Disney Cars Cake For Collin!

by Brianne Duncan
(Barron, Wisconsin, USA)

My Disney Cars Cake For Colin!


Cake decorating has been handed down to me from my grandmother. Grandma, aka "Bama," made us beautiful decorated cakes for birthdays, Easter, Valentine's day...and now it is a tradition I am continuing with my children. There is just something special about a homemade decorated cake for your birthday.

Our son, Collin, was born on my birthday two years ago. (Dad is happy he only has one birthday to remember!) About three months before his second birthday, which was this past December, we rented the Disney movie "Cars" from the library. Well, needless to say, we watched that movie at least once a day, for a full two months. We finally had to return the movie to the library but grandma and grandpa just had to buy if for Collin!

Well, I knew exactly what birthday design to make him! I found a Lightning McQueen shaped pan. I ordered it, it came, but was rather small for almost 30 guests at the birthday party. I needed more !

I decided upon making a sheet for the car-shaped cake to sit on. I made a White Texas Sheet with raspberry filling. Lightning McQueen was made out of Sour Cream Chocolate. White cake was a must because we had a non-chocolate eater coming to the party! (Who doesn't like chocolate? CRAZY!!!)

Some Cake Decorating Ideas


After I had the sheet cake put together, I covered with white buttercream frosting. Then I made a grid from one inch squares/strips to get a checker design. I then piped in black frosting, smoothed the squares out so the white sheet cake looked like a race tracks checkered flag.

Next, I positioned the Lightning McQueen and started decorating! What I found most fun was doing the tires on the car. I took a #16 star tip and used a continual stream and went around in an oval until I had the whole tire filled in. It looked just like the tread on a tire!

I also wanted the number 95 variegated, since this is how Lightning's number is on the movie. I first filled in the orange to the left of the number. Then I got the idea to take most of the remaining orange in the bag, out and put some yellow in. I pushed everything down, squeezed a little out until I had a variegated color and made the
number in stars! It turned out great!

I Finished off with shelling around the bottom of Lightning McQueen and also around the bottom of the sheet cake. It was now complete with a Lightning McQueen Piston Cup candle! SUCCESS! Or should I say, CA-CHOW!!! (Lightning McQueens favorite saying!)

The Recipes


White Texas Sheet Cake recipe (as found in my Basics and More cookbook on page 315)

1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 cups flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup sour milk or sour cream (I use sour milk)
1 tsp. baking soda

Heat butter and water until butter melts. Add sugar, salt, and flour. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into a greased 15X10 pan. (I also floured my pan so it was easy to remove.) Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
(I made two full recipes for a two layer cake that was 15X10. It is a heavier cake but very good tasting, especially with raspberry filling!)

For the raspberry filling I used a jelled raspberry filling that I had found at the whole foods pantry. I believe it is mainly used for pastries. But worked well for this layered cake.

The sour cream chocolate cake is what Bama always made her decorated cakes out of so that is what I use too! Plus it is a cake that stays so very moist and is easy to work with.

Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup hot water
2 eggs
2 cups flour

Mix sugar and sour cream. Add coca dissolved in hot water. Add eggs, flour and soda. Mix together well. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until done.
(One recipe usually is enough for a a small to medium size shaped cake pan. I have had to double this to fill a little larger shaped pan.)

A Cake Board Tip!

I use a piece of smooth wood, at least 1/2 inch think, covered in contact paper as my board for my decorated birthday cakes. It slides easy into a large cake box. You can kind of see the board that this cake is one.

Here is a video link to singing happy birthday to Collin and him blowing out his candles.

Comments for Disney Cars Cake For Collin!

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Feb 11, 2011
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Awesome Disney Cars Cake
by: Lorelie

Thanks Brianne for your detailed, helpful and inspiring entry! Great tips and recipes and the cake is awesome! Colin must have really loved it too!
Good Luck!

Feb 11, 2011
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Bria Bria
by: Adam

Sweet cake Bria.....looks like it was hard to make but you made it happen! Way to be!!

Feb 11, 2011
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Collin's Birthday Cake
by: Hope

Brianne-You are so talented! And being able to carry on your Grandmas tradition is such a blessing, I know she would be so proud of you. The time and detail that you took for that one cake is a talent in itself. Thanks for sharing the recipes and instructions. Cant wait to see what the next cake will be. :)

Feb 11, 2011
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Collins Cake
by: Beth

Bri You did an Awesome job on Collins Cake and yes I got to try it first hand and I also watched you make and decorate this great cake.(I the one who doesn't eat chocolate)I loved the white with raspberry it was vary good :)

Feb 11, 2011
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Cars cake
by: Mollie

Awesome cake!! Hoping I can manage to be that creative for my kids birthday.

Feb 11, 2011
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awesome!!!!
by: Melynda

Thta is awesome! will you make one for me... ok the boys!! You did an awesome job
Melynda

Feb 11, 2011
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Awesome!!
by: Randi Stoeberl

This is an awesome cake!!! I want one!! :)

Feb 12, 2011
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Simply Awesome
by: Angie

Thank you so much for the step-by-step instructions, tips and inspiring design! I just love boy-cake design ideas, and the checkered flag backdrop was brilliant. It made the cake eye-catching and fun without taking away from the star of the show. The colors on the car do look just like the show. Good job!

Feb 12, 2011
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Collins Car cake
by: Debby Gardner

Awesome cake! You're hired! Keep up this wonderful talent and tradition :))

Feb 15, 2011
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Awesome
by: Deb

your grandma would be so proud! Love it...

Feb 17, 2011
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Awesome
by: Anonymous

As a mother who also enjoys making her children's birthday cakes and decorating them herself, I definitely have respect and Awe for this one. It is beautiful and creative. Good luck in all of your future cakes.

Feb 17, 2011
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Rockin'
by: Kaela Splett

What a rockin' cake, Brianne! Any boy would definitely love it. Good luck with the contest!

Feb 17, 2011
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Wonderful Cake
by: Brenda

Your cake was beautiful and every little detail of the car right down to the checker board was perfect. Not only was it beautifully designed but the cake was very flavorful. Great job; keep up the great work. Happy decorating!

Feb 17, 2011
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Cars cake
by: Tonia

Your cake is so fun! What a special tradition to carry on. I love it.

Feb 17, 2011
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Cool Cake
by: Albin Peterson

What a great job on your cake Brianne! I can see you put a lot of time into it and it looks wonderful. Keep up the good work.

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