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5/25/10

Rainbow Layer Cake


This is just a basic cake recipe, there isn't anything special about it - but it's appeal is that you divide the batter between 6 different bowls and color each so you end up with a rainbow of colors. I'm adding this one to my online collection but I have an idea for you; with the Fourth of July coming up in just a few weeks, try making 3 each of red and blue to make a patriotic holiday cake. Mmmm. I love this cake. It's so fun!




Makes one 9-inch-round six-layer cake

* Vegetable shortening
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 4 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
* 2 1/3 cups sugar
* 5 large egg whites, room temperature
* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
* Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food coloring
* Buttercream Frosting


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush six 9-inch-round cake pans (or as many 9-inch cake pans as you have, reusing them as necessary) with shortening. Line bottom of each cake pan with parchment paper; brush again and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Slowly add egg whites and mix until well combined. Add vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Add flour mixture and milk in two alternating additions, beginning with the flour and ending with the milk. Mix until well combined.

Divide batter evenly between six medium bowls. Add enough of each color of food coloring to each bowl, whisking, until desired shade is reached. Transfer each color to an individual cake pan. Transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, about 15 minutes (working in batches if necessary).

Remove cakes from oven and transfer to a wire rack; let cool for 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto a wire rack; re-invert and let cool completely.

Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the purple layer on the cake plate. Spread a scant 1 cup buttercream filling over the first layer with a small offset spatula so it extends just beyond edges. Repeat process with blue, green, yellow, and orange layers.

Place the remaining red layer on top, bottom-side up. Gently sweep away any loose crumbs with a pastry brush. Using an offset spatula, cover the top and sides with a thin layer of frosting (also use any of the excess frosting visible between the layers). Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

Using an offset spatula, cover cake again with remaining frosting.Print Friendly and PDF