Several years ago I purchased a train cupcake mold for a friend that has two small children. She thanked me profusely and returned the mold asking that I make them myself. I put the mold away for later. Recently I gifted the mold to a friend who likes to cook and has a house full of grandchildren. Again, the mold was returned with a request that I make them. Just when I was starting to think it was the curse of the train mold I decided to just follow everyone’s advice and make the train cupcakes.

William Somona has a wonderful, although long, recipe titled ” Vanilla Train Cake”. Easy to find.

Baking is an exact science. A little of this and a little of that does not work with baking. Somona’s recipe is exact, with insights that guarantees that the little crevices in the mold will actually exist as opposed to winding up with a myopic version of the mold.

The decorating was left to my friend, the grandmother of the children this train was made for. The mold holds six different cupcakes. My black Standard Poodle, Petite Pois, decided that since I wasn’t in the sharing mood she’d at the very least nibble the edges of one of the train carts. Once I saw her teeth marks, I decided, what the hell, cut the ‘damaged’ cup cake in two and we both enjoyed a half. They are delicious. The recipe has sour cream and home made vanilla and other goodies.

This is the mold just before going into the oven. The train cakes are a success and could have been a train wreck. Holy Moly.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and all the other wonderful stardust I can send your way. What’s on your plate?

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Categories: Metro Gourmet

2 Comments

Debi Willis · December 25, 2021 at 8:27 AM

Oh what a fun cake to make. AND with HOMEMADE VANILLA? YEAH BABY!! Merry Christmas Mercedes and Merlin and Petit Pois and Aslan and Puffy and ???? Love you all and wish you the merriest of days ! Happy Happy Holidays.

    Mercedes Jenouri · December 25, 2021 at 10:42 AM

    Thank you. Many thank you’s and happy wishes for you and your family. The vanilla is super easy. I send for, via Ebay, for Magagascar Vanilla beans. They are added to vodka and allowed to ‘sit’ for 6 months. It’s better quality than store bought and price effective. I refuse to use imitation vanilla. I’m planning on making a new ‘ batch’ maybe with brandy or dark rum. It will take a while but except some when it’s nearly ready. Have a great day.

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