Using the same method and recipe as the Halloween cake I prepared it the night before so it would be easier to carve and layer. This is a little trick I learnt along the way.The following morning at the crack of dawn the fun began. Cutting the cake into three layers I prepared the butter-cream.Using 339g of butter , milk,31.5 oz of icing sugar I combined it with some vanilla essence to make the perfect consistency to cover the cake in. Once the 3 layers were butter-creamed I began to cover the sides of the cake carving off any bumpy bits in preparation for the icing.
Now for the fondant layer. I chose sky blue for the cake and I would put Thomas exiting the side of the cake through what would look like a tunnel. Taking 3 packets of ready to roll fondant I began to knead them. Now anyone who has tried to knead ready to roll fondant knows the hulk himself would struggle . Putting a bit of muscle into it it started to soften nicely. Next up it was time to roll it out. The trick with fondant is to keep it moving on the work surface with a sprinkle of cornflour. Once measured against the cake and confident it would cover it I rolled it back over the roller to prevent it ripping. Once draped over the cake patting it down and smoothing it out becomes a priority, trimming off the excess edges.
Now for the tunnel. I cut out some black fondant to signify the darkness inside the tunnel then using some dark grey fondant shaped some stones for around the tunnel. Then cutting out the face of Thomas himself using the different colours and placed him as though he was leaving the tunnel. Of course Thomas would not be complete with out a railway track. Using brown chocolate flavoured fondant I cut out rectangles and joined them together with long strips. It was starting to look great. As I wanted to give the illusion of a sky clouds were needed. It took a few attempts and a great deal of patience but eventually I cut one large cloud which I put Tommy on and a small one for the age.
Finally it was complete
