Rainbow Cake is a fun and vibrant cake that’s perfect for celebrations. It’s made with colorful layers of cake, a delicious frosting, and is sure to impress anyone with its beauty and flavor! Here’s how you can make it:
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk (room temperature)
- Gel food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar (more if needed)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: Extra food coloring for frosting (if you want colorful frosting!)
Instructions:
For the Cake:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour 6 round cake pans (or 2-3 if you prefer fewer layers) or line them with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).
- Add Eggs and Vanilla:
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients:
- Add the dry flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Color the Cake Batter:
- Divide the batter evenly into 6 bowls. Add a few drops of different gel food coloring to each bowl (one color per bowl). Mix gently to distribute the color evenly.
- Layer the Batter:
- Spoon the colored batter into the prepared cake pans, layering the colors one on top of the other. You can start with any color you prefer—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple—or in the order you like!
- Bake the Cakes:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. The baking time may vary depending on the size of your pans.
- Cool the Cakes:
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
- Make the Buttercream Frosting:
- In a bowl, beat the softened butter using an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add the vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and 1-2 tablespoons of heavy cream or milk to reach the desired consistency. Beat on high for about 3-4 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Optional: Color the Frosting:
- If you want a colorful frosting, divide the frosting into bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl, mixing it in to create different colors.
Assemble the Cake:
- Layer the Cake:
- Place the first layer of cake on a cake stand or plate. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top.
- Add the next layer of cake and repeat with frosting between each layer until all the layers are stacked.
- Frost the Outside:
- Once the cake is assembled, spread a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting) around the entire cake. This will help seal in the crumbs. Chill the cake in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.
- After chilling, apply a final, thicker layer of frosting to cover the entire cake. You can use a spatula or cake scraper to smooth out the sides.
- Decorate:
- Optionally, you can decorate the cake with sprinkles, edible glitter, or colorful piping.
- Serve and Enjoy:
- Slice and serve your beautiful Rainbow Cake! Each slice will reveal the colorful layers inside.
Tips:
- For a smoother, neater finish, you can use a bench scraper to smooth out the frosting.
- If you’re making this cake ahead of time, you can freeze the layers before frosting them.
- For extra flavor, you can add a teaspoon of almond extract or lemon zest to the cake batter.
This Rainbow Cake will definitely be a showstopper at any event, and it’s a fun treat for kids and adults alike! Enjoy! 🎂🌈