Easy to Stack Vertical Scribble Me A Rainbow Cake

I recently attempted to make one of those gorgeous rainbow cakes that can be seen all over Pinterest. Those of you who have been following this blog for awhile know that I am cake-decorating-challenged. So not surprising that the layers crumbled apart and resembled a mud slide. While that didn't stop us from eating it I was determined to make one that also looked good. I talked to a baker friend of mine who suggested stacking the layers vertically to alleviate the weight and it worked! 

{PS - my daughter used edible markers to draw on the outside of the cake to add to the rainbow effect!} 

Scribble me a Rainbow Cake

How long it will take: 2 hours to make; 2 hours freezing time

Yield: 24 servings

Ingredients

- two boxes of white cake mix (plus box ingredients)

- edible markers

- six colors of gel (for vibrancy) food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)

- tub of frosting (for layers)

- ready to use rolled fondant

- butter

- flour

Tools

- six 4” square cake pans

- six mixing bowls

- cooling rack

- stand mixer

- toothpicks

- spatula

- large serrated knife

- whisk

- cake platter

- two skewer sticks

Make cake batter according to package instructions. Butter and flour six cake pans (reuse pans if you don’t have six.) Pour one cup of batter in each of the six mixing bowls. Whisk a fair amount of the appropriate food coloring into each bowl. Keep in mind that the color of the unbaked batter will be the color of the baked batter. Pour into the square pans and bake for 15 minutes each. Cake is done once a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. To avoid cake from tearing, let pans rest on the cooling rack for 10 minutes. Then pop cake out, cover individually with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer for at least two hours.

Use the serrated knife to make the top of each of the cakes flat. Using spatula, smooth frosting on the top of and one side of the cake. Place the cake so that it is vertical on the outer edge of the platter. Repeat with the remaining cakes, stacking the layers vertically in order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Once all layers are stacked vertically, use spatula to smooth frosting on the cake until covered.

Following package instructions carefully cover cake with rolled fondant. You can fold the edges of the fondant in to resemble a wrapped present.

If this is a birthday cake you can have the birthday child scribble and draw all over the cake with edible markers. This will be something she will be proud to show off at the party. And/or, during the party you could ask all of the children to write a message or drawing on the cake for the birthday child.