Lemon Orange Rainbow Cake
Brighten any celebration with the stunning and zesty Lemon Orange Rainbow Cake! This dazzling dessert layers vibrant colors with the tangy citrus flavors of fresh lemon and orange juice, perfectly balanced by a velvety cream cheese frosting. Each of the six layers is individually dyed with food coloring to create a breathtaking rainbow effect, making it as delightful to look at as it is to eat. The zest of lemon and orange adds a refreshing aroma, while the moist, tender crumb pairs beautifully with the rich, creamy frosting. Ideal for birthdays, holidays, or special gatherings, this cake is a showstopper that's worth every moment of its homemade charm. Bursting with citrus, color, and cheer, it’s a dessert that tastes as incredible as it looks!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 2.5 teaspoons Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 cups Granulated sugar
- 4 large Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons Fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon Orange zest
- 1 cup Whole milk
- 6 colors Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
- 8 ounces Cream cheese (softened)
- 4 cups Powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons Heavy cream
- 6 colors Additional food coloring for frosting (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour six 8-inch round cake pans, or prepare batches if you don't have six pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, lemon juice, orange juice, lemon zest, and orange zest.
Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the wet ingredients, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
Divide the batter evenly into six bowls. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl to create red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple batters. Stir each until the color is uniform.
Pour each colored batter into its respective prepared cake pan. Smooth the tops with a spatula.
Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Rotate the pans halfway through baking if necessary.
Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
While the cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth. Add the heavy cream and beat until fluffy. Optional: Divide frosting into six portions and tint with matching food coloring.
To assemble the cake, place the purple layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread a thin layer of frosting on top. Repeat with the blue, green, yellow, orange, and red layers, adding frosting between each.
Once all layers are stacked, spread a thin crumb coat of frosting over the entire cake. Chill the cake for 30 minutes to set the crumb coat.
Frost the outside of the cake with the remaining frosting, smoothing it out with a spatula. Decorate as desired!
Slice and serve your Lemon Orange Rainbow Cake. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
7823 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 312.2 g | 400% | |
| Saturated Fat | 186.6 g | 933% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 1571 mg | 524% | |
| Sodium | 3476 mg | 151% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1198.1 g | 436% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.7 g | 45% | |
| Total Sugars | 897.4 g | ||
| Protein | 87.8 g | 176% | |
| Vitamin D | 9.7 mcg | 49% | |
| Calcium | 776 mg | 60% | |
| Iron | 21.8 mg | 121% | |
| Potassium | 1512 mg | 32% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
