This easy rainbow cake is the ultimate celebration cake! Made with a box cake mix and a simple layering technique, it’s perfect for any occasion from birthdays to St. Patrick’s Day. Top it with vanilla frosting and sprinkles for a cake that’s as delicious as it is beautiful!
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Making a rainbow cake is surprisingly easy! I first shared this recipe back in 2015, and I’ve made it countless times since. With six stunning colors of the rainbow, a moist, fluffy texture, and my super-simple layering technique, this vibrantly colored cake is guaranteed to brighten up any celebration. No special baking skills required—just a little food coloring and a bundt pan!
To keep things as easy as possible, I doctor up a trusty ol’ store-bought cake mix, but you can absolutely use your favorite homemade vanilla cake recipe instead. So, grab your bundt pan and get ready to create a showstopping dessert that’s as fun to make as it is to eat!
- Cake mix: To keep this rainbow cake quick and easy, I use a box of cake mix. My go-to brands are Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines—both bake up light, fluffy and perfectly moist. Either white cake mix or yellow cake mix works well here, but if you want the most vibrant rainbow colors, I recommend white!
- Eggs, water and vegetable oil: The essentials for making a soft and moist cake.
- Food coloring: For bold, vibrant rainbow layers, I highly recommend gel food coloring over liquid food coloring. My go-to brand is AmeriColor, but Wilton and Chefmaster are also great options. You’ll need red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Make the cake batter. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs, water and vegetable oil until smooth.
- Evenly divide the batter into six small bowls.
- Dye each batter with food coloring to make red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple batters.
- Mix just until the colors are incorporated.
- Now it’s time to layer the batter in your bundt pan! Grease your pan with cooking spray. Pour the red batter into the bundt pan first, then carefully layer the orange, yellow, green, blue and purple on top. Don’t stir—this creates the beautiful layered effect.
- Bake in a 350°F oven for 33 to 36 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely before inverting onto a serving plate and decorating.
This rainbow bundt cake is a stunner all on its own, and I’ve served it plenty of times as a naked cake (no frosting needed!), but when I want to take it over the top (and style it like my photos), I pipe on a simple vanilla buttercream frosting—just enough to highlight those vibrant layers. If you’re in a hurry, a store-bought vanilla frosting works great, too.
And of course, no rainbow birthday cake is complete without a shower of rainbow sprinkles. Making this for St. Patty’s Day? A few milk chocolate coins make the perfect festive touch!
- Don’t overmix after adding food coloring. Over-mixing the batter can lead to the development of too much gluten, which can make the cake tough, dry and dense.
- Don’t swirl or mix the batters together. Instead, gently pour each color on top of the last. This layering technique creates those beautiful, distinct rainbow layers once sliced!
- Cool before inverting. Flipping the cake out too soon can lead to a crumbly disaster. Let it cool for at least 10-15 minutes before inverting onto a plate. Patience = perfection.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting.
- Make it ahead. Hosting a party? Bake the cake a day in advance, wrap it tightly and frost it just before serving. The colors stay vibrant, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about on party day!
Storage Instructions
If unfrosted or lightly frosted, store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For longer storage, or cakes with lots of frosting, I recommend storing them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze This Cake?
Absolutely! Wrap the unfrosted rainbow cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw in the fridge overnight, then bring to room temperature before frosting and decorating.
If you loved this easy rainbow cake, you have to check out my rainbow cupcakes with buttercream frosting! They’re just as colorful and fun but in perfectly portioned cupcake form. Happy baking!
Equipment
- 8-cup bundt pan
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 (15.25-oz.) box white or yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple)
- Vanilla frosting, for decorating
- Sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-cup bundt pan with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, eggs, water and vegetable oil.
- Divide the batter evenly into six small bowls. Using the food coloring, dye each of the bowls of batter a different color.
- Pour the red batter into the bundt pan, then top it with the orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.
- Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean (or according to package instructions), 33 to 36 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely before inverting onto a serving plate.
- Frost the completely cooled cake then decorate with sprinkles. Slice and serve.
Video
How to Make an Easy Rainbow Cake
Kick up the color of dessert with this simple tutorial for how to make a rainbow cake. SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/JustaTasteYouTube
Kelly’s Notes
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Nutrition
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For the rainbow cake, Can I use a regular round cake pan
Hi Jean! You’ll need two 8″ or 9″ round cake pans. Follow the bake time suggestions on the box for the pan size you use. :)
Looks great! I want to make this in our baking club at an assisted living facility I work at. Is there a typed-out recipe for this cake so I can print for participants to read/follow?
Hi Emily! There isn’t a printable recipe for the rainbow cake, however, I have a Rainbow Cupcake recipe that is printable. Here’s the link in case you’re interested: https://www.justataste.com/rainbow-cupcakes-buttercream-frosting-recipe/
This Rainbow cake recipe is very best. This cake is looking designer cake and very attractive cake. I will sure make this cake for my son’s birthday. Thanks for sharing this nice cake article.
You are so welcome. Enjoy!
I think I’ll try the rainbow cake in pastel colors for Easter looks yummy
Love that idea, Joy!
I will try soon ! Look amazing! !
Enjoy, Veronica!
Is there a printable recipe for the rainbow cake?
Hi Rebecca! There isn’t a printable recipe for the rainbow cake, however I have a Rainbow Cupcake recipe that is printable. Here’s the link in case you’re interested: https://www.justataste.com/rainbow-cupcakes-buttercream-frosting-recipe/
I love the recipes.
Thanks so much, Linda!
your paged is amazing full of yummy food. i wish to have the recipe of rainbow cake. thank you.
Hi! Great idea but if I may ask How many boxes of Betty Crocker should we use plz?
Hi there! It’s just one box of cake mix.
Your tips are very easy and i enjoyed it.could you kindly tell me is it advisable to bake a cake with selfrising flour or better to use the natural way.
Hi there! It totally depends on the recipe as to which type of flour to use.
Great video! I just made a rainbow cake tonight. My red and orange layers blended together and created a very thin layer around the cake, but the other colours worked perfectly. Any tips for getting the red and orange to stay where they should be? PS I topped this with a chocolate glaze and rainbow sprinkles!
Thanks, Jen! Did you pour the orange directly on top of the red?
what brand is the cake mix? I never heard of white cake mix.
Hi Peggy! It’s the white cake mix from Betty Crocker :)
Do you use all of the cake batter per layer? Also, how many drops of food coloring do you use?
Hi Laurie – Per the video, you divide the cake batter into 6 bowls then each portion is poured inside. The amount of food coloring to use depends on how vibrant you want the colors to be.
Looks like there is room to double the recipe – can you tell me what I would increase the baking time to when recipe is doubled?
Hi Priscilla – There actually isn’t enough room, as the cake rises significantly when it bakes. Adding a second recipe of batter to the pan would cause it to overflow while baking.
This is so gorgeous!! I seriously need to try something rainbow sometime soon!
Thanks so much, Cathleen!
What a gorgeous cake! Love the video, interesting to see how it all comes together so beautifully :)