Toy Story Vanilla Madeira Cake

Ingredients

Madeira sponge (4 x 6 inch tins)

• 500g unsalted butter, softened
• 500g caster sugar
• 9 large eggs
• 500g self-raising flour
• 200g plain flour
• 3 tbsp whole milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Vanilla buttercream (filling)

• 200g unsalted butter, softened
• 400g icing sugar
• 3-4 tbsp whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Sky blue vanilla buttercream (covering)

• 300g unsalted butter, softened
• 600g icing sugar
• 3-4 tbsp whole milk or double cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Sky blue gel food colouring

Fondant decorations

• 150g white fondant (clouds)
• 200g yellow fondant (name, “IS”, number)
• 100g red fondant (barn/house shape)
• Icing sugar for dusting

Finishing

• Toy Story character figurines
• 8 inch cake drum

Method

Sponge

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan). Grease and line 4 x 6 inch round cake tins with baking parchment.
2. Beat the softened butter and caster sugar together for 5-6 minutes until very pale and fluffy. This step is important for a Madeira — don’t rush it.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. If the mixture starts to curdle, add a tablespoon of flour.
4. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
5. Sift together the self-raising flour and plain flour. Fold into the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined — do not overbeat.
6. Divide the batter evenly between the 4 tins — each tin should have roughly 430-450g of batter.
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and the top springs back when gently pressed.
8. Cool in the tins for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely before assembling.

Vanilla buttercream (filling)

9. Beat the softened butter for 3-4 minutes until pale and fluffy.
10. Sift in the icing sugar and mix on low until combined, then beat on high for 2 minutes.
11. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until smooth and spreadable. Beat in the vanilla.

Sky blue buttercream (covering)

12. Beat the softened butter for 3-4 minutes until very pale and fluffy.
13. Sift in the icing sugar and mix on low until combined, then beat on high for 2 minutes.
14. Add milk a tablespoon at a time until smooth, then beat in the vanilla.
15. Add sky blue gel colouring a little at a time and mix thoroughly between additions. Gel colouring gives a much more vibrant result than liquid — go gradually as it’s easy to overshoot.

Fondant decorations

Make these ahead and leave to dry for a few hours or overnight so they hold their shape.

16. Clouds:Pinch off small pieces of white fondant and shape into uneven cloud shapes by pressing and moulding with your fingers. Make 6-8 in varying sizes.
17. Name and number:Roll yellow fondant to about 4mm thick on a surface dusted with icing sugar. Cut out individual letters and a number using cutters or a sharp knife. Leave flat to firm up.
18. Barn shape:Roll red fondant to 4mm thick and cut a rectangle with a triangular roof shape (like an upside-down house). Cut “IS” from yellow fondant to sit on top of it.

Cake drum

19. Roll yellow fondant thinly and cover the top of the cake drum. Trim neatly. Roll a thin strip of red fondant and press around the edge of the drum to create a border.

Assembly

20. Level the tops of all four sponges with a serrated knife if needed.
21. Place the first sponge on the prepared cake drum. Spread a generous layer of vanilla buttercream on top.
22. Add the second sponge and repeat. Continue with the third layer of vanilla buttercream, then place the final sponge on top.
23. Apply a thin crumb coat of sky blue buttercream all over the cake to seal in the crumbs. Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes until firm.
24. Apply a thick, even second coat of sky blue buttercream. Use a palette knife on top and a cake scraper on the sides, rotating the cake on a turntable for clean straight sides.
25. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until the buttercream is firm to the touch.

Decorating

26. Press the white fondant clouds onto the sides of the cake, spacing them evenly — they will stick to the buttercream.
27. Attach the yellow letter and number fondant pieces to the cake sides, pressing gently. Use a tiny dab of water on the back if needed.
28. Position the red barn shape centrally on the side with “IS” on it.
29. Place Toy Story figurines on top of the cake and arrange any smaller characters around the base of the cake on the drum.