Best Rainbow Layer Cake Recipes

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among 6 small bowls, about 1 1/3 cups each.
• Using food colors, tint batter in 1 bowl blue, 1 bowl red, 1 bowl green, 1 bowl yellow, 1 bowl orange (using red and yellow) and 1 bowl purple (using blue and red).
• Refrigerate 3 colors of batter until ready to bake. Pour remaining 3 colors of batter into cake pans.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center and begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks; cool completely.
• Wash cake pans. Bake and cool remaining 3 cake layers as directed.
• In large bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until light yellow. On low speed, gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat in vanilla. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until frosting is smooth. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.
• Trim rounded tops off cakes to level, if needed. On serving plate, place purple cake layer. Spread with frosting to within 1/4 inch of edge. Repeat with blue, green, yellow, orange and red cake layers. Spread light coat of frosting on top and side of cake to seal in crumbs, then frost with remaining frosting.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter 2 x 20cm round sandwich tins and line the bases with baking parchment. Tip all the sponge ingredients, apart from the food colouring, into a mixing bowl, then beat with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Working quickly, weigh the mixture into another bowl to work out the total weight, then weigh exactly half the mixture back into the mixing bowl. Pick two of your colours and stir a little into each mix. Keep going until you are happy with the colour - the colour of the batter now will be very similar to the finished cake, so be brave! Scrape the different batters into the tins, trying to spread and smooth as much as possible - but try not to waste a drop of the batter - a rubber spatula will help you. Bake on the same oven shelf for 15-20 mins until a skewer poked into the middle comes out clean. Don't worry if that sponges are thin, there are many layers.
• Gently turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool. Wash the tins and bowls thoroughly, and start again from step 1 - this time using another two colours. Unless you're making the optional pink layer, repeat one more time to get 6 sponges, all of different colours. Leave them all to cool.
• To make the icing, very briefly beat the vanilla and soft cheese or mascarpone with an electric whisk until smooth. Sift in the icing sugar and gently fold in with a spatula. Be careful - the more you work it, the runnier it will get, increasing the chance of splitting.
• Smear a little icing on your cake stand or plate - just a splodge to stick the first sponge. Start with the red, then spread with some icing right to the very edge. Repeat, sandwiching on top the orange, yellow, green, blue and finally purple sponges. Spread the remaining icing thickly all over the sides and top of the cake. For more expert advice on how to create the perfect rainbow cake, check out our tips, below.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter 2 x 20cm round sandwich tins and line the bases with baking parchment. Tip all the sponge ingredients, apart from the food colouring, into a mixing bowl, then beat with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Working quickly, weigh the mixture into another bowl to work out the total weight, then weigh exactly half the mixture back into the mixing bowl. Pick two of your colours and stir a little into each mix. Keep going until you are happy with the colour - the colour of the batter now will be very similar to the finished cake, so be brave! Scrape the different batters into the tins, trying to spread and smooth as much as possible - but try not to waste a drop of the batter - a rubber spatula will help you. Bake on the same oven shelf for 15-20 mins until a skewer poked into the middle comes out clean. Don't worry if that sponges are thin, there are many layers.
• Gently turn the cakes out onto a wire rack to cool. Wash the tins and bowls thoroughly, and start again from step 1 - this time using another two colours. Unless you're making the optional pink layer, repeat one more time to get 6 sponges, all of different colours. Leave them all to cool.
• To make the icing, very briefly beat the vanilla and soft cheese or mascarpone with an electric whisk until smooth. Sift in the icing sugar and gently fold in with a spatula. Be careful - the more you work it, the runnier it will get, increasing the chance of splitting.
• Smear a little icing on your cake stand or plate - just a splodge to stick the first sponge. Start with the red, then spread with some icing right to the very edge. Repeat, sandwiching on top the orange, yellow, green, blue and finally purple sponges. Spread the remaining icing thickly all over the sides and top of the cake. For more expert advice on how to create the perfect rainbow cake, check out our tips, below.

EASY SIX-LAYER RAINBOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease six 9-inch round cake pans and dust with flour.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
• Beat 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, milk, sugar, egg whites, and vanilla extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in flour mixture and mix until just combined.
• Divide cake batter evenly between 6 bowls. Mix in different food coloring to each bowl, creating 6 different colored batters. Start with just 1 to 2 drops of food coloring in each bowl, then mix; you can always add more.
• Bake each cake in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Stir together confectioners' sugar and mascarpone cheese in a separate bowl, then fold gently into the whipped cream until smooth.
• Spread frosting on each layer of cooled cake, placing one on top of the other. Cover the top and sides with the remaining frosting. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of three greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., Prepare cake mix batter according to package directions, substituting three whole eggs for egg whites. Divide evenly among three bowls. Stir one flavor of gelatin into each bowl until blended. Pour each into a prepared pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean., Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. , Freeze option: Wrap cooled cake layers in plastic wrap, then cover securely in foil; freeze. To use, thaw cakes before unwrapping. Assemble as directed.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round pans; cover bottoms with parchment. Prepare cake batter from 1 pkg. cake mix as directed on package. Pour half into separate bowl. Add dry raspberry gelatin mix to batter in one bowl; mix well. Stir dry orange gelatin mix into remaining batter. Pour into prepared pans.
• Bake 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 15 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.
• Repeat with remaining cake mix and dry gelatin mixes, washing cake pans between uses.
• Mix sour cream and sugar in large bowl until blended; gently stir in COOL WHIP. Stack cake layers on plate, spreading 1/3 cup COOL WHIP mixture onto each cake before covering with next layer. Frost top and side of cake with remaining COOL WHIP mixture. Refrigerate 2 hours.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line six 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy, about 2 minutes. Increase mixer speed to high and continue beating until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes more.
• In another large mixing bowl, cream butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy and increased in volume, about 5 minutes. Add applesauce, vanilla, and eggs and mix on medium speed for 1 minute more.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Pour in 3/4 cup water and mix to combine. Fold in egg whites with a large spatula.
• Divide batter evenly among 6 small bowls. Starting with the lightest color, tint batter with food coloring, whisking in a few drops at a time until the desired intensity is reached. Pour each of the colored batters into a different parchment-lined cake pan (each should be half full) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Stack layers according to the colors of the rainbow, spreading a thin layer buttercream between each. Using an offset spatula, frost the whole cake with a thin layer of buttercream.
• Place cake on a freezer-safe plate. Freeze for 15 minutes, or until buttercream is firm. Remove from freezer and cover cake in sprinkles. See how to cover a cake in sprinkles.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Combine cake mix, eggs, water, and oil together in a large bowl. Beat using an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Split the batter into 6 different bowls and add a different food coloring to each bowl. Pour about 1 cup of each of the batters into the first pan in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, right on top of one another in the center of the pan. Pour about 1 cup of each batter in the same manner into the second prepared pan in reverse order: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red; you do not need to swirl the colors around at all.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, 34 to 38 minutes.
• While cakes bake, beat cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, and vanilla extract for filling together using an electric mixer. Beat in powdered sugar until combined.
• Beat heavy cream for frosting using an electric mixer until almost stiff; add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until cream holds peaks.
• Remove cakes from the oven and let cool completely in a refrigerator, about 30 minutes.
• Spread filling on the top of the bottom cake layer; top with the top layer of cake. Frost and decorate as desired. Keep cake refrigerated.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease six 6-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Set aside (if you don't have six pans, you can bake in batches).
• Sift the flour and baking powder together into a large bowl, then lightly stir in the salt and set aside. Whisk together the heavy cream and sour cream in a large measuring cup and set aside.
• Cream together the butter, coconut oil and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extract, if using. Reduce the mixer to medium-low and add the dry mixture and cream mixture in 3 alternating additions, stopping right after you add the last of the dry mixture and cream mixture; don't mix them in completely, because when you mix in the food coloring you'll continue to mix, and that's when everything will get fully combined. (Prevent overmixing at all costs!)
• Divide the batter among 6 medium bowls (using a scale is the most efficient way to do this) and stir in good big plops of food coloring until the batter is bright. Distribute the batter among the cake pans and spread it out evenly.
• Bake until the tops of the cakes are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs on it; begin checking for doneness at 22 minutes and try your darnedest not to let it overbake.
• Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• Level the tops of the layers with a serrated knife, then place a layer on a cardboard cake round. Stack layers up with a thin layer of Strawberry Buttercream in between each. Frost all over and decorate with sprinkles as desired. Enjoy!
• Beat together the butter and preserves in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until creamy, about 4 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, then mix in the salt, vanilla, heavy cream and pink food coloring, if using. Mix until creamy.

RAINBOW SPRINKLES LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake layers: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat six 8-inch round cake pans with flour-based baking spray (or grease and flour pans).
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Combine the milk and vanilla in a large liquid measure with a pour spout. Beat the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. With the mixer running, gradually add the granulated sugar and beat until the mixture turns pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture. Begin and end with the flour. Mix until just combined.
• Beat the egg whites in a spotlessly clean bowl on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter in 3 additions.
• Place 2 cups of the cake batter in 6 separate bowls. Tint each bowl of batter with a different gel food color, so that you have a bowl of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet batter. Fold the color in well with a rubber spatula until no streaks of white cake batter remain.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto wire racks to cool completely. When the cakes are cool, level the tops with a serrated knife or a cake leveler.
• For the Swiss meringue buttercream: Set a saucepan filled one-third full of water over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
• Whisk together the egg whites, granulated sugar and salt in a large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over the simmering water and whisk until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar has dissolved (120 to 140 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Increase to medium high until stiff peaks form. Continue beating at medium-high speed until the mixture is fluffy and has cooled (the mixing bowl should feel cool to the touch).
• Turn the mixer off and switch from the whisk attachment to the paddle. Turn the mixer to medium-low speed and add the butter a few cubes at a time, beating until well incorporated before the next addition (see Cook's Note). Add the vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until the frosting is thick and completely smooth.
• Frost the cake: Transfer 1 cup of frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small star tip; set aside.
• Top each cake layer with a small amount of frosting. Begin with the violet cake layer on the bottom, followed by the blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Cover the entire cake with frosting using an offset spatula and smooth the frosting with a bench scraper or frosting smoother. Place the cake in a large dish and use a cupped hand to press on the rainbow sprinkles, allowing the excess to fall back into the dish. Repeat until the bottom two-thirds of the cake is covered with the sprinkles. Using the reserved frosting in the piping bag, pipe stars around the top edge and center of the cake, and around the bottom edge of the cake. Decorate each star on the top edge of the cake with alternating colors of the round candies. Scatter rainbow nonpareils over the bottom edge. Add more rainbow sprinkles to the top center of the cake.
• For the marshmallow fondant bunting: Combine the marshmallows and 1 1/2 teaspoons water in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30-second intervals at 100% power, stirring in between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute.
• Add 1 cup of sifted confectioners' sugar to the melted marshmallow and stir to combine. When the first cup is thoroughly mixed in, add the second cup of confectioners' sugar. Stir well until stiff. Grease a work surface with the vegetable shortening and transfer the fondant from the bowl to the greased area. Knead well until smooth and pliable. The fondant should not be sticky and it should hold its shape firmly when rolled into a ball. If the ball relaxes and loses its shape, knead in more confectioners' sugar a little at a time.
• Roll the fondant into a ball and cut into 6 even pieces. Tint each ball with the food colors so that you have one of each: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. (Wear gloves during kneading to avoid staining hands.)
• Roll out each piece of fondant to 1/8 inch thickness on a piece of parchment paper. Use a 1 1/2-inch triangle cutter to stamp shapes from each piece of fondant.
• Place the triangles end-to-end in a swag design around the top edge of the cake, in rainbow color order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet). If the pieces do not naturally stick to the frosting, add a small dot of water to the backs of the triangles to adhere them to the cake.
• Serve eye-popping slices of rainbow cake to delighted guests. If there are leftovers, cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE WITH RAINBOW CHIP FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat cake mixes, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among 6 small bowls, about 1 1/3 cups each.
• Using food colors, tint batter in 1 bowl blue, 1 bowl red, 1 bowl green, 1 bowl yellow, 1 bowl orange (using red and yellow) and 1 bowl purple (using blue and red).
• Refrigerate 3 colors of batter until ready to bake. Pour remaining 3 colors of batter into cake pans.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center and begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks; cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Wash cake pans. Bake and cool remaining 3 cake layers as directed.
• Trim rounded tops off cakes to level, if needed. On serving plate, place purple cake layer. Spread with frosting to within 1/4 inch of edge. Repeat with blue, green, yellow, orange and red cake layers. Spread light coat of frosting on side and top of cake to seal in crumbs, then frost again with remaining frosting.

STEAMED RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Combine (A) together and sieve mixture into a large bowl.
• Combine (B) into a pot and bring to a boil. Slowly add to sieved (A) mixture and stir well.
• Divide into 12 equal portions and colour each portion to your liking.
• Get ready a steamer and fill it to the maximum with water. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat.
• Line a 9inch square tin with cling film.
• Pour 1 portion of batter into the tin. Cover and steam over high heat for 5-6 minutes or till no longer sticky. Repeat the method, layering it layer by layer as you go on.
• After the last layer is steamed, steam the entire thing for 20 minutes Remove, let cool and pop out of the tin.
• Cut with a knife wrapped in clingfilm.
• PS: always check there is water in the steamer, especially when you are going to let it steam for the 20 minutes.
• This should be consumed the day it is made as refrigeration ruins its texture.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE WITH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among 6 small bowls, about 1 1/3 cups each.
• Using food colors, tint batter in 1 bowl blue, 1 bowl red, 1 bowl green, 1 bowl yellow, 1 bowl orange (using red and yellow) and 1 bowl purple (using blue and red).
• Refrigerate 3 colors of batter until ready to bake. Pour remaining 3 colors of batter into cake pans.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center and begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks; cool completely.
• Wash cake pans. Bake and cool remaining 3 cake layers as directed.
• In large bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until light yellow. On low speed, gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat in vanilla. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until frosting is smooth. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.
• Trim rounded tops off cakes to level, if needed. On serving plate, place purple cake layer. Spread with frosting to within 1/4 inch of edge. Repeat with blue, green, yellow, orange and red cake layers. Spread light coat of frosting on top and side of cake to seal in crumbs, then frost with remaining frosting.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among 6 small bowls, about 1 1/3 cups each.
• Using food colors, tint batter in 1 bowl blue, 1 bowl red, 1 bowl green, 1 bowl yellow, 1 bowl orange (using red and yellow) and 1 bowl purple (using blue and red).
• Refrigerate 3 colors of batter until ready to bake. Pour remaining 3 colors of batter into cake pans.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center and begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling racks; cool completely.
• Wash cake pans. Bake and cool remaining 3 cake layers as directed.
• In large bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer on medium speed until light yellow. On low speed, gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat in vanilla. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until frosting is smooth. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.
• Trim rounded tops off cakes to level, if needed. On serving plate, place purple cake layer. Spread with frosting to within 1/4 inch of edge. Repeat with blue, green, yellow, orange and red cake layers. Spread light coat of frosting on top and side of cake to seal in crumbs, then frost with remaining frosting.