Bob the Builder cake

[RikersBeard]

I can't find a suitable shop-bought one so have decided I am going to give it a go. However, my cake-making experience is so far limited to banana cake so this is new territory and I'd be glad of some advice.

1. The equipment: I have 2x 9" sandwich silicone baking moulds (unused). Are these ok and are they adequate for a cake to feed about 15 3yr olds?

1. The cake: madeira or vic sponge? Jam and buttercream in the middle? Do you have a fail safe recipe?

1. The decoration: I am planning fondant, making just Bob's face and hat with coloured icing (2D stuck on top). Stick it with jam or buttercream? How do i attach face to white covering? I have never covered a cake before but have watched on youtube, is there anything else I need to know?

1. Timings: for a Saturday party, when am I best making the cake and when to decorate it?

Any advice on any of these points would be fab, thank you

1. yes that will be plenty of cake - they won't need lots.
2. Madeira cake will slice better - vic sponge tends to crumble too much
3. I think buttercream is better for sticking - and you can easily stick fondant-to-fondant using either a tiny bit more buttercream or a little bit of sugar-water (disolve a tblsp of icing sugar in a little boiling water and let it cool, brush on lightly with a pastry brush to make a sticky surface). 2 key tips - don't ever skip the "crumb coating" stage (putting on a thin layer of icing so that cumbs are sealed in before you do the actual decorative layer). Don't expect perfection your first time - remember that 3 year olds won't notice any minor flaws.
4. depends on your cake but within reason (i.e. a week would be pushing it but 3 or 4 days would be fine) then once your cake is completely iced then the moiture is effectively sealed in so the cake won't go stale. So, plan to ice the cake the day after you bake it and fit it in whenever works for you.

I no baker, but do knock out a few amateur birthday cakes every year, and I agree totally with what the previous poster said. I also find it much easier to ice the cake frozen the day before the party, then let it defrost before the party. Don't panic, your audience is only 3!

I made DDs birthday cake in a similar way only it was peppa pig. I cant remember the quantities I used (8,8,8 and 4??? Is that right) but I added 125ml natural yoghurt and 100g white choc chips.

It was the best darn cake I have ever eaten. So moist. Even if I do say so myself :)

if you don't have to actually do Bob, there is this builder themed cake - I am doing a non-striped version for my 3yo next week!

Thanks everyone that's really helpful. I have ordered some coloured sugar paste so I guess I'm committed now!
fangirl if you buttercream the whole cake as your sticky layer, does that count as crumb coating, or do you need to do 2 layers of fondant as well?

kveta that cake is amazing, fabulous. But I suspect way way beyond my artistic capabilities. I have bookmarked in case I decide that I am any good at cakes :o