School Bus Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix (or adjust water, oil and eggs for cake mix you are using)
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup shortening
• 8-9 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons black gel food coloring (or black paste coloring)
• 1/2-3/4 teaspoon yellow liquid food coloring (or yellow paste coloring)
• 2 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, cut in half
• 2 yellow gumdrops
• 6 red gumdrops

Directions

1. 1

   Prepare cake mix according to package directions using oil, water and eggs.

2. 2

   Pour batter into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans.

3. 3

   Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

4. 4

   Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. 5

   Place cakes end to end on a 22-in. x 8-in. covered board.

6. 6

   Level if needed.

7. 7

   From the top of one end, form the front of the bus by cutting out a section 1 inches deep and 3 inches long (Save the removed piece for another use.)

8. 8

   For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter and shortening until fluffy.

9. 9

   Add 6 cups confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla and salt; beat until smooth.

10. 10

    Add enough remaining confectioners' sugar until desired consistency is reached.

11. 11

    Tint 3/4 cup frosting with black food coloring; set aside.

12. 12

    Tint remaining frosting yellow.

13. 13

    Frost top and sides of cake with yellow frosting.

14. 14

    Frost cut edge of cookies with yellow frosting to form wheel wells; place two cookie halves on each side of bus.

15. 15

    Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert a #5 round tip.

16. 16

    Fill the bag with black frosting.

17. 17

    Outline windows on both sides of bus; pipe strips under windows.

18. 18

    Pipe windshield and back window; fill in with black frosting.

19. 19

    Pipe lines on front of grille.

20. 20

    Place yellow gumdrops on front of bus for headlights; place red gumdrops on front and back for lights.