Racing dessert table

This is possibly the most challenging one I've done, as I'm not really passionate about cars but I'm surrounded by boys who are - and we all know that car enthusiasts are the hardest to please as the replica car has to be just perfect!  I've also shown the 'real' car the table was themed around above.

I attempted a car cake which, after a lot of hard work eventually passed scrutiny - it did actually look like the proper car this year, I was told - last year's effort was more like a Fiat Punto, according to the expert.

My bonbon jars were again put to good use - filled with sweets and popcorn.  I made the 'podium' to display the bonbon jars on from stacks of cake drums covered in silver vinyl and  trimmed with chequered ribbon.

Other craft items included chequered boxes which I filled with crisps but would be suitable for popcorn as well; I can't provide the template as a download due to the type of file required to cut the boxes out but I will make them to order once I figure out how to add a 'buy it now' button to the site.

The cupcake wrappers were also machine cut - printed with a cartoon design of Robert's car (lots of fun with Photoshop) and a chequered flag design.

I changed the drinks bottle labels to match the theme - the boys had lots of fun drinking 'gear oil', 'engine oil', 'antifreeze', 'brake fluid' and 'octane boost' though it all had the distinct flavour of cola.

My edible image printer was also put to good use printing images of the car to put on cookies and alloy wheel centres for the brownies - I baked my usual brownie mix in cupcake cases but only filled the cases less than half full.  When cooked and cooled I carefully peeled the cases away and was left with a round 'wheel'.  As brownies can naturally sink in the middle due to the dense, fudgy texture it left the perfect indent to apply the wheel centre to.

My favourite part was making the chocolate truffle racing cars.  Ben (6) and I made a great team - he sorted out and matched the different coloured Smarties for me to stick on to the truffle cars though there were quite a few Smarties that disappeared in the process - I can't think where to;-)

Chocolate Truffle Racing Cars

You will need:
500 g milk chocolate, plus a little extra to stick the Smarties on
1 x 397 g tin sweetened condensed milk
50 g butter
a few packs of Smarties and Smartie eggs

Melt the chocolate, condensed milk and butter together, stir well until combined then pour the mixture into a lined tin, cover with cling film and leave overnight to set.

The next day divide the mixture into pieces approx 30 g in weight and shape each into a sausage, tapered at both ends.  Melt a little bit of chocolate and place in a small greaseproof piping bag and snip off the end. There's no need to use a nozzle.

Sort out 5 Smarties and 1 Smartie egg the same colour for each car.  4 of the Smarties are for the wheels, the remaining one represents the steering wheel/dash - you need to cut in half with a sharp knife and place it towards the front of the car, in front of the Smartie egg (driver's helmet).  Stick all on with the melted chocolate and leave to set.

With all those Smarties lying around Robert requested Smartie cookies as well, so I modified my chewy oat and raisin cookie recipe to make them.  Went down a treat!

Chewy Smartie Cookies
You will need:

9 oz/250 g butter

9 oz/250 g light soft brown sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

6 oz/170 g condensed milk

13 oz/370 g self raising flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon cream of tartar

7 oz/200 g multicoloured Smarties

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla together until light and creamy.  Stir in condensed milk, flour, baking soda and cream of tartar to make a soft dough.  Gently knead in Smarties, reserving a few for decoration at the end.  Roll the mixture into small balls and place, well apart on a lined baking tray – the cookies will spread during cooking.  Press the remaining Smarties into the cookie balls.

Place in an oven preheated at 150C (fan) for 10 – 12 minutes.  The secret to chewy cookies is not to overcook them – they won’t look ready and will still be sticky and wobbly but once they have spread and are just starting to colour on top they are ready - remove from the oven.  Cool on the tray – do not attempt to lift whilst still warm.

If you've made a racing theme table or are going to attempt one I'd love to see your creations so please feel free to share!