant for thomas train cake
400g (14.11 ounces) black fondant
650g (22.93 ounces) blue fondant
450g (15.87 ounces) red fondant
30g (1.06 ounces) yellow fondant
160g (5.64 ounces) grey fondant
Note: Fondant quantities are actual amounts used on the cake, so allow extra for rolling out.
Frosting for train cake:
Two quantities of buttercream recipe in flavour of your choice
Two quantities of ganache recipe, allow to cool completely at room temp overnight. Whip together with the buttercream, use to cover the outside of the train before adding fondant.
Equipment needed for train cake:
Fondant extruder (makes it quicker and easier but optional you can roll long skinny snakes instead).
Circle cutters
Ruler
Pizza cutter (optional)
drinking straw to cut small circles
rolling pin
non-stick baking paper
spray oil
metal piping tip or something with 1.7cm (0.67 inches) diameter to cut circle
To make the thomas train face see this previous post:
Instructions
1: Make the fondant details ahead of time so they can dry out (see video)
2: Bake the cakes, prepare the frosting and make the simple syrup. This can be done 2 days before the party. See above for quantities.
3: Construct and decorate the cake the day before the party. See the video for demonstration. You will need a very strong cake board that is at least 35cm (13.78 inches) long and 20cm (7.87 inches) wide.
4. If it is very hot where you live, store in the fridge otherwise room temperature is fine.
5. Enjoy the birthday boy or girl’s face when they see their Thomas cake. Don’t forget to take photos!
by Ann Reardon
2013
My Cookbook
Stores that sell my book listed by country:
http://bit.ly/ARcookbook
All recipe quantities in the book are in grams, ounces and cups.
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What a great tutorial! This was my first time baking a birthday cake and using fondant.
I absolutely enjoyed creating this 3d thomas.
Just a heads up to those looking to create the thomas cake, follow instructions carefully and plan ahead!
The hardest part was covering the whole cake with blue fondant without cracking or tearing the fondant. Overall I was very happy with the end result.
yes you can pay in any currency, paypal will convert it
can you send the directions to my email
yes i can but could you also please check your spam email folder as often that’s where they disappear.
what link do i follow to down load thomas the tank engine . i have paid for it.
Another picture pls
so good!
This is my son’s cake
Fantastic job TAYO
I bought the template at the weekend and was able to make my son’s 4th birthday on Wednesday .
It surprised me because I thought I will not be to accomplish it after I had a cake done on Tuesday but despite that your template and how to video is really SUPER.
Thank you for the tutorial and having it in
Mind to try out the McQueen cake.
Cheers
Ty for the tutorial, I made this for my 2 year old who is Thomas mad. I had to do some alterations as a few pieces broke as I put them on the cake but I’m very pleased with the end result 🙂
well done, it looks amazing Tabby
Hi Ann,
My Son has asked for a Hiro cake (thomas and friends) and was wondering if I could use your template to make it too (with slight modifications)?
Any help would be appreciated. This will be my first 3D cake
Thanks, Anisa
Hi Ann,
Just want to say thank you for your template, recipes and video tutorial on the Thomas cake. I made this cake for my son’s 4th birthday and I am so happy with it. This is my very first decorated cake, first 3D cake and first time working with fondant. I’m so proud of myself and never thought i could make something like this. My son loved it and said Thomas tasted yummy! Alot of effort and hardwork, but glad i gave it a go and the end result is so worth it. Thank you, Ann 🙂
amazing! congratulations Amy
Wow, thank you for an amazing tutorial, I will print buy the template and print it a bit smaller say 2 3rds of your size as my oven is smaller and largest tin is 12 by 12, if I need to do one your size I think I woul need to bake an extra cake. It’s my first carved cake (other than a hello kitty and a butterfly shape which don’t really count). Wish me luck.
Hi
I’m making this next week for my wee boys 2nd birthday, so making the bits this week out of fondant!! Wish is luck ha but I’m wondering what size cake board you used??
Thanks
Tyra
hi tyra, best way is to print out the template and find one of your cake boards that fits it 🙂
Ok thanks Ann for the reply 🙂
Good afternoon estimated.
Today I bought the template to make the cake thomas the train in 3d, for my nephew. Please could you tell me a guide of instructions written in pdf, to have clearer ideas and to make a nice cake like yours.
Or you can tell me where I can find more instructions than the video. I’m from Ecuador, I have not much experience. Please for many people is the cake? Do you have the recipe for vanilla cake? What are the measures cake thomas the train?
Best Regards,
Thank you so much for this template!! Just brought mine 🙂
Love all your videos!!! Your amazing!!
Hi Anne,
Thanks for this tutorial, your cakes are amazing!
What size board and cake box would you suggest for the 3D Thomas cake fit into?
Thanks
Sarah
Hi when baking the rich chocolate cake what gluten free flour did you use.
trying to post picture…hopefully it works this time.
cake looks fantastic. just wondering is that the same scale cake as what Ann made hers at is it 2 1/2 times the recipe
great job Chelsey!
My first attempt at a 3D cake and never used fondant before. Followed template and directions. fairly easy…but sizing was a bit off for me. Overall turned out better than expected!
Is 2lbs of Blue Fondant enough?
Hi Ann , is was going to try this cake, however just wondering how deep are the cake trays. You mentioned 38 x 25cm. My trays are 36 x 24cm, but they are not very deep
Thanks. ,Sue
Hi Sue, my trays are only 1.8cm deep