Birthday cake recipe for loaf tins

[shufflebum]

I'm bravely going to do a train cake for DS for his birthday, does it really matter what the actual cake is? I'm going to do it in loaf tins but I think I then need to freeze the cake for a bit so it doesn't crumble when I cut it. I usually just bake bog standard lemon but I'm not sure that will go with buttercream icing? Will a basic sponge cake be okay in a loaf tin?

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Yes, I don't see why not. I'm sure your DS will be thrilled I wouldn't bother to freeze it before icing, it's no easier as the ice cyrstals just melt and makes icing difficult. If using butter icing, have a pallate knife standing in a tall jug of very hot water to use when spreading. Wipe the blade off the side and put back into the water for a few seconds before scooping more icing to spread.

The train could be pulling mini rolls logs!

Thanks for the tip, yes will be using butter icing and this is all new territory for me so any advice gratefully received!
I have found this www.deliaonline.com/Community/forum.html?forum_action=5&forum_forumid=13&forum_threadid=8195 so was going to use is for the cake recipe and then this
www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/train-cake/5685f320-1e5c-4ebb-b2cd-1ab73633b016
and this
honey-mommy.blogspot.com/2009/05/easy-train-cake.html
for inspiration.

Although the Annabel Karmel version maybe resorted to if I get desperate
www.flickr.com/photos/adrianandcathysmith/3906873135/

In my experience the more sweets on the cake, the better! Take the best of what is out there in the way of ideas, but do not be afraid to improvise and use your imagination, at the last minute!

Am struggling to find "laces" for my track so think I will have to resort to chocolate fingers! Woolworths was always great for that sort of thing.
Do you think that recipe will be okay for the cakes?

I would do ginger bread cake as you can bake in loaf tine and then keep wrapped up in a tin for a week and it will be better and not crumble when you cut - you don't have to make very strong ginger flavour and can

Not a fan of gingerbread! Any other suggestions?

licorice 'shoes laces' for tracks works well and half a small choc swiss roll for the chimney.

I 'made' one years ago for my ds which comprised a large choc swiss roll, half a small choc swiss roll for the chimney, half a chocolate slab cake for the cabin, round biscuits for wheels, smarties for various decorations and the licorise for tracks. All stuck together with butter icing. It went down a treat.

crystalglasses that would be the Annabel Karmel creation, that is my back up plan when my homemade version fails!
I can't find laces locally, need to make the effort to go to Tesco, just can't be bothered!

madera cake in a loaf tin is ok - but has almonds

Try this one which calls for a loaf pan. It's very tasty.

Or, the Nigella one is really good, too. Tastes great. And it is perfect for shaped cakes as it is really robust. I just used it last weekend for my DS's pirate cake. I haven't made it in a loaf pan, but perhaps try it out first. Probably would need to cook longer. Look at baking911.com for tips on scaling cake recipes and cooking times for different pans.

I made a train cake last year for DS, I used a madeira cake recipe as it's more "heavy" than sponge, IYSWIM, so a bit easier to cut/stack etc. (Don't recall almonds though, mine was vanilla )
I think I just used one loaf sponge as the main bit, then about 2 thirds of another one upended for the cabin, all covered in buttercream. then I used mini jammie dodgers for the wheels, and stacked a couple up for the chimney. I thinkg I even used one for a face (mine was supposed to be Percy!) and covered it in white roll-out icing then used an icing pen for the face.
I love the sound of tracks and stuff, I wasn't that dedicated creative!

I've never hear od Annabel Karmel. I'll google her now

That Guardian one looks good, will give that a go, like the idea of the cinnamon swirl variation.
crystalglasses you've not missed much, makes lots of money from writing books about children's food. It just made me smile as most of her recipes take forever and are homemade wholesome food so the idea of her promoting a swiss roll assembly rather takes the piss!

Thanks for your help everyone, am going to give it a go tomorrow