Construction Site Cake

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms and sides of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray.

Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 8-inch rounds, using water, oil and eggs. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze cakes 30 minutes to 1 hour or until firm.

On serving plate, place 1 cake layer, rounded side down. In medium bowl, mix 2 containers chocolate frosting with 1/2 container vanilla frosting. Spread with 1/2 cup of the frosting. Top with second cake layer, rounded side up. Spread thin layer of frosting over cake to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Using serrated knife, cut a quarter out of top cake layer (as shown in photo). In bowl, crumble removed cake and mix with 1/2 cup frosting to look like dirt. Mound “dirt” on cake. Frost remaining cake thickly with remaining frosting.

In small bowl, tint about 1/3 cup vanilla frosting with orange food color. Place on cake in circles for construction cones; top with candy corn. In small bowl, tint about 1/2 cup vanilla frosting with green food color for grass; place around cake. Place trucks on cake. Place rock-shaped candy in trucks.