Preheat oven to 170°C (160°C fan forced). Grease and line the base of your cake tins with baking paper.

mix

1. Before mixing up your batter, you may need to halve the ingredients and make the cake batter in two batches, as there will be a large volume of batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine packet cake mix, milk, eggs and melted butter.
2. Beat with an electric mixer using the whisk attachment on medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth.
3. Divide the batter evenly between your 3 cake tins and cover with foil.

bake

1. Place the 3 cake tins in preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for a further 10 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
2. Once cooked, remove cakes from tins and place on a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
3. Once cooled, slice the domed tops off your cakes with a sharp knife to even the layers. Make sure to keep the cake tops as this will be used for your “dirt”.

frosting

1. To prepare frosting, add room temperature butter to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes until pale and creamy.
2. Slowly add frosting mix, 1 tbsp at a time, beating on medium for a further 3–4 minutes until frosting is smooth.
3. Add the full cream milk and beat on high for an additional 2 minutes until frosting is aerated and doubled in volume.
4. Using a spatular, spread a thin layer of frosting between the cake layers before applying the frosting on the top and lightly to the sides of the cake.
5. Scrape and smooth the frosting on the cake with a spatula. Refrigerate to set while you make the ganache.

ganache

1. Pour cream into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer on low heat.
2. Place your choc chips in a bowl and slowly pour over the hot cream. Stir gently to form a smooth ganache.
3. Gently pour ganache over the edges of cake as desired. Let the cake set in the fridge before you finish decorating.

decorate

1. Using your remaining frosting, spread a thin layer on top of your cake, then place your number stencil in the centre.
2. Blitz your domed cake tops in a blender for a few seconds until you get a crumb consistency.
3. Generously sprinkle the crumbs over the top of your cake, then remove your stencil.
4. Place a truck figurine at the end of your number to finish!

store

Keep chilled in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.