Rainbow cake!

Tomorrow Christina's daughter, Maddie, turns six and she has requested a My Little Pony cake for her party next week.  While planning the cake, which we will post here upon its completion, Christina decided to do add a fun element to the baked layers themselves: a rainbow affect!

That means she will be making multiple single layers of vanilla cake which she will then dye different colors using food coloring.  When stacked together, they will create a rainbow, which looks pretty darned impressive when you cut into the cake!

Here is an example of what we mean: 

(Picture courtesy of http://www.marthastewart.com/)

Stay tuned for Christina's cake next week!


Until then, here is a copy of our vanilla cake recipe (which is actually a 1-2-3-4 cake, recipe courtesy of Swan's Down) in case you decide to try out a rainbow cake for yourself.  We use this particular recipe because it is delicious and holds up well to stacking and carving.

 1-2-3-4 Cake (AKA vanilla cake)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 cups sifted Swans Down Cake Flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Baking Instructions:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
2. Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Add eggs one at a time to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
3. Add flour mixture alternately with milk and flavorings, beating after each addition until smooth.
4. Baking: Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch layer pans, using about 2-1/3 cups batter in each pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans and finish cooling on racks.

For the rainbow effect, divide the batter evenly between six medium bowls. Add enough of each color of food coloring to each bowl, whisking, until desired color is reached.  Transfer each color to its individual cake pan and bake from there.  (Note:  Christina is planning on doubling this recipe and baking her layers in 6" round pans.)  Be sure to stack your layers in the order of ROY G BIV so you get the true rainbow look! 

Happy baking!

Christina and Meghan