Red Barn Cake

Cake:
1 (18.25-oz.) pkg. White Cake Mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs

Frosting and Decorations:

1 1/2 (16-oz.) tubs Vanilla Frosting
1 to 2 teaspoons paste red food color
3 rectangular buttery crackers
8 pretzel sticks
2 tablespoons green-tinted coconut
2 tablespoons shoestring potatoes
3 farm animal crackers, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Line bottom with waxed paper. Lightly grease waxed paper; lightly flour.

In large bowl, combine cake mix, water, oil and eggs; beat at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into greased and floured pan.

Bake at 350°F. for 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool cake on wire rack for 5 minutes. Cover second wire rack with cloth towel; turn cake upside down onto covered rack. Peel off waxed paper. Cool 45 minutes or until completely cooled. For easier handling, freeze 30 minutes or until very firm.

Cut 17x12-inch piece of sturdy cardboard; cover with heavy-duty foil. Place cake on cutting board. Cut roof line and around silo (see diagram). Carefully transfer cake to foil-covered cardboard. Tuck strips of waxed paper under edges of cake to keep foil surface clean.

Tint 1 can of frosting with red food color to desired shade. Frost barn and silo except for upper rounded section. Place 2 crackers side-by-side on barn for doors. Place 1 cracker under peak of barn for window; press into frosting.

Spoon about 1/2 cup untinted frosting into decorating bag fitted with small star tip. Pipe along edge of roof. Fill in top rounded section of silo. Decorate as shown in photo. Remove waxed paper strip