#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Rainbow Cake Deconstructed

June 18, 2009 · Narrative

Naked Cake

Whoa!  My e-mail box overfloweth more than usual … all about the rainbow cake!  I love that one too.  Every time I look at it, it just puts a big smile on my face.  How could it not with those bright, vibrant happy colors?  So to answer the questions in one big swoop, here are a few notes:

* The cake recipe?  Two boxes of white cake mix.  Total cheat city.  But you know what?  That’s ok.  With this type of cake, where there are other details and things to take care of, I think it’s perfectly fine to cheat.  I happened to use Pillsbury (with pudding in the mix), but am sure any would do, as would a cake from scratch, of course.

* Follow the directions on the cake mix, mixing the two boxes and associated ingredients together in one big bowl. Divide the batter amongst six bowls so you can color the batter.

* Now for the color.  For these vibrant colors, you can’t use regular food coloring because it produces more pale colors.  You need icing color, which is much more concentrated (Wilton makes some, for example).  You need lots less and it goes far.  You can find it in cake decorating aisles of stores like Michael’s and AC Moore (usually sold in a small box of 8-10 small containers of different colors).  You really need just a speck or two of the color in each bowl.  Add more as desired to get the shade you want.

*  Put the batter into six round cake pans that have been lightly greased.  It worked out to roughly 1-1/4 cup of batter in each pan.

A Peek Inside

*  Bake at the oven temperature specified for your particular mix, but because the layers are a bit smaller, the time in the oven needs to be adjusted.  Start checking the cake at about 12 minutes.  Mine were done at around 14 minutes.

* While the cakes are cooling, make your frosting.  When the cakes are cooled, cut off a thin bit of cake from each top so your layers are very flat.  Since they tend to dome a smidge when baking, if you don’t level it a bit, the cake will topple over in no time flat since we’re building it so high.

*  For the frosting, I used buttercream, my favorite.  I spread a thin layer of frosting in between each cake layer, and then all over the tops and sides.

Enjoy!

P.S.  You can find the original Rainbow Cake post here, along with more pictures.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Rainbow Cake

Comments

  1. Claire says

    June 18, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    Yay…I am totally going to make this sometime! SUPER cute!

    Claires last blog post..Summer Muffins

    Reply
  2. Starnesfam says

    June 19, 2009 at 12:45 am

    I saw this on the Whatever blog. Such a cute cake! Have had a couple of friends make it and they say the food coloring makes all the difference. Need to try it!

    Starnesfams last blog post..This Week

    Reply
  3. MariaV says

    June 19, 2009 at 5:26 am

    I’m going to make this as soon as I get the coloring.

    I may also try a red, white, and blue cake for July 4th.

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    June 19, 2009 at 8:42 am

    I continue to be amazed by this cake. Each picture is so pleasing to my eyes.

    Joannes last blog post..Regional Recipes – Korea

    Reply
  5. Ramona says

    June 19, 2009 at 9:49 am

    Thanks for breaking it down for us.

    Ramona

    Ramonas last blog post..The most expensive plant

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    June 19, 2009 at 9:56 am

    That is a great looking cake! My youngest son would love that! Now if only rainbow cookies were this easy to make!

    Debbies last blog post..My One Year Blogging Anniversary and Birthday!!

    Reply
  7. Sarah Caron says

    June 19, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    Oooooh! You told me it was easy … but that REALLY is easy. I think I might have to make that. Perhaps for Will’s birthday this year … I think he would be delighted.

    Sarah Carons last blog post..Fertile Fridays: Gardening is So Fulfilling

    Reply
  8. patsyk says

    June 20, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    I really want to make this… just need a good excuse now!

    Reply
  9. Janet says

    June 21, 2009 at 2:00 am

    This just totally makes me smile- I LOVE it!!

    Reply
  10. pamela says

    June 21, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    Love this cake!! It’s adorable. I am definitely searching for a reason to make it now, since I know the kids would absolutely LOVE it!

    Reply
  11. Cate says

    June 22, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    Pamela – someone suggested on the first post that it would make a great fourth of july cake, and I’m thinking that’s the perfect reason!

    Janet – me too!

    Patsy – 4th of July! :)

    Sarah – no excuses now!

    Ramona – no problem. :)

    Debbie – totally! I have seen a few other versions where they did it all in one layer, adding one color after the other, and it comes out looking like a tie-dyed cake, another fun version.

    Starnesfam – yes, I’ve seen it in a bunch of places – there, another version that is WW-friendly and made with soda, a few tie-dyed versions… seems to be popping up all over the place lately.

    Claire – hope you make it!

    Reply
  12. Heather says

    July 6, 2009 at 12:31 am

    OMG…that is the coolest cake EVER! This may just be the inspiration I need to make my kids a birthday cake. Love it! What a great idea!

    Reply
  13. arre says

    July 12, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    i love this cake! i saw it elsewhere a few months back (maybe on isuwannee?) but am sure it orginated with you since all of your post are drool-worthy! xx

    Reply
  14. Meg says

    July 28, 2009 at 9:24 am

    I’m completely in love with this cake, too! I’m not entirely sure if my own baking skills could be up to snuff to make it, but for the moment I’ll keep admiring your lovely photos :)

    Reply
  15. Maria says

    October 12, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Oh my! Now I want to have a baby girl to make her a Rainbow Brite cake! It looks absolutely yummy!!!

    Reply
  16. Jujichan says

    November 2, 2009 at 2:27 am

    this is a cute idea xD I will be doing this for my upcoming 20th birthday party since the theme is all about colors, techno music and cute things!

    Reply
  17. Jessi says

    September 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    Love this idea! I made this for my nieces 6th birthday last weekend and it was a hit. I love everything rainbows and colorful so I did light blue frosting and a rainbow on the top. I wanted to say thank you for sharing because this idea really “takes the cake” Thank you!

    Reply
  18. Christa aka the BabbyMama says

    February 25, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Trying this today for my daughter’s second birthday party – it’s rainbow themed! The layers are cooling, and the whole thing will be assembled tomorrow :)

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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