Pastel Layer Cake Food

PASTEL FOUR-LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to the package directions, using two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , In small saucepan, combine flour and salt. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir over medium-high heat for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; cover and refrigerate until cooled completely. , In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk mixture; beat until light and fluffy. , Divide frosting equally among four bowls, with 1-1/4 cups in each. To the first bowl, add 2-3 drops yellow food coloring and lemon extract until blended. To second bowl, add 2-3 drops red food coloring and peppermint extract. To third bowl, add 2-3 drops green food coloring and almond extract. To the last bowl, add the cocoa and vanilla. , Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with green frosting. Top with the second layer; spread with yellow frosting. Top with the third layer; spread with pink frosting. Top with remaining cake layer; spread with cocoa frosting. Do not frost sides of cake.

PASTEL LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter five 8-inch round cake pans, and line with parchment (you may need to bake in batches). Butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Sift flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a large bowl. Combine milk and vanilla. Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed until very smooth. With machine running, gradually add sugar, and beat until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Beat until just combined; do not overmix.
• Beat egg whites in a clean mixer bowl on medium speed until stiff (but not dry) peaks form, about 3 minutes. Gently fold egg-white mixture into batter in 3 additions.
• Divide batter among 5 bowls, and tint each with food coloring to create different pastel shades. Spread each into a prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pans on wire racks.
• Loosen edges of cake with a small metal spatula or paring knife; invert onto racks. Discard parchment. Reinvert cakes, top side up. Let cool completely.
• Trim top of each cake to make surface even. Spread 1 cup buttercream onto top of 1 cake. Top with another cake. Repeat, spreading 1 cup buttercream between each layer. Frost cake with 1 1/2 cups buttercream. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Frost cake with 2 cups buttercream.

RAINBOW LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line six 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until foamy, about 2 minutes. Increase mixer speed to high and continue beating until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes more.
• In another large mixing bowl, cream butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy and increased in volume, about 5 minutes. Add applesauce, vanilla, and eggs and mix on medium speed for 1 minute more.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Pour in 3/4 cup water and mix to combine. Fold in egg whites with a large spatula.
• Divide batter evenly among 6 small bowls. Starting with the lightest color, tint batter with food coloring, whisking in a few drops at a time until the desired intensity is reached. Pour each of the colored batters into a different parchment-lined cake pan (each should be half full) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Stack layers according to the colors of the rainbow, spreading a thin layer buttercream between each. Using an offset spatula, frost the whole cake with a thin layer of buttercream.
• Place cake on a freezer-safe plate. Freeze for 15 minutes, or until buttercream is firm. Remove from freezer and cover cake in sprinkles. See how to cover a cake in sprinkles.

MOCHA LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans.
• Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk. Combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
• Beat butter in a mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture; mix well after each addition. Stir in 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons coffee and vanilla.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the creamed mixture. Pour batter into the prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert cakes carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool, about 20 more minutes.
• While the cake is cooling, beat butter and cocoa powder for frosting in a bowl until well creamed. Add powdered sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat until smooth.
• Stack the 3 cake layers on top of each other, spreading frosting between layers, and on top of the cake.