This Rainbow Layer Cake is packed with a different flavor in every layer!
My husband made this Rainbow Layer Cake for Easter. I would suggest you may want to enjoy this cake at least once. It’s perfect for any celebration when you want to Wow the crowd. It’s huge so be sure to invite friends and family to enjoy it with you.
This Rainbow Layer Cake is rather majestic with four layers! Slice those layers thin and you should be able to get about 20 slices so it will feed a crowd. One slice covers a full size dinner plate.
It’s what I lovingly refer to as a ‘cheating cake,’ because it’s a box mix but trust me when I say, the flavors are amazing! There are many, many box mix recipes out there which will make you think you are eating a cake made from scratch. This is one of those. Don’t you just love Tricks with Cake Mix recipes! We do.
It’s pretty tall, don’t you think. We made this disappearing flavor packed cake for Easter and everyone loved it.
We didn’t use the cool whip frosting in the magazine recipe. Instead, Stacy made the basic buttercream frosting which is a family favorite. We also stacked the layers in a different color pattern than Kraft just for the fun of it! We were very happy with this recipe and will likely make it again for a special occasion.
INSPIRATION
This cake was inspired by the Rainbow Layer Cake found in a magazine put out by Kraft a few years ago. They used a whipped cream frosting which doesn’t appeal to anyone in our family so we went with a Buttercream frosting. You can find our Buttercream frosting recipe as you scroll down.
THE SECRET
The secret to the flavors is using dry gelatin mix. We used; Raspberry, Orange, Lime and Berry Blue gelatin. It’s a pretty cool trick which we have used again. You could easily make a cake in team colors using the gelatin trick.
Also see our recipe for this Citrus Cake with Lemon Lime Cream Cheese frosting.
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KEEP SCROLLING FOR PRINTABLE RECIPE
Rainbow Layer Cake
A four flavor four layer cake perfect for all sorts of events and celebrations.
Ingredients
- 2 pkg. white cake mixes, divided
- ½ of 3-oz. pkg.each gelatin Raspberry Flavor Gelatin, Orange Flavor Gelatin, Lime Flavor Gelatin and Berry Blue (Jello)
- Oil according to pkg directions
- Water according to pkg. directions
- Egg whites according to pkg. directions
- BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INGREDIENTS
- 1 Cup Softened Butter
- 2 pkgs. (16 oz. ea.) Confectioners’ Sugar
- 1 tsp. Clear Vanilla
- 2 Tbsp. Milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º
- Grease and flour four 8" cake pans
- Prepare cake batter from 1 pkg. cake mix as directed on package.
- Divide batter equally between two separate bowls.
- Add dry raspberry gelatin mix to batter in one bowl; mix well.
- Stir dry orange gelatin mix into remaining batter.
- Pour into prepared pans.
- Bake according to package directions, 20 to 30 minutes until done.
- Repeat cake preparation steps with the second box of cake mix and divide equally between two bowls.
- Stir in the remaining two gelatin flavors and mix well until blended
- Pour into cake pans.
- Bake at 350º 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
- Cool completely before icing.
BUTTERCREAM FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS
Cream butter until light and fluffy.
Add milk and vanilla a little at a time blending after each addition on low speed.
Add sugar a little at a time while blending on medium speed.
You can add more milk if the frosting is too thick or you can add additional confectioners’sugar if too thin.
Notes
Berry Blue Jello is available on Amazon
Nutrition Information
Yield
20Serving Size
1 sliceAmount Per Serving Calories 140Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 26mgSodium 108mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 0gSugar 5gProtein 4g
Nutrition information is estimated and not entirely accurate based on ingredients and different cook times in home kitchens.
HOW TO MAKE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Softened Butter
2 pkgs. (16 oz. ea.) Confectioners’ Sugar
1 tsp. Clear Vanilla
2 Tbsp. Milk
INSTRUCTIONS
Cream butter until light and fluffy.
Add milk and vanilla a little at a time blending after each addition on low speed.
Add sugar a little at a time while blending on medium speed.
You can add more milk if the frosting is too thick or you can add additional confectioners’
sugar if too thin.
More of our Tricks with Cake Mix Recipes
- Fresh Peach Compote Easy Recipe - April 14, 2021
- 3 Reasons To Grow A Salad Bowl Garden - April 13, 2021
- Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 days: Book Review - April 12, 2021
Rhonda Gales says
What a fun idea Shirley. I’m thinking a layer of blue, yellow, green who knows. The kids will love it. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be featuring your post on my Rainbow Roundup post.
sue says
How gorgeous! A perfect cake for any celebration. Thank you for sharing with us at #OvertheMoon and look forward to you linking up next week.
Tammy @ creativekkids says
This is so beautiful! I think it would be gorgeous for a girls birthday party. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! I’ve pinned this to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest board!
Shirley Wood says
Thanks for the Pin, Tammy. I’ve seen a lot of people who say they would use this cake for a birthday! Lots of potential with this one! It was delicious too.
Angie says
I’ve never seen such beautiful cake! Thank you for networking with us on the CLIMB!
Angie
http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2014/03/april-2014-chain-linky-climb-giveaway.html
Shirley Wood says
Angie, thank you for stopping by. Thanks, it is in fact a beautiful cake!
Amanda Smith says
That’s a great idea! It really says spring. I bet it tasted divine! This would be great to take to our family reunion.
Shirley Wood says
Amanda, you would get such a great reaction if you take that cake to a reunion! It is both delicious and pretty!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
Shirley! That is one of the prettiest cakes I have EVER SEEN!!!
Elena says
Love the cake. It looks serious on the outside but then you get the WOW surprise on the inside.
Amy says
Wow, I love everything about this cake, including the extra highness and the colors! Well done! I’m going to pin this so hopefully I’ll remember it for the next special occasion!
Shirley Wood says
Glad you liked it being tall too! We thought that was part of the fun! Thanks for stopping by, Amy.
Beverly says
That’s gorgeous. And TALL. I guess “just a small piece” wouldn’t really be very small, just thin.
Beautiful and looks delicious!
Shirley Wood says
My husband cut a ‘small’ piece which we wound up sharing. The flavors are really good too. Thanks for stopping by Beverly.
Zan says
I sure want a bite from this lovely looking goodie you have there Shirley! Your hubby did a great job!
Better than me; I made a cake which turned out to be a disaster. Well, the decorative side of it!
Shirley Wood says
Zan, you know those cakes that turn out not so pretty are usually the best tasting cakes!
Dani Pesconi-Arthur (@DaniArthurBR) says
What a beautiful cake!!!!
Love all the colours inside!
🙂
Shirley Wood says
Dani, thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you like the cake. Please let me know if you make it 🙂
Darci says
What a fun cake! I love it! Thanks for posting!
Shirley Wood says
Darci, thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you like the cake.
Tamara says
This is a colorful cake! I love it. I have been taking cake decorating classes, so all of these different cakes are intriguing! 🙂
Pinning. Thanks for linking up at the Bloggers Brags Weekly Pinterest Party
Shirley Wood says
Thanks for stopping by Tamara. I do enjoy Bloggers Brag, it is fun! Thanks for the Pin too 🙂
becka says
Wow that is some cake! It’s so beautiful. That would be perfect for this weekend. my daughter after several mind changes has decided on a colorful birthday party.
Shirley Wood says
Yes,Becka that certainly would be a nice cake for a colorful birthday celebration! Be sure to tell me if you make it 🙂
Alli says
What a stunningly, beautiful cake! Your husband knocked it out of the park on this one! Did you save me a piece? It’s gorgeous and the perfect dessert for Easter!
Shirley Wood says
It sure was a perfect cake for Easter. Thanks, Alli. If you hurry, you may get here before the last piece is gone but I can’t promise 🙂