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.
Hi,
Just a couple more questions: what size eggs do you use? Large or medium?
Also what kind or cream do you use? Single or double?
Hi Kirt, Ann uses medium sized eggs. The terms single and double cream dont always give a great indication of what cream to use. Here is a link to a page about cream: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/cream-use/%3C/a%3E . Ann uses cream with a fat content of at least 35% fat which in most cases would fall under the banner of double cream’.
Hi Ann, can you use butter instead of Margarine?
Thanks
Hi Kirt, Yes you can. Ann prefers to use margarine in most cases just because it is a healthier option.
Hi,
Im having trouble finding cake tins to make the cake the correct size. where did you get yours from or can you recommend somewhere?
Thanks
Hi Carly, these are just standard 10 inch by 15 inch baking trays which are usually readily available, however you could use any rectangular sheet baking tray of a similar size, even if it is not exactly the same.
Hi,
I would like to know where I can find the template? I’ve searched the website and looked at the different links but without success.
Thanks.
Hi Amy-Leigh, You can purchase the template via the Buy It Now button or at the shop page: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/shop/?orderby=date
Thanks heaps for this template. It was a great help. The cake was much loved by the Thomas crazy little girl.
Your cake looks awesome Janelle! Well done!
Hi, do I make 2.5 batches of the cake recipe or can combine it all together in one mix?
Hi Brooke, You can mix it in one batch.
Hello, I’m getting ready to construct my cake tomorrow, and am making the ganache and frosting today. I just wanted to check about whipping the two together, as I note the instruction says to do this, but it looks like the video tutorial keeps the two icings separate. Does it matter which option I take? I’ve never worked with fondant, or made a 3D cake before so wanting to get it right!
Hi Kate, Ann likes to mix them together to help the fondant adhere well.
Thanks so much. It was a lot of work, especially as I had never made a novelty cake or worked with fondant before, but the pre-work was a bonus and I was very happy with the result. My guests were wowed, and the cake tasted excellent. Thanks so much for the template and tutorials. Totally worth it!
Very happy with the result and so was my daughter – thank you!
Hi Kate, your finished cake looked fantastic. Well done!
Hi Ann.
I’d appreciate it if you could give the dimensions of the Thomas cake when finished: length, width, height at the highest point.
Thanks lots. Love your tutorials!
Hi Ann
Thanks for making the impossible achievable! I never thought I was capable of making a 3D cake like this! Your template is fantastic and your directions are spot on. Thanks again!
Awesome Maria!
Hi. I’m looking to make this cake for my son’s 2nd birthday next month. My question is around making the fondant ahead of time. I am assuming that you can’t really do that because all of the fondant pieces will go hard and stiff and then won’t mould to the cake? Perhaps some of the pieces (face, wheels, sides) can be made ahead and then the bits that need to be moulded can be made on the day? Thanks
Hi Hayley, Yes you are correct. It is easy to do some of the details prior and just do the main fondant covering on the day prior to serving and add you dry pieces to the main cake. Just wet the dry fondant piece slightly and join it to the fresh fondant.
I purchased the recipe and pattern but somehow my computer freaked out and I could not download it. How can I retrieve this? I’m excited to create this for my grandson’s upcoming birthday. Thanks so much for your help!
Christine
Hi Ann,
I bought the template and used the tutorial to make the cake, thanks so much for that,
just a quick note for those who may want to have a smaller cake (20 servings).
I printed the template in %75 scale and it worked perfectly.
Thanks Ziba.
Your templates plus the video were super helpful, thank you! Mine was no perfect but the birthday boy was so happy with his cake!
Your cake looks beautiful Gabriela. Well done!
Hi, I’m in the U.K. And attempting to make this cake for my sons birthday on Friday, could you tell me the ingredients and qunitys for either a lemon cake or a plain sponge cake, my son doesn’t like chocolate thank you
Hi Rebecca, You could use Ann’s spong cake receipe as it is fairly robust and will handle the carving. You can use a sugar syrup (spray or brush on) to keep it nice and moist. You will find it here: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/sponge-cake-recipe/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Hi Ann
I used the guide to make a Thomas and Percy cake for a friend’s twins and they loved it!
They looks so fabulou sFebin. Well done!
I made this for my sons third birthday. A lot of work but totally worth it. It definitely impresses! I found the buttercream/ganache mixture really needed 2.5 times not 2 times. The cake was hard to cut too and covering it with blue fondant was difficult as getting a bit big enough without it cracking/ tearing was near impossible! But the fondant templates are excellent and definitely make these ahead as it saves a lot of time. The face part didn’t stick on either so we ended up skewering it on which worked well and no body knew! Definitely put the sugar syrup in between the layers as this stop the cake drying out.
Great work Gill. I think putting on the blue fondant is definitely the hardest part. Having a great brand that is easy to work with does help a lot.
Hi there, any suggestions on where to buy the pre- coloured fondant? I’d greatly appreciate it. I live in Brisbane. Thanks!
HI Gillian, Ann varies the brand she uses but does buy why it is readily available online or in cake shops in Australia. It is a good ide to test out a brand for yourself and see how it responds in your climate.
I cant buy the Thomas template. I click to buy but page just keeps refreshing
Hi Ana, I believe our Tech support team have already assisted you with this enquiry. Let me know if there are any further issues.
I have bought this template and did a trail run cake today but finding it hard to do the round bit at the front any tips please x
Hi Jodie, Are you talking about the face or the front of the engine?. Sometimes people have experienced difficult with the face. If you place it on with ganache behind it to let it stick and let it firm up on the circl of cake. The black fondant surround should help keep it in place. If you are finding that front section is slipping after you put it on the cake, use two toothpicks to pin it in to place until firmed up. Just remember to remove them before service or before cutting if you are nervous that it fall forward.
Will you mail me the template or is it something I can print off?
Hi Jessica, When you purchase the template you should be able to download it automatically. If you provide an active email address you should also receive the link in your inbox.