Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (250g) All-Purpose Flour, plus more for dusting
  • ¾ cup (75g) Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup (225g) Granulated Sugar
  • ½ cup (100g) Packed Light Brown Sugar
  • 1 cup (240ml) Buttermilk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120ml) Vegetable Oil
  • 2 Large Eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) Hot Water
  • 2 teaspoons Instant Espresso Powder
  • 1 cup (2 sticks/225g) Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) Powdered Sugar, sifted
  • ¼ cup (60ml) Heavy Cream
  • 1 Vanilla Bean, seeds scraped (or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 lb (450g) Red Fondant
  • 4 oz (113g) Black Fondant
  • 2 oz (57g) White Fondant
  • Edible Silver Luster Dust (optional)
  • Vodka or Lemon Extract (for thinning luster dust, optional)
  • Cornstarch (for dusting)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until just combined. Stir in hot water and espresso powder.
  3. Divide batter evenly between cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. Cream butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then beat in heavy cream, vanilla bean seeds, and salt.
  6. Level the cooled cakes using a cake leveler. Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Frost with a layer of buttercream. Top with the second cake layer and frost the entire cake. Chill for 30 minutes.
  7. Roll out fondant and use a template and sharp knife to cut out Ferrari F1 car shapes, including the body, wheels, and any other details. Use black and white fondant for tires, logos, and other accents.
  8. Carefully attach the fondant decorations to the chilled cake. Dust with edible silver luster dust for a metallic finish (optional).
  9. Add any additional details, such as a birthday message or checkered flag accents.