The full beauty of a rainbow cake recipe - layers of sponge in different colours - is lost unless you can actually see the rainbow effect. Try making your rainbow cake recipe in clear glass jars - it makes a beautifully colourful gift and is quicker and easier than assembling separate coloured layers of cake.
Rainbow cake in a jar ingredients
100g butter, unsalted and at room temperature 100g caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
100g self raising flour
6 different shades (or however many you want) of gel food colouring
For the buttercream topping:
100g butter, unsalted and at room temperature 200g icing sugar Sprinkles, Smarties or other cake decorations
The quantities given make one cake in a 500ml jar, but you could easily split it into two 250ml jars or make larger quantities.
Rainbow cake in a jar method:
Preheat the oven to 180C. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, then keep beating as you add the eggs gradually, breaking in with a spoonful of flour occasionally to avoid the mixture curdling. Fold in the rest of the flour. Split the mixture into six small bowls, or as many as you have food colours.
Add the food colours drop by drop to each bowl, stirring in thoroughly until the colour is uniform. As the mixture bakes the colours will darken so don't be tempted to add too much.
Assemble the rainbow layers by spooning the first colour into the jars, making sure you don't touch the sides. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the jar with a teaspoon. Repeat the same process for each colour.
Place the jar, left open, in a baking tin filled with about 3cm of water to keep the cake moist. Cook in the centre of the over for about 40-50 minutes. The cake is done when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Make the buttercream by beating the icing sugar into the butter until fluffy and light. Spread it over the top of the cake and decorate with your sprinkles and Smarties. Decorate your jar with ribbon and a label to serve.
Wares of Knutsford offers this recipe as a suggestion but cannot be held responsible for the effects of using jars in hot ovens. Please see item five on our list of terms and conditions.
