Looking for kids cake ideas that are guaranteed to get a “wow” at the party table? This train cake from Etain, mum of three boys, is a family favourite — and it’s much easier to make than it looks. It bakes into individual train-shaped cakes, so it’s perfect for sharing out at a birthday party, and the fun really happens at the decorating stage.
This recipe makes 9 individual cakes, ideal for a birthday party.
Ingredients
- 225g (8oz) caster sugar
- 225g (8oz) butter
- 4 eggs
- 225g (8oz) self-raising flour
- Sweets for decorating
You’ll need a train-shaped baking tin for this one. Novelty tins like this are available from baking suppliers such as Lakeland, or you may already have one tucked away from a previous birthday bake.
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Sift the flour and add it gradually to the creamed mixture, alternating with the beaten eggs.
4. Spoon the mixture into the train-shaped tins, filling each section half full. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
5. Once cooled, decorate with sweets — circular sweets work well for the wheels. Writing icing (the kind that comes in a tube) is great for piping around the carriages, and you can fill some carriages with extra sweets. Jelly baby “passengers” can be added waiting at the platform, with liquorice allsorts cut down to make their luggage.
6. Maltesers and chocolate fingers make a good train track alongside the cakes. Finish with a light dusting of icing sugar.
Tips for a stress-free bake
- Let the cakes cool completely before decorating, or the icing and sweets will slide.
- Set out all your sweets before you start decorating — it’s much easier to build the design when everything is within reach.
- Kids love helping with this part, so if little hands want to get involved, the decorating stage is the perfect place for them to join in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special tin to make this cake?
Yes, this recipe is designed for a train-shaped novelty baking tin, which is what gives the individual cakes their carriage shape. Standard baking tins won’t produce the same effect.
Can I make the cakes ahead of the party?
Yes — bake the sponges a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container once fully cooled. Decorate them on the day, or the morning of the party, so the sweets and icing stay fresh and secure.
What can I use instead of specific sweets mentioned?
Feel free to swap in whatever sweets you have on hand or that suit your child’s favourites. The wheels, carriages, and track are all flexible — the fun is in personalising the design.
Related: For more birthday party inspiration, browse our Birthday Cake Ideas collection for lots more cakes worth trying.
More cake ideas to explore
If this train cake has got you in the mood for baking, take a look through our wider collection of kids cake ideas for more birthday inspiration, from simple traybakes to more elaborate showstoppers.
Have you made a similar train cake before? Let us know in the comments below — we’d love to see how yours turned out!
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