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Rainbow Layer Cake

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A vibrant and festive rainbow layer cake with six colorful layers of moist vanilla sponge, filled and frosted with smooth buttercream. Perfect for birthdays and celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 1/2 cups (440g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (360ml) buttermilk
  • Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
  • 4 cups (920g) buttercream frosting (for filling and decorating)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line six 8-inch round cake pans or bake in batches if needed.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  5. Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  6. Divide the batter evenly into six bowls. Tint each with a different food coloring to create the rainbow layers.
  7. Pour each colored batter into a prepared cake pan and bake for 15–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  9. Once cooled, level the tops of each cake layer if necessary. Stack the layers in rainbow order, spreading a layer of buttercream between each.
  10. Frost the outside of the cake with remaining buttercream and decorate as desired.

Notes

  • Chill the cake for 30 minutes before slicing for cleaner layers.
  • Use gel food coloring for more vibrant layers without affecting batter consistency.
  • Make layers ahead and freeze for easy assembly later.

Nutrition

Keywords: rainbow cake, birthday cake, layered cake, colorful cake, vanilla cake

Find it online: https://zesticook.com/rainbow-layer-cake-2/