When I discovered these Rainbow Pancakes, I knew immediately that I had to bake a cake version for Eden and Elijah’s second birthday. After a brief Google search, I found several Rainbow Cake recipes, but there was just one major problem… they were all recipes from scratch. While I admire those who can bake from scratch, I prefer not to do so, because something always goes terribly wrong. And as the ancient Chinese Proverb that I totally made up goes: Those who can… bake from scratch. Those who can’t… simply open a box of Duncan Hines Cake Mix.

Random Note: I prefer Duncan Hines so that’s what I used. Please use whatever brand/method you prefer.

Rainbow Cake Recipe:

Note: Triple this recipe to bake six layers. You can find the original Rainbow Cake recipe here.

1.) 2 9 inch round baking pans
2.) 1 box Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix *Substitute for scratch mix*
3.) 1 container Duncan Hines Cream Cheese Frosting *Substitute for Lemony Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting*
4.) 3 Egg Whites
5.) 1 1/3 cup water
6.) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
7.) Gel Food Coloring (I bought a box of four. There are instructions on the back to mix more colors.)

Heat oven to 350 degrees, lightly grease your 9 inch round baking pans, and then set them aside.

Prepare cake mix according to the instruction on the back of the Duncan Hines box. Each box contains enough mix to bake two 9 inch round cakes.

Evenly divide the batter into two bowls. (Evenly dividing is the key or some cakes will be heavier than others.)

Add a different color gel food coloring into each bowl. Mix batter and gel food coloring together until you’ve reach your desired color.

Pour the batter from each bowl into their own individual baking pans.

Bake according to the time on the back of the cake mix box, which is roughly 28 – 31 minutes.

Remove cakes from pans to cool.

Take your cooled cakes and layer to your color preference. Frosting each layer.

That’s all folks!

A Related Yet Random Story: This cake is lucky to have survived the wrath of my baking skills, and then the frosting of my thirteen, seven, and six year old sons . After the frosting was done it cracked at the top and almost crumbled over. I guess it was top heavy:) It was still worth the effort!