Description
This vibrant Lemon Rainbow Cake combines a tender, buttermilk-based Southern Bundt with a stunning spectrum of six colorful layers. Topped with a zesty fresh lemon glaze, it is a visually magical centerpiece that tastes as good as it looks.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup neutral vegetable oil
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- Gel food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and generously spray a 12-cup Bundt pan with non-stick baking spray that contains flour.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
- Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the sugar, butter, and oil on medium speed for four minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract and mix for one more minute.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts and the buttermilk in two parts, beginning and ending with the flour; mix just until the white streaks disappear.
- Divide the batter equally into six small bowls and use gel food coloring to tint each bowl red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
- Layer the batters into the prepared Bundt pan starting with red, then orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, using an offset spatula to spread each layer to the edges without swirling them together.
- Bake for 50 to 65 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, then cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack.
- Whisk the confectioners’ sugar with the lemon zest and juice until smooth, then pour over the completely cooled cake and let set for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
For the most distinct and vibrant layers, ensure you use gel food coloring rather than liquid drops, which can thin out the batter. To achieve perfectly even bands of color, use a kitchen scale to weigh the batter before dividing it into the six bowls.
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American