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Hi Sugarplum!

Rainbow Swirl Cake

April 2, 2013

Wow! You guys sure love an organized Family Command Center, and really want one for yourself…I can’t believe all the entries so far in the $100 Staples Card Giveaway for a Martha Stewart Wall Organizer! I love the new system too, and really love how easy it’s been to keep organized. Anything that helps our lives run smoother is genius in my book!

As you know, our Babygirl turned 7 on Easter Sunday, and we celebrated with an Art Party (see her invites and win some of your own here). Correction. Another Art Party. Since we had an Art Party for her sixth birthday, too. But, it’s what she requested…and I’m surely not going to argue with anything involving creativity and all the colors of the rainbow! But I didn’t want to just repeat everything we did last year, including the adorable Rainbow Layer Cake…so we swirled up the colors for this year’s cake.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

The Rainbow Swirl Cake was a huge hit, and there wasn’t a single piece leftover. Care to make this simple cake? Of course you do. All you need is vanilla cake mix and all the fixins instructed on the box, and food color. The gel food colors are great for really vibrant hues, which is what you want for this pot of gold. And sure, you can make your own white cake, but I let Betty do what Betty does best.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Follow all the instructions on the box to make your batter, then split equally into six bowls. Color each bowl in a shade from the rainbow. If you’re challenged slow blonde like me, you’ll need to repeat, ‘red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple’ about 187 times during this process. In the first cake pan, spread a layer of red (pink in our case) batter, using all but a few tablespoons, on the bottom.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Carefully pour a smaller amount of orange batter in the middle. You can use a spoon to gently spread the batter, but don’t mix it.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Keep going, in rainbow order, with each circle getting smaller.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Finish with a dollop of purple in the middle.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

In the second pan, use the remaining divided batter, but go in reverse rainbow order. This part was a little taxing on my brain. “Purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red?” Then bake according to the instructions, but don’t overbake, or the colors start to fade.

 

I wanted a taller cake, so I made a second box of batter and repeated the whole process after the first batch came out of the oven, for a total of four layers.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Recruit the cutest bed-headed, bowl-licker you can find to help you clean up.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

My layers weren’t all the same size, and some were really rounded on top, so after icing between each layer, I covered it with a sheet of parchment paper, and placed a heavy stone pan on top for several hours. This compressed and flattened each layer, which I think makes for a prettier finished cake.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

I covered the entire cake with white icing (it creates a more dramatic reveal once it’s cut), and added two rows of M&Ms. Again with the, ‘red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.’ And yes, you’ll eat just as many M&Ms as you put on the cake. Make peace with it. And if you’re decorating it at midnight the night before the party, the candies won’t be straight. Make peace with that, too.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

The little bunting-topper was a Target find.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

So cute I could hardly stand to cut it!

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

I love the excitement everyone has waiting to see what the inside looks like! Once again, the cake was a highlight of Babygirl’s Art Party.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake
My outfit: shirt | jeans | belt

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Each layer is unique, but all were equally yummy. I don’t know who liked it better…the kids or the grown-ups!

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

It was a cake almost as bright and cheery as the birthday girl.

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Hi Sugarplum | Rainbow Swirl Cake

Sure wish I had a piece right now! I’ll share the rest of the party with you soon!


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by Cassie 
30 Comments
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previous article: Updated Family Command Center with Martha Stewart’s New Wall Manager
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Comments

  1. ournextgreatadventure says: April 2, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    This turned out great! What a fun party for your little girl.
    Sarah

    Reply
  2. Jenny @ Simcoe Street says: April 2, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    What a great theme! The cake is too cute. Love!

    Jenny
    http://www.simcoestreet.blogspot.com

    Reply
  3. A Delightful Design says: April 2, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    You put on the best parties! When I first read that you did an art party I checked the date on the post to make sure I wasn't reading last year's party ;-), but HOW FUN that she wanted the same theme. I love that! And your outfit was so darn chic I had to click through to all the items. I will be hunting down that shirt at Old Navy today!

    Happy birthday to your baby girl!

    Reply
  4. Mix and Match Mama says: April 2, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    Well hello FABULOUS! This cake is gorgeous! Love it! I will totally be stealing this idea :).

    Reply
  5. Rhonda says: April 2, 2013 at 1:05 pm

    Sooo cute Cassie! I made a zebra cake with that Sam technique but chocolate and vanilla I remember cutting into it and praying it worked!!

    Reply
  6. Rhonda says: April 2, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    Sooo cute Cassie! I made a zebra cake with that Sam technique but chocolate and vanilla I remember cutting into it and praying it worked!!

    Reply
  7. Lil Mama Stuart says: April 2, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Great picture of the birthday girl!

    Reply
  8. Lil Mama Stuart says: April 2, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Great picture of the birthday girl!

    Reply
  9. Carrie77 says: April 2, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    I almost want to make one of those cakes just for fun! How neat! Thanks for sharing. I love the bunting topper, too!

    Reply
  10. Sarah Tucker says: April 2, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    You're seriously amazing! My birthday was in February, but I take a cake, really, for any occasion 🙂

    PS: Of course your outfit was too freaking cute!

    Reply
  11. Courtney {a thoughtful place} says: April 2, 2013 at 2:21 pm

    So so darling. I LOVE this! Riley would go nuts. Love my little S.

    Reply
  12. Simply LKJ says: April 2, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    Love it! We made a rainbow cake years ago for a Wizard of Oz party.

    Reply
  13. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says: April 2, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    The cake was already DARLING…and then you went and added the litle pennant and made it even more DARING!

    Reply
  14. jackie jade says: April 2, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    oh my goodness – i LOVE this. am i still allowed to make it even though I don't have any kids? it's the cutest.
    — jackiejade.blogspot.com

    Reply
  15. Danielle Oakey Interiors says: April 2, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    Looks amazing! Pretty sure if I attempted this it was turn out a poo brown color!

    Reply
  16. RompinAround says: April 2, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    The cake is just adorable but your outfit is amazing! Love the color combo and the extra pattern added by your belt.

    Reply
  17. [email protected] says: April 2, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    Oh yum! That looks cute and delicious! 😉

    Glad the party was a success!

    Reply
  18. Rachel O. says: April 2, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    This looks delicious. So fun and so pretty!

    Reply
  19. Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog says: April 3, 2013 at 12:59 am

    LOVE! I am always looking for fun ways to spice up a boxed mix and this, as they say, "takes the cake"! 😉 Thanks so much for sharing! And Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl!

    ~Abby =)

    Reply
  20. Kathy (Pearls in Paradise) says: April 3, 2013 at 1:17 am

    What a fun cake for a beautiful birthday girl!

    Reply
  21. emily says: April 3, 2013 at 2:46 am

    I can't decide what my favorite part is . . . your outfit, the cake, or the bday girl with her piece of cake!

    Reply
  22. charisse says: April 4, 2013 at 11:17 am

    What a "HAppy" cake. I really like this idea and will have to do it for my own party! Happy birthday to your daughter.

    Reply
  23. Karrie Kaneda says: April 4, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    So cute! I'll be trying this one! Great tip about compressing it with the pizza stone.

    Reply
  24. Freckles Chick says: April 5, 2013 at 3:00 am

    I thought I was your cutest bed-headed bowl licker.

    This cake rocks my world. Even the batter looked deliciously gorgeous unbaked. And that rainbow marble effect is TOTES AWESOME.

    Also totes awesome: your outfit & Sloan's beautiful birthday smile.

    Reply
  25. MarLeah Cole says: May 4, 2013 at 11:26 am

    Oh, my! That looks so delicious! Love the color!

    Reply
  26. creativelifeantics.com says: May 10, 2013 at 6:34 pm

    I LOVE THESE CAKES. I can't wait to try this. Nice job!

    // Justynn

    Reply
  27. Kim Mcfarlane says: October 20, 2013 at 9:03 am

    Love this cake and I'm thinking of attempting it for Master 3's Birthday soon. Can you please tell me what size cake tin did you use?
    Thanks so much
    Kim

    Reply
    • hisugarplum says: October 21, 2013 at 1:56 pm

      Hi Kim — I used a standard 9-inch round pan. But any size would work, just adjust your baking time accordingly!

      Reply
  28. Vika says: May 10, 2017 at 11:13 pm

    Hello!
    I love this cake! I made one for my girl’s 3rd Birthday but made 6 different colors levels. I am not l am currently looking for an idea for my son’s 2nd. I think i want to make this cake but with his Pirate cake 🙂 thinking 1 large round layer then smaller round layer and one of those half ball cake pan layer, wonder how many boxes of pre mixed cake i would need though!?

    Reply

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