This monster truck cake is the perfect choice for your
A simple monster truck birthday cake to remember!
I don’t remember a ton about my early birthdays, but I do remember the adorable, simple cakes my mom made us.
Most were from those Betty Crocker mini magazines at the checkout aisles. I’m sure none of them turned out as nice as the photo or as quickly as it was advertised. But, I remember them being amazing.
I’m sure half of the awe was that my mom would put so much effort into it, something that would be easily smacked together using pre-made ingredients or bought at the grocery store.
I should stop here to confess: I kind of hate cake. I mean, I’m all for frosting, but
The easiest monster truck birthday cake
With Ryan’s third birthday, I knew that I wanted to make him his first ‘cool’ cake. Thinking about what he’d dig, I knew there was only one true answer: trucks.
This monster truck birthday cake is incredibly versatile. You could easily insert whatever toy trucks you wanted onto it. Construction equipment, plain old monster trucks, or even Rubble from Paw Patrol.
But the best part about this cake, just like with my dinosaur birthday cake. it’s made for imperfections. Who cares if you have less than stellar cake making skills, because who has ever heard of a neat monster truck rally?
Don’t forget to listen to some Truck Songs for Kids while you make your cake!
Tips for making a Monster truck cake
- Get the temperatures right. Whether you make your own frosting or are using premade varieties, allow it to come close to room temp. Then, if using store bought, whip it up as much as possible. This will make the frosting a million times easier, I promise.
- Don’t throw anything away! The scraps that you remove when leveling can be used as dirt for your monster truck cake. You can also use cookie crumbs from chocolate cookies.
- Wash the toys. I soaked a few of Ryan’s in soapy water before rising clean. But, it would be even better to use brand new trucks. A cake AND new toys all in one?! Yes
please . Just make sure to wash and dry them before using.
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I have this offset spatula and I am shocked by how often I use it. It’s honestly the only way to frost a cake easily without losing your mind!
How to make a Monster Truck Cake
Time needed: 45 minutes.
I promise this monster truck cake is really easy to make. It’s also customizable so you can make it as intricate or as basic as you want.
- Make your cakes and frosting.
I used 2 boxes of boxed cake mix which gave me 4-8 inch cake rounds. Then I doubled a basic recipe for chocolate frosting.
You can easily use store-bought frosting. Just make sure it’s room temperature and whip it up a bit in a large bowl. This will help to loosen and make it easier to spread. - Start stacking.
I stacked my cakes on the back of a well-loved cookie sheet since we need more room than a “traditional” cake plate. It was also nice because there were no raised edges to work around. With my dinosaur birthday cake I used a big pizza pan.
- Build Your Bottom layer.
Place one, full cake round on your base and frost the top. After your base is frosted, take your second later and slice the cake about 2 inches from the edge – think the width of the toy monster trucks you’ll be using. Set the smaller piece aside.
Place the now cut cake round on top of the base layer, making the rounded edges flush. - Build your first ramp.
Take your leftover piece and cut width wise on an angle to create a ramp. Next, place your ramp where you previously cut it off. Frost everything to finish your second layer.
- Repeat to make layers.
Repeat steps 3 and 4, but instead of 2 inches cut for your ramp, about 4 inches. Then cut in half to make your ramp the same size as the first on.
When you cut your ramp, make it so that the small side is opposite the small side of the first ramp. We’re going for a winding road look.
Frost the third layer of your monster truck birthday cake – it’s finally starting to take shape! - Finish the last layer.
For the final layer of your monster truck cake, cut the remaining round in half.
Take one half and cut half of it at an angle to make your final ramp. So 1/4 of the round will be flat, 1/4 will be the ramp, and the other semi circle will be set aside for later.
You ideally want that cake half to be a half circle. One half of that is cut at a 45 degree angle, and the other half remains flat. - Frost and stabilize.
Cut wooden skewers to a little bit less than the height of the cake and insert the skewers into the highest portions of the cake. I used 3. This will keep your cake stable, since it is pretty tall.
Finally, frost the top layer. - Add dirt, rocks, and trucks.
Crumble up your remaining cake scraps and line the perimeter of your cake with your ‘dirt’. Add a handful to each spot you plan to put a toy.
Gently press in a truck into your ‘dirt’ spots as if they are driving up and down your monster truck cake. - Finish it up!
Finally, finish decorating your truck cake by using chocolate malt balls, cake crumbles, and mini peanut butter cups to fill in blank spots.
If you like, you can use green frosting with a grass tip (the spray can variety would work fine) to mimic grass or even shredded coconut with green food dye.
Add a birthday candle and watch your kiddos eyes light up!
Monster Truck Cake is perfect for beginners!
And there you have it – an easy, homemade monster truck birthday cake! I’m no baker or cake designer but I thought it came out pretty close to perfect.
The best part about this
You could also switch out the monster trucks for construction trucks to make an easy construction cake.
If you use this tutorial for your own little’s birthday, I would love to see it! Post it to social media and tag @morganmanages so that I can see it!
Okay so tell me – Did you have homemade cakes as a kid? Let me know in the comments!
Heather @ Polyglot Jot says
Wow, Morgan! This looks so good and creative! I hope to be able to make fun cakes like this but I’m sooo not a baker!
Sierra says
Girl this cake came out great!!! How adorable and so much fun!
Beautifully Candid
OddHogg says
Ahh this is fab! I know my nephews would love it
Eric || The Bucket List Project says
All that chocolate…O…M….G!!! Love it. It looks great and I bet it tasted wonderful. My mom used to make us Devils Food Chocolate cake and I just had the best flash back looking at your creation!