Kids Novelty Cake

For the cake: heat the oven to 190C, 375F, gas 5. Butter 2 large loaf tins.

Heat the butter and chocolate in a large pan over a low heat until melted, stirring now and again. Cool for 5 minutes.

Whisk in the yogurt and vanilla, then the eggs and salt.

Mix the flour, sugar and bicarbonate of soda in a large bowl. Stir into the chocolate mixture in the pan, until smooth.

Pour or spoon into the tins and bake for 40-45 minutes until risen and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 15 minutes, then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack. Chill the cakes for 30 minutes. This makes them easier to cut.

To assemble the train: cut both loaf cakes into 4 thick slices each.

For the engine: cut through 1 cake slice horizontally. Cut another slice in half through the middle to form 2 small cubes.

For the icing: dissolve the gelatine in the hot water and allow to cool.

Sift the icing sugar into a bowl Stir in about 2 tablespoons of the gelatine solution to form a thick icing. Divide the mixture into smaller bowls and add a food colouring to each bowl.

Ice the 4 'engine' cakes, with pink icing, sandwiching the 2 thinner cake slices with a little icing. Allow to dry. This icing sets quickly.

Ice 5 thick cake slices in different colours, for the rest of the train. Allow to dry.

Pipe windows and markings on the iced cakes with brown piping icing.

To assemble the cake: use liquorice strips to make the train track on a large cake board or tray Place 12 chocolate mini rolls on the track, as in the 'photo. Assemble the 'engine' using the 4 pink cakes (as in the photo) attaching the 2 cubes at 1 end with a little apricot jam. Place the 'engine' on the first 2 mini rolls, using a little apricot jam to keep it in place. Attach a chocolate mini roll for the funnel and pipe a little brown icing icing around the base. Attach a chocolate bean to the front of the engine.

Stick the train 'carriages' on the mini rolls using a little apricot jam.