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Rainbow Cake

side view of rainbow cake with a slice cut out

Fun to make and even more fun to eat, this easy Rainbow Cake is downright magical! Pair with buttercream frosting and sprinkles.

side view of rainbow cake with a slice cut out

Rainbow Cake | Easy-Peasy!

Transform regular white cake mix into this amazing Rainbow Cake! You only need a handful of ingredients, some frosting, and sprinkles. That’s it! Although this recipe may seem scary, it really isn’t. It could not be any easier my friends. So let’s get baking 🙂

Main Ingredients Needed

You don’t need much to make this Rainbow Cake, just the way I like it, nice and simple! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • White Cake Mix – I used Betty Crocker’s Super Moist White Cake Mix but feel free to use a different brand, if desired. You could also double this Vanilla Cake recipe and divide the batter accordingly.
  • Eggs, Oil + Water – these are to make the cake batter. Follow the directions on the cake mix box you bought!
  • Food Coloring – I like to use gel food dye as opposed to liquid. You don’t use as much and the colors come out brighter.
  • Rainbow Sprinkles – these are optional to decorate your cake.

For the Frosting

  • Butter – the main star of buttercream frosting. Be sure to soften this ahead of time.
  • Vanilla – to flavor.
  • Powdered Extract – to sweeten and thicken the frosting without gritty texture.
  • Milk – this thins out the frosting to your desired consistency.

How to Make a Rainbow Cake

For full details on how to make Rainbow Cake, see the recipe card down below 🙂

Step 1: Preheat + Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line six 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper then spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set them aside.

Step 2: Make Cake Batter + Divide

According to package directions, prepare cake batter by adding oil, eggs, and water. Evenly divide the batter into 6 bowls. You can do this by eye or by weighing the batter and dividing it by 6.

Step 3: Dye Cake Batter

Color each bowl of batter a different color of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) with the matching gel food coloring.

Step 4: Bake + Cool

Pour each bowl of batter into one of the prepared pans until each pan is filled with one color. Bake for 13-17 minutes then cool completely before frosting.

Step 5: Make Frosting

Measure out the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a hand or stand mixer, start to combine the butter into the powdered sugar.

With the mixer on, slowly stream in your milk tablespoon by tablespoon until it starts to come together and look creamy. If it hasn’t come together, add another tablespoon, mix and wait it out.

After about 2 or 3 tablespoons, your frosting should be thick enough to hold its shape, but light enough to have a butter knife or rubber scraper run through it with ease.

Step 6: Assemble Rainbow Cake

Starting with the red cake layer, stack each cake layer in rainbow order making sure to spread frosting in between each layer.

With the remaining frosting, frost the sides and top of the cake. If you want to do a crumb coat, refrigerate then do a final coat of frosting, feel free to do that!

Decorate with rainbow sprinkles and serve.

slice of rainbow cake on a plate

More Cake Recipes to Try!

If you happen to make this recipe, we’d love to see it! Go ahead and tag us on Instagram @bestdessertrecipes.

Cheers, friends!

side view of rainbow cake with a slice cut out

Rainbow Cake

Fun to make and even more fun to eat, this easy Rainbow Cake is downright magical! Pair with buttercream frosting and sprinkles.
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cool Time 1 hour
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 18 servings
Calories 482 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 32.5 oz white cake mix two 16.25 oz boxes
  • eggs, oil, and water amounts depend on the boxed instructions
  • gel food coloring in six colors
  • rainbow sprinkles optional

For the Frosting

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 pounds powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons milk give or take a few tablespoons

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line six 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper then spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set them aside.
  • According to package directions, prepare cake batter by adding oil, eggs, and water. Evenly divide the batter into 6 bowls. You can do this by eye or by weighing the batter and dividing it by 6.
  • Color each bowl of batter a different color of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) with the matching gel food coloring.
  • Pour each bowl of batter into one of the prepared pans until each pan is filled with one color. Bake for 13-17 minutes then cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting

  • Measure out the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a hand or stand mixer, start to combine the butter into the powdered sugar.
  • With the mixer on, slowly stream in your milk tablespoon by tablespoon until it starts to come together and look creamy. If it hasn’t come together, add another tablespoon, mix and wait it out.
  • After about 2 or 3 tablespoons, your frosting should be thick enough to hold its shape, but light enough to have a butter knife or rubber scraper run through it with ease.

To Assemble

  • Starting with the red cake layer, stack each cake layer in rainbow order making sure to spread frosting in between each layer.
  • With the remaining frosting, frost the sides and top of the cake. If you want to do a crumb coat, refrigerate then do a final coat of frosting, feel free to do that!
  • Decorate with rainbow sprinkles and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 92gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 476mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 1gSugar: 71gVitamin A: 456IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 1mg
Keyword rainbow cake, rainbow layer cake
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