Brighten any celebration with this delightful Pastel Rainbow Cake! Featuring soft layers of cake in an array of cheerful colors and wrapped in a silky smooth vanilla frosting, this cake is as joyful to look at as it is delicious to eat.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- Pastel food coloring (various colors)
For the Frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- Optional sprinkles for decoration
Directions
- Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease and flour four 8-inch round cake pans.
- Cake Batter:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream the melted butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
- Divide the batter evenly among several bowls, tinting each with a different pastel food coloring. Pour into the prepared pans.
- Baking:
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.
- Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Gradually add heavy cream until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Assembly:
- Stack the cakes with a layer of frosting between each. Apply a thin crumb coat to seal in crumbs and chill briefly to set.
- Frost the cake with the remaining frosting, blending colors if desired to create a watercolor effect. Decorate with optional sprinkles for an extra festive touch.
Preparation Time
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Decorating Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Nutritional Information
- Calories: 615 kcal per slice
Tips
- Even Distribution: Use a kitchen scale to ensure even distribution of the batter among the pans for uniform cake layers.
- Crumb Coat: Applying a crumb coat will help to seal in crumbs before applying the final layer of frosting, ensuring a cleaner and smoother finish.
- Cooling: Let the cakes cool completely before assembly to prevent the frosting from melting.
Conclusion
This Pastel Rainbow Cake is the perfect centerpiece for any festive occasion, combining the playful charm of colorful layers with the elegance of a classic cake. It’s a delicious way to add a splash of color and joy to your celebrations!