Need a cake recipe for a BIG cake pan please

[Washersaurus]

DS1 wants a number 4 shaped cake (with dinosaurs on) so I have a 34x23cm/13.5x9inch deep rectangular cake pan at the ready.

His birthday is on Sunday so I have a couple of days to perfect it. I am planning on covering in green butter cream and sticking plastic dino's on top - will this work? Should I just put jam in the middle?

Will my pan make a cake deep enough to cut in half and spread some jam on?

I have never baked a cake this big before, so I would be really grateful if someone could offer some advice re: quantities etc.

[Washersaurus]

I have my eye on on this vanilla cake recipe or should I stick to something more basic?

[Washersaurus]

Where are all the cake experts when you need them eh?

[dizzydixies]

washersaurus, I was just coming on to link you to the vanilla cake recipe! it hasn't let me down yet and its FAB and easy to make

[Washersaurus]

What would I need to with quantities dizzy? Would I get away with making 2 cakes and baking them in my large tin and then sticking them together with jam?

[Washersaurus]

Most importantly will I be able to cut it into the shape of a number 4, or should I stick to Madeira cake?

[dizzydixies]

oh if its cutting you want then Nigella has a buttermilk cake recipe thats meant to be very good for that

[Washersaurus]

I wasn't sure about Nigella as there seemed to mixed reviews, so I went ahead and made 2 madeira cakes using regular quantities and baked at 170 deg for 25 mins. I have stuck them together with strawb jam and have carved the cake into a number 4. I will butter cream ice it tomorrow and decorate with dinosaurs.

I have sampled the offcuts and it is very tasty indeed

I have filed the vanilla cake recipe for future reference. Thanks ever so much for you help. I may post a pic of the finished cake if it turns out OK.