So believe it, or not, Mom makes this Rainbow Cake for me every year! She is not as young as she used to be, for that matter, I’m not as young as I used to be!! This cake is so pretty, light and refreshing! It is not difficult, but it is a pain!!
I don’t remember my Mom ever making any other cake for me for my birthday! I think there is picture of me in high chair with chocolate cake all over my face, although I don’t remember! The only cake I ever remember her making is this Rainbow Cake! No matter how many times I tell her not to make me this cake for my birthday, she doesn’t listen! Probably just because she knows it’s my fave! Moms are great, aren’t they? I am not a huge fan of thick, heavy, sweet cakes! Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good chewy, yet fudgy brownie from time to time but I prefer, lighter, fruity cakes!
When I was at Cornell, two of my best friends decided to redefine the 4 basic food groups. The winners turned out to be salt, chocolate, jello and of course, because we were in college, Beer! See, even then jello was it’s own food group! Although not health food, by any means, jello has a fruity, light flavor that is unbeatable! (For all of my readers outside of the US, Jello is a brand name of a gelatin that Americans are so familiar with, we just refer to it as Jello!:) )
How to Assemble Rainbow Cake
So, as I said, this cake is not difficult but time consuming and just a general pain. You can either buy or make the angel food cake and slice it horizontally as thin as you can get it! If you have ever worked making a jello mold, you know that if you let jello set too much, you are pretty much done. Unless you reheat and start over. That is what makes this cake such a pain. The first layers, you can kind of time and make the jello in 1 hour intervals. For the repeating layers, you have to remove the jello from the refrigerator, or reheat and start over, when it gets overset!
The one thing that is a must for Rainbow Cake is to have an Angel Food Cake pan. The reason for this is because you build the cake, layer by layer, in the pan.
So just a fun post, today! I hope you enjoyed this Rainbow Cake recipe! Thanks for stopping by! Like and hit those share buttons and leave me a comment to let me know your favorite birthday cake! Here is Jake’s favorite cake, Perfectly Chocolate Cake! AND…. Thanks, Mom! 🙂
Enjoy! And have fun cooking!
Rainbow Cake
Ingredients
- 1 Store bought, boxed mixed or homemade Angel Food Cake
- 1 box strawberry jello
- 1 box orange jello
- 1 box lemon jello
- 1 box lime jello
- 1 box blueberry jello
- 1 box black cherry jello
Instructions
- Mix strawberry jello according to package directions. Put in refrigerator just until thickened, about 1 1/2 hours.
- If using a homemade Angel Food Cake, the cake must be thoroughly cooled before you slice it.
- Slice cake horizontally as thin as you can, about 1/2" thick. (Don't panic if you break of the layers, you can just piece them together with the jello) Lay first layer, the top layer of the cake, back into your Angel food cake pan, cut side up.
- Mix orange jello about 1 hour after you refrigerated the strawberry jello. Then refrigerate that.
- Once the strawberry jello is thickened, spoon jello over the first layer of cake and return to refrigerator.
- Start the lemon jello about 1 hour after you started the lemon jello.
- When the orange jello is thickened, place the next layer of cake over top of the strawberry jello in the cake pan. Spoon orange jello over the second piece of cake and refrigerate.
- Continue the process for all of the colors. Lemon, Lime, Blueberry, Black Cherry.
- Hopefully, you will be out of cake, if not, you will have to remove the cherry jello from the refrigerator, you will be able to count how many pieces of cake you cut, to determine if you have to do this step.
- Obviously, do this cake the day before you need it!
Notes
Nutrition
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Elaine
How fun!! This cake looks so delicious and beautiful! I want a piece, like now!
Binky
It is so good! If I weren’t so lazy, I’d make it! Thanks, Elaine!
Valentina
Love that your mom makes you the same cake each year. Loving food traditions are the best! And how fun this cake is! 🙂
Binky
Food brings families together, doesn’t it? We all have recipes that we had as kids that are better than any one else’s version. Don’t we? Thanks Valentina!
Christine
I think it’s so nice you have a tradition with this birthday cake. It looks so delicious and love all the colors!
Binky
Family traditions are a great part of life, aren’t they? Thank you Christine!
Ali from Home & Plate
What a great Mom you have. Who wouldn’t love a cake baked by mom especially with all the different Jello flavors. I know my kids would love this. Happy Birthday!
Binky
Thank you Ali! Yes, my Mom is pretty special! All the kids love this cake! Even old kids, like me!
Lisa Bryan
Wow – how creative! Definitely the most vibrant rainbow cake I’ve ever seen!
Binky
Thank you, Lisa! All of the kids love it! I have seen them pick this over chocolate cake, if you can believe that!
Emily
What a great idea to use jelly in a cake, I’ve never thought of that before. It looks so impressive with all the different colours!
Binky
Haha, Emily! It’s gelatin! Perhaps I should clarify that for you folks across the pond! 🙂
Ginny
That must have been fun to experiment with. It turned out so festive and happy birthday!
Binky
Thanks, Ginny! It is so tasty! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s so pretty!
Binky
Thanks Allison! It is pretty, and tasty! Nice of you to comment!
Jagruti
Very decorative, I can see why you describe making this rainbow cake is a pain,at least if you can enjoy it then it’s all been worth it.
Binky
Well, it’s my favorite! It is pretty, isn’t it Jagruti? Thanks for your comment!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
I can attest to having the same 4 food groups in college! This does seem like a time consuming endeavor — and I give you credit for having the patience of a saint. I don’t think I’ve got it!
Binky
Haha! I absolutely do not have the patience! My Mom does!:) Thanks, Lisa!