Rainbow Marble Cake Recipe

Name: Rainbow Marble Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour.; 3 cups granulated sugar.; 2 1/2 tsp baking powder.; 1 tsp salt.; 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks).; 2 tsp vanilla extract.; 1 cup egg whites (about 7 egg whites).; 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature.; 1/8 cup vegetable oil.; Gel food coloring in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red.; 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature (for frosting).; 11 cups powdered sugar (for frosting).; 1 tsp salt (for frosting).; 1/3 cup heavy cream (or whipping cream for frosting).; 1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract (for frosting).; Gel food coloring in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red (for frosting).

By Clare Greco

Updated on 05 September 2024

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Brighten up any celebration with this stunning Rainbow Marble Cake! Featuring vibrant swirls of color and decadent vanilla buttercream frosting, this cake is perfect for birthdays, pride events, or any festive occasion. The marbled interior creates a surprise with every slice, while the rich buttercream makes for a delicious finishing touch. With tips on how to achieve the best results, such as using gel food coloring for intense hues and chilling the cake layers for easy assembly, you'll have a visually stunning and flavorful centerpiece that will wow your guests. Perfect for both novice and experienced bakers!

This Rainbow Marble Cake is the ultimate showstopper for any occasion. With vibrant swirls of color inside and a rich vanilla buttercream frosting on the outside, it’s a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Perfect for birthday celebrations, pride events, or any day you want to add a splash of color to the table.

INGREDIENTS

All-purpose flour: 3 cups
Granulated sugar: 3 cups
Baking powder: 2 1/2 tsp
Salt: 1 tsp
Unsalted butter: 1 cup, room temperature
Vanilla extract: 2 tsp for cake, 1 1/2 Tbsp for frosting
Egg whites: 1 cup (about 7 egg whites)
Buttermilk: 1 1/2 cups, room temperature
Vegetable oil: 1/8 cup
Gel food coloring: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red
Butter: 3 cups, room temperature for frosting
Powdered sugar: 11 cups
Heavy cream: 1/3 cup
Salt: 1 tsp for frosting

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1:: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by lining them with parchment paper and greasing the sides.
Step 2:: In a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the butter until the mixture becomes crumbly. Then, add the egg whites and buttermilk, followed by the vanilla extract and oil. Mix until just combined, then beat on medium speed for 30 seconds.
Step 3:: Divide the batter evenly into six bowls, and color each bowl with a different gel food coloring. Pour spoonfuls of the different colors into the cake pans and swirl with a knife to create a marble effect.
Step 4:: Bake the cakes for 34-37 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to the freezer for 45 minutes to firm up.
Step 5:: For the buttercream, beat the butter for 30 seconds, then gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with cream. Mix in the vanilla extract and salt. Adjust the frosting’s consistency with more cream or powdered sugar as needed.
Step 6:: Assemble the cake by stacking the layers with a generous amount of buttercream between each. Apply a thin crumb coat, chill, then add a final smooth layer of frosting. Color the remaining frosting and decorate the cake with rainbow stripes using a piping tip.

Serving and Storage Tips

For best results, use gel food coloring to maintain the cake and frosting consistency while achieving vibrant hues.
Store the finished cake in the fridge if not serving immediately, and let it come to room temperature before slicing.

Helpful Notes

Spoon and level the flour to ensure the perfect texture for the cake layers. Overmixing can lead to a denser cake, so mix just until ingredients are incorporated.

Tips from Well-Known Chefs

For a professional finish, use a bench scraper to smooth the buttercream frosting and a rotating cake stand for easier decorating.

Rainbow Marble Cake

This stunning Rainbow Marble Cake boasts colorful swirls and is topped with vanilla buttercream frosting. It's perfect for birthdays, pride celebrations, or any festive occasion.

Prep Time

15 Minutes

Cook Time

35 Minutes

Total Time

50 Minutes

By: Clare Greco

Category: Sweet Treats

Difficulty: Difficult

Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 Servings (1 Cake)

Ingredients

01 3 cups all-purpose flour.

02 3 cups granulated sugar.

03 2 1/2 tsp baking powder.

04 1 tsp salt.

05 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks).

06 2 tsp vanilla extract.

07 1 cup egg whites (about 7 egg whites).

08 1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature.

09 1/8 cup vegetable oil.

10 Gel food coloring in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red.

11 3 cups unsalted butter, room temperature (for frosting).

12 11 cups powdered sugar (for frosting).

13 1 tsp salt (for frosting).

14 1/3 cup heavy cream (or whipping cream for frosting).

15 1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract (for frosting).

16 Gel food coloring in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red (for frosting).

Instructions

Step 01

Vanilla Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and grease the sides.

Step 02

In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until combined. Gradually add the butter until the mixture becomes crumbly.

Step 03

Mix in egg whites on low until just incorporated, then gradually add buttermilk. Add vanilla extract and oil, mixing on low. Scrape the sides of the bowl and beat on medium for 30 seconds.

Step 04

Divide the batter evenly among six bowls and color each with a different gel food coloring. Spoon the colored batter into the pans, creating a marble effect with a knife. Use blue and purple in one pan, and vary the colors in the others as desired.

Step 05

Bake for 34-37 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans, then transfer to the freezer for 45 minutes to firm up.

Step 06

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting: In a mixer, beat 3 cups of butter for about 30 seconds on medium speed. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with cream, and beat until smooth.

Step 07

Mix in vanilla extract and salt. Adjust consistency with more cream or powdered sugar if needed. Keep the frosting white for assembling the cake, reserving some for coloring later.

Step 08

On a greaseproof cake board, stack the cake layers, spreading buttercream between each layer. Apply a crumb coat of frosting over the cake and chill until firm. Add a final layer of frosting and smooth with a bench scraper.

Step 09

Divide and color the remaining buttercream, then use French piping tips to decorate the cake with rainbow stripes around the sides.

Notes

Spoon and level the flour for accurate measurements.
Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing.
Opt for gel food coloring to maintain the batter and frosting consistency while achieving vibrant colors.
Chill the cake layers in the freezer for easier handling when assembling the cake.