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Vibrant Kaleidoscope Layer Cake

A visually stunning, tender vanilla layer cake. An elegant exterior of rich, smooth cream cheese frosting conceals a vibrant, multi-colored marbled interior that guarantees a spectacular presentation.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

The Cake Batter
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt
  • 6 large egg whites room temperature
  • ¾ cup whole milk room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 ½ sticks, room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 6 bright gel food colors pink, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple
  • Vegetable oil spray for pans
The Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 stick, room temperature
  • 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Method
 

Prepare the Batter
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Coat the bottom of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with vegetable oil spray.
  3. Cut out circles of parchment paper to fit the bottoms of the pans, lay them flat inside, and spray again.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, and table salt.
  5. In a separate bowl, gently whisk together the egg whites, whole milk, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
  6. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the room-temperature butter and granulated sugar together until very pale and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  7. Mix one-third of the dry flour mixture into the creamed butter, followed by half of the wet egg white mixture, mixing until just combined.
  8. Mix in another third of the dry ingredients, followed by the remaining wet ingredients.
  9. Finally, mix in the remaining dry ingredients, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure a smooth, even batter.
Tint and Bake
  1. Divide the finished white batter evenly among 6 small bowls.
  2. Add a different gel food color to each bowl and gently fold until the colors are vibrant and streak-free.
  3. Drop the colored batters by the tablespoonful into the prepared cake pans, starting at the outside edge of the pan and circling inward to the middle to create a marbled kaleidoscope effect.
  4. Bake until a wooden tester inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.
  5. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto a wire cooling rack.
  6. Remove the parchment paper and allow the layers to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.
Make the Frosting and Assemble
  1. Place the softened cream cheese and room-temperature butter into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until entirely smooth and combined.
  2. Gradually stir in the confectioners’ sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, beating until creamy and velvety.
  3. Place the first cooled cake layer onto a beautiful cake plate or silver pedestal.
  4. Spread an even layer of the cream cheese frosting over the top.
  5. Place the second cake layer directly on top of the first.
  6. Use an offset spatula to spread the remaining frosting smoothly over the top and sides of the entire cake, ensuring the vibrant colors are completely concealed by the elegant white icing.
  7. Refrigerate the cake to set the frosting until ready to serve, allowing it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before slicing.