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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Hi Ann, i tried the Thomas cake and it turned out ok in the end, but when i pre made the parts for the sides and bumpers they dried and became very brittle and broke. What kind of fondant should be used please.
Hi Ann! We are here to say thank you so much for great instructions and video on how to pull this together. The hubby and I put great work and effort into this for our 1 year old a little over a month ago on March 30th for his birthday and it turned out EXCELLENT! My hubby made the fondant from scratch and all of the train parts for the cake including Thomas’s face, I baked the cake, made the ganache and the frosting, so it was a team effort! We were so proud of ourselves and so was our family and friends, thank you! 🙂
That is awesome, love that you made it together as a team. I hope your little one loved it 😀
Hi Sharon, when you print make sure you have not clicked scale or fit to page which will adjust the size of each page differently. You want it to print as is. It will print correctly on A4 (I am in Australia) and US letter too.
Hi Ann
I am wanting to purchase the Thomas template. will this template be emailed to me?
thanks ella
After payment do not close your screen, follow the links to download the template immediately and save it to your computer. You should also receive an email with the link.
Thank you for the lovely tutorial.
I have two questions:
– you mention ganache in the post, to pour over the cake before the fondant goes on, but I don’t see the step in the video. Is this a necessary step?
– some websites mention freezing the cake layers so that it is easier to cut to shape. Is this necessary as well?
Many thanks.
BT
Hi BT,
Yes you need to cover the cake in frosting, you can use whipped ganache or buttercream or any frosting of your choice, when put the fondant over that.
freezing a cake can make it easier to carve, but then you will need to let it completely defrost before you decorate it with fondant or the cold will cause condensation which will make the fondant wet. This can also dry out the cake so I prefer to use it fresh.
Thanks a million!
Hi all
I’m wanting to purchase this Thomas template for my little boys birthday in July but I’m in the uk?? Will I still be able to purchase it through pay pal even though I’m in the uk??
Thanks in Advance
Hi Trya, yes you can purchase it anywhere in the world and follow the link to download it.
Thanks Ann can’t wait to hopefully downloaded it 🙂
Hi
Great Cake!! thinking of giving it a go what size cake tins are required I couldn’t see it anyway & once paid does the template get emailed straight away? I have never worked with fondant.
Thanks
Jo 🙂
Hi Josephine After payment do not close your screen, follow the links to download the template. You should also receive and email with the link too. Cake tin sizes are above under cake heading
Thank you Ann for an excelent tutorial, I wanted to make this cake so bad for my one year old son and it was my first time ever working with fondant, or baking a 3D cake, I had fun and everyone said it was great.
I’ve been designated the baker for all my friends’ children parties 🙂
Thanks again for helping us make his birthday memorable.
Yay, great cake. Yes once you’ve baked one all the kids will expect you to make theirs too. Have fun baking more and more.
Hi Anne,
I would just like to say thank you for the great tutorials and the Thomas template. My 2 year old son loved the cake I made him.
Thanks again Natasha. (Australia)
What a cute pic, and a great cake well done. Thanks for sharing
Ann,
I wanted to share with you my finished Thomas cake using your tutorial and template! You have just made this cake a real favorite and I am sure I will be making it again! I know each time making it will improve. I found a couple of things that I needed to adjust but it was all so easy–I will know what to do the next time! I enjoy your videos so much! Thanks again!
Wonderful job Julie, love the train tracks and grass and happy birthday sign they finish it off beautifully.
Hi Ann
Is there another cake recipe I can use instead of chocolate?
Thanks
Jodi
Hi Jodi yes you could use red velvet or vanilla sponge, just type either into the search this site section on the top right of this page and you’ll find them.
Hi Ann,
May I know what is the size of the train? Length and width wise?
I’m making one in 2 weeks time and it has to be 12″ long.
Look forward to hearing from you.
xoxo
Kim
Hi Kim, this one is 11 3/4″ long and 5 and 3/4 ” wide, but you can always enlarge the template if needed.
Hi Ann,
Thanks for your reply. I will get the template now =)
are the templates sent out via email?
thanks
Hi Felicity template are available as soon as you pay, don’t click off the payment screen, follow the link back to download it. Email should also be sent to paypal email address used to pay, if not received check your ‘junk’ email or contact at howtocookthat [at]iinet.net.au
Hi Ann
I found your website when searching for a ‘how to make a Thomas the tank engine’. After watching the video, I definitely wanted to build the cake, it’s awesome!
My little nephew, who turns 3 next week, is a huge fan of Thomas. So this weekend, I wanted to try the rich Chocolate cake recipe. I followed the recipe step by step and although it tasted absolutely delicious, the cake did not bake very high, it stayed a ‘flat’ cake. Do you have any tips?
Thank you from a Belgian fan 🙂
I am going to buy the template again, I was not aware that it would be sent by e-mail. Could you please send this today. Thank you.
I ordered the template for Thomas the train cake last week, and I have not received it as of today 4-9-14, I need the cake next week, can you let me know if the template has been shipped. Thank you.
My template came through my email…I don’t think she ships them out.
Hello,
I purchased the template last Sunday (6the April) but have not received a link to download. How / when will I receive it?
Kind Regards
Caroline Harrison
It should be in the email account that you provided. Mine came almost instantly after purchasing it.
Not only was this the 1st time makings a 3D cake, but also a 1st using fondant (which I ran out of so thank goodness the shapes covered it) and a 1st making a cake from scratch! Thanks so much for the template & video. Easy to follow for an absolute beginner!
All I can say is wow, there are a lot of firsts there, I will have to post this one to Facebook
When you make the cake recipe doubled then an extra half…are you doubling it all at the same time…or mixing them separetly?
HI Chelsey I made them in separate batches due to the capacity of my bowls.
omg! You make it look so easy in the video! It was my first 3D cake and it was hard but I did it! You’re the best ann!
Amazing Mary, I can’t tell that it was your first 3D cake you did really well