Rainbow Vertical Cake Recipes

RAINBOW CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray the bottom and sides of six 8-inch round cake pans; dust with flour and tap out excess.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter, sugar and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla seeds, until combined.
• Transfer the creamed mixture to a very large mixing bowl, then alternate folding in the flour mixture and the milk with a spatula, adding the flour in 3 additions and the milk in 2, starting and ending with the flour, just until smooth. Divide the batter equally among 6 mixing bowls. Using gel food colors, tint each bowl with one of the colors of the rainbow. Pour each color into its own prepared cake pan.
• Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cakes to the rack to cool completely.
• Level the tops of any cake layers that have domed by slicing the domes off with a serrated knife. Put some buttercream into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Put the bottom cake layer onto a cake plate. Pipe around the edge of the cake layer to create a frosting "dam." Fill the center with a thin layer of jam (about 1/2 cup). Top with another cake layer and repeat until you have stacked and filled all the layers. Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining buttercream and decorate as desired.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, milk, vanilla seeds and salt. Beat on low speed for a while. When the sugar is incorporated, turn the speed up and beat until the buttercream is fluffy and smooth. If it's too wet, add a bit more confectioners' sugar. If it's too stiff, add a bit more butter. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice to make sure everything is combined.
• Use immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Rewhip cold buttercream before using.

RAINBOW SHERBET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease two 7-by-7-inch cake pans.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the vanilla. Add one egg at a time, mixing between each addition. In another bowl, sift the cake flour, all-purpose flour, salt and baking powder. Mix together the milk, lemon juice and lemon zest. Set the mixer to the to the lowest speed, and alternate adding the flour mixture and the milk mixture a little bit at a time, starting and ending with the dry mixture. Scrape down the bowl to make sure all the ingredients are fully combined. Separate the batter evenly into three mixing bowls. Use the food coloring to color one bowl bright green, one bright orange and the last bright pink.
• Scoop each of the colors randomly into each pan. Use a small knife or spatula to swirl the colors into the cake to create a marble effect. Bake until cooked through, 45 minutes.
• Cool the cakes for 20 minutes.
• Frost one of the cakes with Rainbow Sherbet Buttercream, then layer the other cake on top. The cake will look colorful and marbled when cut.
• In an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter. Add the powdered sugar and whip until fully mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the lemon and orange emulsions, then separate the buttercream into 3 equal parts. Color one green, one orange and the last pink. Put all three frosting colors in a pastry bag. When piped, the colors will blend together.

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.