Rainbow layer cake - Recipes, tips & tricks!

[PumpkinZulu]

So I'm making a rainbow layer cake for DD's birthday. I'm kind of confident I can do it, it doesn't look *too* tricky. I'm no Rouge or anything though

Has anyone made one? Got a recipe to share, your experiences, tips or tricks? What sort of frosting should I make? I'm thinking either a cream cheese or marshmallow.

[Shanti]

I don't think it will be hard, just time consuming!! I am making my first one too in a few days for DD's 1st birthday but it's for her 'cake smash' photos can't wait!!!

I am using the recipe from taste website good luck!!

[Phteven]

How about the icing on Netix' red velvet cake recipe?
Wilton gel colours are nice and strong. Way better than the supermarket ones and you can buy them in multi-packs that are prefect for rainbow cakes.

[MrsFabuloso]

Measure the mixture out properly and use exactly the same cake tins. When I made DD's cake, I used tins that were the same size, but not exactly the same (brought at different times) so the cakes were a slightly different shape and you could see they were uneven when she cut it. It wasn't a huge disaster, but I could tell!
It isn't difficult to actually make, it just takes time, especially when you only have two cake tins to make 7 cakes with! I used a plain old butter icing and although it was a little yellow-ish, it still looked pretty good!

[Beach Mama]

Will let you know tomorrow!! Onyx where do you get the gel colours? Cake shop or do some bigger supermarkets have them???

[Olive]

Tan the cake shop out back of Chirnside sells Wilton colours

[Phteven]

If you don't have a cake decorating or kitchen supplies shop near you that sell wilton colours they are easy to get online.

[Beach Mama]

Thanks loves! Onyz - making it tomoz so online isn't gonna cut it! Chirny is close though thanks Jols! ooooh Spotters might have them too maybe?!!

[TeniBear]

Could you do three cake layers, with three layers of icing, all in different colours? I've seen that somwehere, maybe Pinterest... Anyway, it'd go

Red Icing
Orange Cake
Yellow Icing
Green Cake
Blue Icing
Purple Cake

Or, change all those colours to whatever the other layer is (so red icing becomes red cake, etc.) and have thick blue and white icing on top in a kind of sky-looking design so when you cut into it everyone goes "oooooh"

If you want a general cake tip - I don't know how often you make cakes - a good one is to always use room temperature ingredients (except probably milk, but even then you don't want it too cold) and a preheated oven.

[Beach Mama]

FWIW PZ Im using the Greens essential vanilla cake mix, dividing each into 2 and doing the colours as per what TB posted! I am using the Swiss meringue cream icing that Rouge mentioned in the other thread.

[Rouge]

When I first started making cakes (DD's first cake was a ladybird cake, 10 years ago!) I used cake mix. I also used my bamix with whisk attachment as a mixer in a tiny kitchen smaller than my bathroom. You don't need to go nuts. I learnt to decorate with buttercream well before I baked my own cakes and I have used greens butter cake mix (the best packet mix IMO) to make the rainbow cakes before. Easy as. You can do this Promise.

[PumpkinZulu]

Rouge may need you to come over for a test run and cuppa

Thanks so much guys! I'm an okay baker, but I am leaning towards a mix just for the time saving aspects, and the ease. I'm so excited to be planning all the bits and bobs for a birthday party, I feel like a proper adult (almost).

[Rouge]

Totally up for the test run!

Can I just say I totally get the proper adult thing. I can still remember what it felt like to decorate DD's first cake... Especially given I never had birthday cakes often as a kid *cue violins* and have baked every year since then. Naw.

[PumpkinZulu]

Same same! My mum tried, but she's not much of a baker. One year we had half a watermelon with candles stuck in

[Mak]

PZ - You can do it! I agree there is nothing wrong with a mix esp when you have a whole party to cater for! Not to mention a birthday to enjoy and celebrate. Google Martha Stewart Rainbow cake for inspiration and then use a packet to get the result! I love making bday cakes for the kids - so so much fun. Congrats and make sure you post a pic ok??? x

[Olive]

Tan its on switchback road

[Beach Mama]

Thank you! Do you think that liquid ones would work ok considering we are dyeing the cake mix not the icing so it shouldn't affect consistency?? Sorry a bit OT PZ!

[PumpkinZulu]

Nah go ahead, it's for everyone making this cake. I'm so excited We'll all have to post pics of our masterpieces.