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Monster Truck Birthday Cake

Easy Monster Truck Birthday Cake Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 10 to 12 Oreo cookies, crushed into fine crumbs
  • 1 clean toy monster truck, about 4 inches long

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch round pans and line with parchment.
  2. Whisk flour, sugar, 3/4 cup cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 2 tsp vanilla. Beat on low 30 seconds, scrape, then beat on medium 2 minutes. Slowly mix in boiling water until thin and smooth.
  3. Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
  4. Beat butter until fluffy. Slowly add powdered sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tbsp milk, and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla. Beat on medium 2–3 minutes until creamy; add more milk if too thick.
  5. Level cake layers if needed. Place one layer on a plate, spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with second layer. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting; chill 15 minutes. Frost the whole cake with remaining frosting.
  6. Crush Oreos to fine crumbs. Sprinkle over the top and sides of the cake. Press a small mound of crumbs for a ramp, then place the toy truck on top. Serve or refrigerate until party time.

Notes

Cool the cake layers completely before frosting, about 1 hour on the counter or 30 minutes in the fridge. The toy truck should be washed with warm soapy water and dried thoroughly before placing it on the cake. If the cake sits out for more than 2 hours on a warm day, move it back to the fridge so the frosting stays firm.