Racing Car Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 3/4 cups cocoa powder
3 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 2/3 cups unsalted butter, softened, diced
6 None eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
None None FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, softened, diced
3 1/3 cups powdered sugar, plus extra, for dusting
1/3 cup milk
None None FOR THE DECORATIONS
9 strands red licorice, halved lengthwise
3 feet black licorice candy
11 None small, hard capsule-shaped mints
1 1/2 cups desiccated coconut
2-3 drops green food coloring
None None chocolate or toy cars and road signs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F. Grease and line a 12 inch square cake pan with parchment paper.
Sift together flour and cocoa powder. Add sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla and 2 cups water. Beat for 4-5 mins, until batter is pale and smooth. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour, until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 20 mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, to make the buttercream, beat butter for 5-6 mins, until pale. Add 1 cup powdered sugar. Add 2 tbsp milk and beat until combined. Add remaining powdered sugar and milk and mix until smooth and spreadable. Set aside.
Using a serrated knife, level cake top. Place cut-side down on a cake board. Spread buttercream over top and sides to completely cover. Place red licorice around top edges of cake. Shape black licorice into the number \"4\" on top of cake. Position mints as lane markings on \"4\" road.
Tint coconut green with food coloring. Sprinkle around and inside \"4\" to look like grass. Position cars and signs on road. Dust with powdered sugar.