Hi everyone,

My sister-in-law asked if I would make a Cars-themed cake for my nephew's 4th birthday. She specified chocolate cake w/ chocolate frosting, but isn't picky about the decor because my nephew is more about flavor and texture than decorations (autistic spectrum).

Anyway, I have my 2 9x13 layers baked and ready to go. I think I would like to try using chocolate ganache this time, and I would like to make a royal icing Lightning McQueen image to go on top (already have the coloring page printed).

I have a few questions:

1. I have never seen anyone use ganache on a cake that isn't round. Am I going to have problems doing this on a rectangular cake?

2. Do I need to put a crumb coat of anything on the cake first, or can I just use straight ganache? (I'm thinking I might use some whipped ganache between the layers)

3. Will my icing image bleed/melt into the ganache, or will it be okay?

4. If I want to "paint" some white checks onto the ganache to emulate a racing flag, would you recommend using white royal icing, or white chocolate ganache (I'm thinking the latter)?

5. If I choose to make this an ice cream cake, that means I cannot use the royal icing image, correct? I believe when bringing the cake to room temp it will cause the image to bleed?

Thanks! Any and all tips appreciated!

Okay, so I think I'm going to try a chocolate image instead.

How early can I cover the cake with the ganach and put the image on top? Can I do it the day before and pop it in the fridge?

I have never used ganache but I have covered a rectangle cake with quick poured fondant which is similar in application. I did do a crumb coat because the finished look will show ALL lumps and bumps that are on the cake! You can definitely do it the day before and put it in the fridge esp if you're using a chocolate image instead-no worries about bleeding colors.