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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Hello,
Do you have any thoughts, tips or advice on making this using modeling chocolate instead of fondant?
Hi Janel, great timing – I just put up a video using modelling chocolate to cover a cake instead of fondant https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/3d-dinosaur-cake/
Thank you Ann, by sheer chance I jumped back on here and just saw it! Great timing indeed! 🙂
I would like to purchase the template for the Thomas the train
Hi Samantha, just click on the buy button to add it to your cart ?
Where do i get the template from for thomas tank engine cake
I have never worked with fondant before, and found all the instructions quite easy to follow – however, made a tiny whoops at the end (and I’m gonna to blame this on fatigue as I had to juggle 1yo twins and a 3yo to bake under siege), but I ended up not adding an extra bit of cake for the face. These “mistakes” make it memorable though, and I creatively jiggled it a bit! My 21yo LOVED the effort of touching base with his childhood obsession and my Thomas was a smash hit! Thankyou for giving me the ability to do something this creative ?
Hi Rebecca, you are a champion mum ? making anything with 3 kids under 3 is amazing well done
Ive just purchased the templates but i cant open the file.
Hi Julie, All templates are standard PDF’s and usually open easily. These is the standard format used for emailing documents. If you don’t have software to view PDF’s these are available free online. I would recommend adobe acrobat free pdf reader. If you still experience issues, then please email us at customer-care (at) howtocookthat.net and we can assist you further.
My son’s 2nd birthday cake. He loved it
That is awesome Sarah. Great work and I love your THomas Face.
Hi do you ship templates to uk
Hi Sonia, Templates are made available online immediately on purchase. You should also receive a back up email link.
Hi, couple of questions I want to check.
Is the buttercream and ganache mixed for between the layers as well as under the fondant?
Is there a recommendation to roll the fondant? I want to refresh the basics is there a video or page you suggest?
Can you use your own buttercream recipe and just mix that with the ganache?
Also I’ve seen a few different depths of the cake tins – what is used here? I’ve seen to fill the tins 2/3 full.
Thank you very much!
Hi Penny, Ann usually 2/3 fills her tins but it is approximate only. Just as long as you are considstent with whatevery you do, so your cakes are similar in size. Ann likes to mix the ganache and buttercream togather under the fondant for stability and flavour. You could do this on the layers of you wish. Here is a page on fondant basics: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/sugar-paste-fondant-cake-decorations/ and https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/the-great-fondant-review-which-fondant-is-best/ . For further tips, just watch a few of the fondant cake tutorials on the site and just practics covering a small bowl or box with fondnat to get the feel of it again.
Hi ann ,how are u? Love all ur cakes,desserts, macaroons …i wanted to know if i want to make a smaller version of Thomas tank cake say for 10 ppl …how can i use ur template making a smaller version? Plz reply soon need to make this weekend 🙂
Tia 🙂
Hi Sania, you could just reduce the template size buy printing it at say 75% in your printer settings. Obviously the quantities could then be reduced but be aware that the fondant details become a little more fiddly to create.
Hi,
I just wondered how deep the cake tin you used?
thanks
Hi Gemma, Ann uses standard trays to bake and the rectabgukar ones are about 3.5cm deep.
Hi Ann!
Love this tutorial thank you!
I am just wondering, if I were to cut down the recipe to half to cater to 20 guests, would the template still work? Assuming not, wuld you have the template to suit?
Thank you!
Hi Zoe, You could adjust the template by reducing it to the size you have in mind but the fondant details are easy to do at this size, I would recommend leaving it as is. You will definitely get more than 20 large serves from this cake or up to 40 small serves.
I made this for my nephews third birthday. I think I did well all things considered. I’ve never made a 3D cake of this complexity before, I have a chronic pain condition and only 50% feeling in my hands and fingers. The last time I made a 3D cake my health was a lot better.
Thank you so much for the in-depth guide. Without it my nephews Thomas cake wouldn’t have been anything as good.
Well done Jennifer! Thanks for posting a pic of your creation.
Well this one certainly challenged me. I’m quite pleased with the results tho, hopefully my nephew will love it ?
We are sure he will Becky!! Well done.
Great cake! Very hard but I got there.
Well done Mel, Your Thomas cake looks amazing! Well done!
Just wanted to say thanks for the tutorial Ann ? I made this for my nephews birthday, huge success!!
Great work Bree! Really good fondant work.
Hi donu have printable stencils
Hi Ann, would you have any advice on where I can purchase the correct size (25cm x 38cm) rectangle cake pans for this recipe? I live in a remote town, so will probably have to purchase online. Thanks in advance ?
Danielle
Hi Danielle, You can get these standard sized cake trays (15 x 11 inch)at most baking stores or department stores or even supermarkets. If the size isn’t exact it doesn’t matter. Just cut the cake to the right sizes using the templates.
How far in advance would I be able to start to make all the fondant details?
Hi Rachel, You could make them 2-3 weeks in advance.
Hi, should I scale the PDF print size down a percentage if I want to make this smaller?
yes you can scale it down (and reduce the ingredients too of course)
Hi Ann,
I am going to make his for my Thomas-mad son but as he doesn’t like chocolate cake, I’m planning to use your sponge cake recipe instead. Do I need the same 2.5 cake mixture as the chocolate mix? Thanks in advance.
Best,
Lynn
Hi Lynn, Yes the quantities will be the same. You will probably want to simple syrup as well to keep the cake moist.
Great, thanks Ann!