Start your engines: a monster truck cake for Hayden's 4th

Dirt, monster trucks and birthday cake. I'm not sure there's a better combination when you're turning four.

Hayden's cake came together fast once we settled on the idea, because the best part of this one isn't piped or sculpted — it's the mess.

The dirt is the decoration

The whole top and base are crushed Oreo, piled up rough so it looks like a track that's been driven over all afternoon. It spills off the board on purpose. A tidy monster truck cake would rather miss the point.

Sitting in it: two trucks mid-jump, a couple of checkered flags, and a big black 4 on the front. His name in black across the board finishes it.

Here's the thing about a cake like this — the trucks come off and go home with the birthday boy. That's half the fun of it.

What's inside

Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

For a four-year-old's party, plain vanilla is almost always the right answer. Bright white buttercream also makes the crushed Oreo read properly as dirt, which a darker cake wouldn't.

Happy birthday, Hayden

Four years old. Start your engines.