chocolate cake recipe for 'carving' (?!) and decorating?

[asicsgirl]

DS (nearly 5) wants a train cake for his birthday. Steam trains are old hat (apparently ) so I thought I'd try and do a Eurostar cake (note minimal shaping needed - I just need to cut a sloping front, I figure).

I got a bit lost wandering around cake decorating sites. Most of them suggest using madeira cake - but DS wants a chocolate cake. Can I make a choc madeira cake? e.g. by substituting some of the flour with cocoa? or can anyone recommend another choc cake that will be firm enough to 'carve' and cover with the dreaded fondant?

Could you do it with a shop bought chocolate swiss roll? I think that you would be able to slope that pretty easily, then you could cover it with fondant?

If you really want to make it, then www.desserts-recipes.com/chocolate-dessert-recipes/chocolate-madeira-cake.php

thanks! I found that recipe but got scared off it cos a) it uses cups (?) and b) it doesn't say what size tin you need... Bit of a novice as you can see!

Cups is a US measurement.

2 cups flour is 220g
1 cups sugar is 450g
2/3 cup cocoa is 75g
1.25 cups milk is 300ml

2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
3 tsp vanilla essence

Are you thinking of making it in a loaf tin to make a train shape?

Yes! I thought I'd do two 'loaves' and stick them end to end, so it is a bit longer. Not sure how to tell how much mix I need though. Or even how much cake I need for a party of ca. 20 children! would 2 x 1lb loaves be enough?

Carving cake is a lot easier if you freeze it first.

ooh i found a lovely chocolate mudcake thats nice and dense and moist so perfect for carving and they've included a table to adjust for different sized tins...yummy cake too...www.exclusivelyfood.com.au/2006/07/chocolate-mud-cake-recipe.html. yes definitely put it in the freezer or fridge first too.