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Dump Truck Cake
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 0 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Ready In: 25 Minutes
Servings: 8
GEARING UP to host a construction-themed birthday? This mouthwatering hauler will get your party on a roll. Our home economists made the treat speedy by using a packaged cake mix and spreading on east-to-mix frosting. What' more, they formed the truck's shape with basic loaf pans instead of a special mold. You can pave the way for your own big rig, too. just follow the simple instructions featured here.
Ingredients:
1 package chocolate cake mix (regular size)
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon shortening
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon butter, softened
2-2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
yellow and blue liquid food coloring
3 ho-ho snack cakes
6 chocolate-covered miniature doughnuts
shoestring black licorice
2 large white gumdrops
2 red m&m's
1 milk chocolate candy bar (1.55 ounces)
Directions:
1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans.
2. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. Using a serrated knife, level the top of each cake. Crumble removed tops; set cakes and crumbs aside.
4. In a small bowl, cream shortening, butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the milk and vanilla until smooth.
5. Place 1 cup frosting in a small bowl; tint yellow. Place 3/4 cup frosting in another bowl; tint blue. Place 1/4 cup frosting in a third bowl; leave plain. Frost the top of one cake yellow; top with the remaining cake to from truck body.
6. For truck cab, measure 2 in. from one end. Cut 1-3/4 in. straight down; cut at an angle 1-1/2 in. deep and 1 in. toward the front of the truck. Remove cake wedge and save for another use.
7. For dump truck bed, leave 1-1/2 in. of cake for cab roof, then cut 1/2 in. deep at an angle. Make a horizontal cut to the back of the truck. Remove cake wedge and save for another use.
8. For wheel axles, place two snack cakes side by side and 1/2 in. apart near one corner of an 11-in. x 10-in. covered board. Place the remaining snack cake parallel to and 2 in. from the inside snack cake. Carefully arrange truck body over snack cakes. Frost the hood, doors and bottom third of the truck with yellow frosting. For wheels, attach doughnuts with plain frosting on each side of truck.
9. Spread some of the white frosting on the slanted windshield. Place the remaining white frosting in a pastry or plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner. Pipe the windows on the doors. Frost the rest of the dump truck blue.
10. Cut thirteen 3/4-in. strips of licorice. Arrange eight strips on the front of the truck for the grille; set the remaining strips aside. For headlights, cut gumdrops in half. Place rounded half of each on outside of grille; discard the remaining cut gumdrops.
11. Cut two 3-1/2-in. strips, two 1-in. strips, six 1-3/4-in. strips, two 1-1/4-in. strips and four 2-in. strips of licorice. Using the 3-1/2-in. and 1-in. strips, form the windshield. Place two 3/4-in. strips on windshield for wipers. For doors, position two 1-1/4-in. strips for the door tops; place the 2-in. strips for the door sides. Decorate sides and back of truck with remaining licorice.
12. Place M&M's on back of bed for rear lights. For back bumper, break candy bar into individual sections at perforations. Cut one piece in half widthwise. Place some of the chocolate, flat side out, on the truck back (save remaining chocolate for another use). Spoon reserved crumbled cake into truck bed for dirt. Yield: 8-10 servings.
By RecipeOfHealth.com