Back to the future car cake. How to make a car cake.

The very first thing I do, when I am faced with the challenge of creating a 3D car  cake, is to draw a sketch. It doesn’t need to be perfect but it does need to be precise.

Once I create the draft of the car, I place an acetate sheet over it to draw the internal structure. Because this will ultimately be the foundation that will hold the cake together.

There are several basic structures recommended. But I basically build the skeleton of the car and fill in the gaps with cake and chocolate. Sounds easy right?

At this point I wish I had studied engineering or some other study of the sort. I also wish I had strong carpentry skills but in that arena, I am still quite a novice.

I confess, I do my part in researching as much as I can. Not exactly university, but My YouTube history is full of “How to’s”. Out of the many we have, there are no fabrication or wooden construction books left unread. But my fiancé is the one actually doing all the cutting and sanding, and stacking the parts for me to build the structures. I don’t know what I would do without him.

It is extremely important to have a sound and strong frame/ internal structure. The last thing you want is to have the cake fall apart as soon as you move it. Here is an example of the Delorean’s internal structure. The most important parts which require support are those that will defy gravity.

In the image above, you will notice the floor of the car is suspended by two bolts. This will help give the illusion that the car is supported by its wheels. Once the car is finished, these bolts will not be seen.

It is extremely important to keep your project food safe at all times. Here, I have used foil on all surfaces that will come into contact with the cake.

Fabrication Guide

Here is a guide with the steps taken to build the Back to The Future time machine – car cake:

1. Drawing a sketch/ blueprint of the car.

There are hundreds of images online of the Delorean. I used them as inspiration to design a car. This cake is by no means a replica.

2. Fabrication of the frame parts

3. Cutting the base board and constructing the frame

4. Food safety – covering the frame with foil

5. Baking the cake – Three layers of 9″ x 12″ Belgian chocolate mud cake layered with chocolate ganache.

6. Stacking the cake at front and rear.

7. Rough carving of the cake according to the blueprints/ drawing/ sketch.

8. Fine detail carving

9. Masking in chocolate ganache until a smooth surface is obtained.

10. Covering in Modelling chocolate/ fondant until a smooth surface is obtained.

11. General exterior detailing

12. Making the cabin, exterior details and tyres

While you can make all the elements that form the inside of the cabin and the exterior details ahead of time, I highly recommend making them after you have built the frame. This will ensure a perfect fit. In any case, these elements will require adequate production and drying time. Planning ahead is a crucial part of making a successful car cake or any cake for that matter.

13. Putting everything together

14. Airbrushing and shading.

15. Covering the presentation board. For this commission, I cover the board in grey textured fondant and airbrush it black. Further detailing is done to the base to create a drastic contrast in textures.

A thousand years later …

Just kidding. This cake takes approximately 18 hours to complete from start to finish and a lot of love.