Bonus Bone: Railway Cake Pan

Railway Cake Pan, $34

This cake pan by Williams-Sonoma is such a great idea. Now I don't think it's the ideal solution for the time-crunched host but if you have the time, I think it provides such a whimsical result.

Perfectly Staged Example by William-Sonoma

What makes this cake pan so fun is the endless decorative possibilities. This is also why I think you need to reserve a lot of time to complete your masterpiece. A lot of hands would probably help out too. Decorating a cake like this would be perfect for a family gathering or a child's birthday party. Just make sure you have plenty of "cargo" on hand (gummy candy, peppermints, jimmies, berries, pixie sticks, etc). Another cute idea, is to make individual cakes and serve each guest their own car, themed specifically around that person.

Perfectly CraZy Example by Arty Curtis

The price of this unique pan is a bit high but if you entertain often and like to bake, I think this purchase is right on track.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.