Rainbow layer cake

via smartbottomenterprises.blogspot.com

I've got a little wood nymph of daughter who just turned eight. She informed me that she doesn't want a GIRLY cake. No princesses. She prefers (and I quote) "the beauty of nature."

Well here's a cake that takes its inspiration from nature, but is satisfyingly showy and over-the-top. And it's easy to make, as long as you have enough cake pans.

I'm thinking this may be also an ideal rainy-day activity (this being Portland, we've got our share).

Thanks for sharing, Darcy!

Read the full post and recipe at Smart-Bottom Enterprises: Rainbow Cake

Related: More birthday cake ideas

Comments

[Boston Mamas]

Asha, I also have a wood nymph at home. :-) Last year I posted a rainbow cake tutorial that's a bit of a lazier approach (you only need two pans) and results in a cool rainbow tie dye look. Everyone was amazed!

[Boston Mamas]

Gah, sorry. Here's the link: http://www.bostonmamas.com/2010/09/how_to_make_rainbow_cake.html

[kirstencan]

when you said wood nymph it reminded me of the cake i made for my daughter's 9th:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstencan/3611162040/in/photostream/
(with toadstool cupcakes!)

you can definitely do fun/girly without being princess-y!

[Daffodil]

I made a rainbow cake for my son's half-birthday a few months ago, but I only used one pan! I used a box cake mix and followed the assembly instructions found here:
http://www.omnomicon.com/rainbowcake
The cake mix made two layers -- I made one starting with red on the bottom and working up to purple and the other starting with purple on the bottom and working up to red (definitely the way to go). I frosted each separately and sent one of the (admittedly short!) cakes to work with my husband. Figured half a cake was fine for half a birthday!

[Anthony from CharismaticKid]

I think if I ever saw a cake like this as a child, I would start singing. In fact, I think I'll send this cake to my twitter followers. Yum yum.

[Asha Dornfest]

That is GORGEOUS.

[Asha Dornfest]

LOVE. I have a major thing for mushrooms. This reminds me of something that would be served at a Sherwood Forest tea party!

[Patsy]

I made these for my daughters 4th birthday for her party at school.... http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206082_799158942518_60709012_39280979_188298_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206082_799158942518_60709012_39280979_188298_n.jpg

[Patsy]

opps the second link should be this http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198594_799150958518_60709012_39280760_5897638_n.jpg

[Melissa]

It's gorgeous, and I hate to be a killjoy, but does anybody know where I could get natural dyes to do something like this (and get as lovely a result?!?!)

[pook]

Melissa, I would love to know what info you get - please post here.

[Erin]

Not as vibrant, but there's a recipe for "Frozen rainbow chiffon cake" in this months Martha Stewart Living magazine.
Here's a pic of the cake: http://www.scatterpig.com/2011/07/cake-and-collectables/
(The layers are tinted with fruit puree.)

I can't find the recipe online (maybe it's too new to be out and around yet, since it's in the most current issue?) but if anyone is interested in it I can type it up on here late tonight or tomorrow.
Hope this helps!

[Asha Dornfest]

I posted your question on Twitter/FB, and here's what I got:

Christine (Bostonmamas) has seen natural colorings at Whole Foods and also suggested these: http://www.supplyvillage.com/chefmaster-natural-food-coloring.html

My brilliant natural-foodie friend Andrea says: http://www.seelecttea.com/index.php?cPath=41

A how-to at eHow (it's limited): http://www.ehow.com/how_2302808_make-natural-food-coloring.html

[Maisha]

You can do this same recipe (but without the frosting inbetween layers) with cupcakes! It's yummy, we've done it several times, in both cake form and cupcake form.

[brülör]

I made a rainbow cake for my son's half-birthday a few months ago, but I only used one pan! I used a box cake mix and followed the assembly instructions found here: