Spring Rainbow Vegan Layer Cake
Six vibrant layers make this cake a total showstopper. Natural food coloring creates those rainbow hues without artificial dyes.
You’ll need patience for the assembly, but each layer bakes quickly. The cashew cream frosting holds everything together beautifully.
Natural Colors Need Different Approaches
Beet juice creates deep pink layers, while spirulina powder gives you that perfect green. Turmeric makes golden yellow, and butterfly pea tea turns batter blue. Each natural colorant affects moisture differently, so you’ll adjust liquid slightly for each layer. Purple comes from blueberry puree, orange from carrot juice.
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Layer Timing Prevents Kitchen Chaos
Bake two layers at once using identical pans on the same oven rack. This keeps temperatures even and saves time. Mix each colored batter while the previous layers bake. Clean your mixer bowl between colors to prevent muddy results. The whole baking process takes about 75 minutes total.
Cashew Cream Demands Proper Soaking
Soak cashews for at least 4 hours, but overnight works better. Hot water speeds the process to 30 minutes if you’re rushed. Blend until completely smooth – any grittiness ruins the final texture. Add powdered sugar gradually while blending to prevent separation. The frosting should coat a spoon thickly.
Assembly Order Affects Structural Integrity
Start with your sturdiest layer on bottom – usually the beet or carrot layer. Spread frosting evenly using an offset spatula, keeping layers level. Chill for 15 minutes between every two layers to prevent sliding. Press gently as you stack to eliminate air pockets that cause collapse.
Preventing Rainbow Layer Disasters
- Weigh your divided batter portions to ensure equal layer thickness – aim for 4 ounces per pan.
- Freeze assembled cake for 20 minutes before final frosting to prevent layers from shifting during decoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which natural colorants work best for vibrant layers?
Beet juice and spirulina give the most intense colors. Butterfly pea tea creates stunning blue but needs acidic ingredients to maintain color stability during baking.
Do I need to make all six layers?
Three or four layers work perfectly fine. Choose colors that contrast well together like pink, yellow, and green for visual impact.
How far ahead can I bake the layers?
Bake layers up to two days ahead and store wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature. Assemble the day you plan to serve.
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Spring Rainbow Vegan Layer Cake
Equipment Needed
- Six 6-inch round cake pans
- High-speed blender
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Offset spatula
- Wire cooling racks
Instructions
- Prepare pans: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease six 6-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In separate bowl, combine almond milk, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Let sit 5 minutes until slightly curdled.
- Divide base mixtures: Divide dry mixture evenly among 6 bowls (about ¾ cup each). Divide wet mixture among 6 small bowls (about ⅓ cup each).
- Make colored batters: Create colored batters by mixing each wet portion with corresponding colorant, then combining with dry ingredients. Red: beet juice, Orange: carrot juice, Yellow: turmeric, Green: spirulina, Blue: butterfly pea tea, Purple: blueberry puree.
- Bake layers: Pour each batter into prepared pan. Bake two pans at a time for 18-22 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks.
- Make cashew frosting: Drain soaked cashews and add to high-speed blender with coconut cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Blend until completely smooth, 2-3 minutes. Chill frosting 30 minutes.
- Assemble cake: Place purple layer on serving plate. Spread ⅓ cup frosting evenly on top. Add blue layer, more frosting, then green, yellow, orange, and red layers, chilling 15 minutes between every two layers.
- Frost and chill: Apply thin crumb coat of frosting around entire cake. Chill 30 minutes, then apply final layer of frosting. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving (1 slice)
