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Perfect Tie-Dye Rainbow Layer Cake Recipe with Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

tie-dye rainbow layer cake - featured image
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A joyful and colorful vanilla layer cake with a silky vanilla buttercream frosting, perfect for celebrations and easy enough for beginners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 grams) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • Gel food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
  • For the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tablespoons (30-45 ml) heavy cream
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Add dry ingredients and whole milk alternately to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently but thoroughly.
  6. Divide batter evenly into six bowls. Add a different gel food coloring to each bowl and stir gently until colors are vibrant.
  7. Spoon small dollops of each colored batter into the center of each cake pan, alternating colors to create a tie-dye pattern.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  9. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  10. For the frosting, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed.
  11. Add vanilla extract, salt, and heavy cream to reach spreadable consistency. Beat on high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
  12. Assemble cake by layering cake and frosting, finishing with frosting on top and sides. Smooth with an offset spatula or decorate with piping bags.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs and butter for best texture. Weigh batter portions for even layers. Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without thinning batter. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to prevent dense cake. Cool cakes completely before frosting to avoid melting buttercream. For extra flair, apply a crumb coat before final frosting. For dairy-free, substitute coconut oil and almond milk; use coconut cream frosting. Cake layers can be baked a day ahead and stored wrapped in fridge.

Nutrition

Keywords: tie-dye cake, rainbow cake, vanilla buttercream, layer cake, colorful cake, celebration cake, easy cake recipe

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/perfect-tie-dye-rainbow-layer-cake-recipe-with-easy-vanilla-buttercream-frosting/