I made a lightning McQueen cake today. Keira asked me how the wheel space was done. Here are some pictures that describe how the cake was done. Hope it helps. I baked the cake last weekend, carved it, wrapped it in plastic and froze it, the rest was done yesterday and today. I didnt think to take photos when i was cutting it up, so i have put a diagram instead. Mudcake is perfect for this type of work, as it is very moist and the parts can be stuck together by just applying a bit of pressure.
1. Bake oval cake, i used an 11 by 14 inch 3 inch tin, and used my dark mud recipe. Cut the sides as in the picture and put those piecese on top to form the roof of the car. Trim the sharp edges.
2. Using a round cookie cutter cut out the space for the wheels. (Wheels need to be made in fondant a few days in advance using a slightly smaller cookie cutter)
3. Cover entire cake in whipped ganache and smooth.
4. Cover cake in fondant, using a smaller cookie cutter than previously cut out the fondant where the hole for the wheels is and fold in the remaining fondant into the wheel space (????)
5. Add wheels
6. Add other trims, see finished product.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-gallery_display_50619.html

cheers
Nati

EXCELLENT!!!

do, oh do, submit this to become a permanent tutorial on here!!!

Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou!
I have always had trouble around the wheel area and I never would have thought to tuck the fondant in, I always have just cut with a circle and left it there!
Oh Nati, Thankyou so much for sharing your directions! I was amazed by how perfect your car is and despaired of ever being able to do a decent car!
My son's birthday is coming up in September and he will absolutely LOVE this!
I really appreciate your generosity in giving us the how-to!

I never would have thought of whipping the ganache, I have always poured it over for an even finish or used my spatula when it thickened for hard to reach spots! I should try whipping it.

You have made my day with your instructions! (have had 2 sleepless nights with sick kids so really appreciate the cheering up!)

Thankyou again Nati! You are awesome!

Nati,

LOVED the cake! But I must ask...what is a mud cake?

Keira
You're very welcome

Im not sure which recipe you use for ganache, i know some ppl add butter and/or sugar, i make mine with chocolate and cream only (600gms choc, 250mls cream)
I let it cool outside of the fridge for about half an hour before whipping it, you can't do anything with it when it's still warm.

Thanks Keira, hope the kids are feeling better (???)
take care
Nati

this is great!! thank you very much!

Wow, Nati, that is some cake! It is sooooo beautiful! Great job!

Hi Nati,
I make my ganache with just chocolate and cream too, so I will give it a go whipping it. Thanks!

The kids are still sick. My 2 year old daughter has a chesty cough but is otherwise unstoppable as usual...I think she is going to be a prima donna or actress or something...
My 4 year old son has me really worried. He has a severe chest infection that is almost pneumonia and is hacking his lungs out right now. Poor thing.. I don't think I will get much sleep tonight either and I have 3 cakes due this week. Hopefully all these antibiotics will work soon.
Many Thanks
Keira

Nati, as always, you never cease to amaze me. Who's Lightning McQueen?

Theresa

hi, wow, that cake is amazing, thank you so much for the tutorial, really helped to see the process. Im intrigued by your mud cake. could you share the recipe with me?

thank you

If you are not good at carving even with these easy directions, do what I did and use the 3d wilton car pan. Great job on the car by the way.

for those needing temp conversion help

Fahrenheit..Celsius
250............120
280............140
320............160
350............180
390............200

(these are "close enough" not exact equivalents)

The mudd cake recipe looks good, now if someone can translate the gms for me please.

this is copied from somewhere else on CC (clueless -- I saved it to my computer)

BUT....if you have an electronic scale, see if it can't weigh in grams....FAR more accurate.

thank you [/quote]
Thanks : )
The recipe is here, please note that the baking temperature is incorrect, and it should be 160 degrees celcius instead of 180.
It takes a long time to bake, but it's worth it cause it's yummy.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-2107-1-Dark-Chocolate-Mudcake.html
Nati[/quote]

Maybe you could ask a moderator to fix the error in the recipe to save someone some grief . Looks like a yummy recipe will have to try it.

Thanks for posting the recipe, but what are dark chocolate "buttons"?

got it, thanks

I LOVE your Cars cake, Directions, and pictures. Now, how do I save this so I can find it again?

That's amazing! Adorable!

I am so happy, it is going to make my son's day when he sees this cake... thank you so much.