Posted by: Brenda 08-09-99 9:14 AM
School Bus Cake
1 package yellow cake mix
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup shortening
8 to 9 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons black paste or gel food coloring
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon yellow paste or liquid food coloring
2 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, cut in half
2 yellow gumdrops
6 red gumdrops
Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
Bake in two greased 8 in. x 4 in. x 2in. loaf pans.
When cakes test done, remove from pans to a wire rack to cool completely.
Place cakes end to end on a 22 in. x 8 in covered board.
Level if needed.
From top of one end, form front of bus by cutting out a section 1 inch deep and 3 inches long; (save removed piece for another use).
For frosting, beat butter and shortening in a mixing bowl until fluffy.
Beat in 6 cups confectioners' sugar, milk , vanilla and salt.
Beat in enough additional sugar until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency.
Remove 3/4 cup of frosting; add black food coloring to it.
Tint remaining frosting yellow.
Frost entire cake yellow.
First coat edge of cookies with yellow frosting to form wheel wells; place two cookie halves on each side of bus.
Cut a hole in corner of a plastic bag and insert a #5 round tip in a pasty bag; fill with black frosting. Outline windows on both sides of bus; pipe stripe under windows.
Pipe windshield and back window; fill in with black frosting.
Pipe lines on front for grille.
Place yellow gumdrops on front of bus for headlights; place red gumdrops on front and back for lights.
Yield: 12-16 servings