Tractor Cake & Rice Krispie Treats Tutorial

I’ve come out of retirement AGAIN! My brother-in-law was 40 last week so out came the sugarcraft equipment. Since I last did a ‘proper’ cake, our one and only sugarcraft shop in St Helens has closed so it was a bit of a challenge to get the stuff. (Obviously if I was properly organised I would have ordered online!).

My brother-in-law is tractor mad – collects them in fact! My brief from my sister-in-law was pretty specific to the tractor but everything else was left to me – A Ford 7810. I mentioned to my mother-in-law that I was doing his cake and she produced the little ornament (pictured) that was used on his christening cake nearly 40 years ago. So that is why it is there! I’ve forgotten to ask what they thought when they saw it on the board.

I knew that I wanted the tractor to be edible as the kiddies would be likely to want a bit so I used Rice Krispie Treats. I’m not sure how many UK cake makers use these but I love them. They are so malleable and cheap and easy to make – plus they are a lot more delicious that pure icing. The recipe I use for making RK Treats is:

RICE KRISPIE TREATS:

50g butter
200g Marshmallows (I use really cheap ones that are pink and white so that is why the picture is a little dark)
150g Rice Krispies (any brand)
Oil for covering your hands.

1. I melt the butter in a large pan and add the marshmallows to it.
2. Keep stirring REALLY well until melted.
3. Take off the heat and add the Rice Krispies.
4. Stir quickly to ensure that the RK are equally covered.

I tend to be a little impatient and want to start modelling before the RK Treats have cooled enough but it is best to wait for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you cover your palms in oil and squeeze together REALLY hard!! I cannot stress how hard you want to get the model.

I allow to set fully in shape and then brush with edible glue before covering with sugar paste. I have never managed yet to get away with only covering once so be prepared for double layers.