ITALIAN RAINBOW CAKE

Italian Rainbow Cake image

Yield serves 15

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 1/2 cups melted refined coconut oil or canola oil, plus more for brushing the pans
1 1/2 cups garbanzo and fava bean flour
1 1/2 cups rice flour
1 1/2 cups potato starch
3/4 tablespoon arrowroot
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 cups agave nectar
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup vanilla extract
1 tablespoon almond extract (optional)
3/4 cup hot water
1/3 cup India Tree natural red food coloring
1/4 cup India Tree natural yellow food coloring or chlorophyll
1/4 cup India Tree natural green food coloring
2/3 cup raspberry preserves
2/3 cup apricot preserves
Sugar-Sweetened Chocolate Dipping Sauce (page 123)

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and lightly coat with coconut oil. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, potato starch, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt. Add 1 1/4 cups of the coconut oil, the agave nectar, applesauce, vanilla, the almond extract, if using, and the hot water. Stir with a rubber spatula until the batter is smooth.
Divide the mixture evenly among 3 medium bowls. Add several drops of one food coloring to each bowl and mix until the color is evenly distributed and to your liking.
Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 12 minutes, rotate, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes more. Let cool in the pans on a rack for 30 minutes. Run a knife along each cake's edges to remove it from the pan.
To assemble, place the green cake layer on a serving plate. Spread the raspberry preserves over it. Place the yellow cake layer on top of it. Spread with the apricot preserves. Top with the red cake layer and pour the chocolate sauce on the top and on the sides, spreading it evenly over the entire cake with a rubber spatula.
Chill the cake for 20 minutes to harden chocolate glaze.