Making a Rainbow Cake Could Be a Fun Summer Kitchen Project with Kids

When summer starts, kids are thrilled to be out of school. Then after a few weeks, they start moping around the house saying "There's nothing to doooo..." in a mournful voice. If you're a mom with kids to entertain, making a rainbow cake together could be a fun summer kitchen project.

When I was researching rainbow cakes, I found several versions that sounded easy, but this is still a project that needs adult supervision, since there are a few steps to making the cake, and the oven is involved. Plan something to entertain the kids while the various layers are baking, then crank up the AC and make a rainbow cake together.

Photo of Rainbow Cake Deconstructed
from Sweetnicks.
One of the easier and most kid-approved versions I found was the Rainbow Cake at Sweetnicks. First Cate shows how the Rainbow Cake was a hit with son Nick on the last day of school, and then in Rainbow Cake Deconstructed she tells how to make it (with two boxes of white cake mix!) along with tips on how to get the bright colors for the layers.

Photo of Rainbow Cake
from Rookie Cookie.
There's a slightly more complicated, but possibly more diet-friendly version of Rainbow Cake at Omnomicon, including step-by-step photos of How to Make a Rainbow Cake. Rookie Cookie used that post as a guide when she made the slightly tie-dyed looking version of Rainbow Cake pictured above.

Photo of Rainbow Cake in process
from Megan's Cookin'.
At Megan's Cookin' she shares the idea of using disposable cake pans to make the Rainbow Cake, which sounds like a very good plan if you're making the cake with kids. This version also has something called candy bar filling, which I'm sure kids wouldn't mind!

More and More Rainbow Cakes:
~There's a softer and more natural-looking Rainbow Cake at Home Cooking Rocks!
~Ruth's Kitchen Experiments likes the idea so much she creates a Rainbow Cake from Scratch.
~A Merrier World impresses her daughter with another Rainbow Cake version, inspired by Zebra Cake at Farida's Azerbaijani Cookbooks, another cake that kids would love!)
~DinnerCakes has a post on How to Make Your Own Rainbow Cake, including pros and cons of various types of food coloring.

If you're a mom who has kids moping around the house, do you have any good kitchen projects that keep them busy? If so, please share in the comments!

Kalyn Denny also blogs at Kalyn's Kitchen, where she's focused on low-glycemic recipes using fresh ingredients and has never made a rainbow cake (yet!)

Submitted by Kalyn Denny (view blog

) on Sun, 07/05/2009 - 12:55pm

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Thank You!

I've been wanting to make something fun with the boys (mainly meaning my older son but my younger son can stir, too) this summer. Thanks for this lovely write-up. I'll link over here after we give it a go next week.

@FireMom from Stop, Drop and Blog and
The Chronicles of Munchkin Land

Submitted by JennaHatfield on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 06:48

Have fun!

I think stirring in the food coloring for the different layers would be the most fun of all, and even small kids could do that!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 08:27

Thank You!

@FireMom from Stop, Drop and Blog and
The Chronicles of Munchkin Land

Submitted by JennaHatfield on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 06:49

Cupcakes

I never made rainbow cake, but these look fabulous.

My kids love making frosted cupcakes using this cupcake recipe. I think their favorite part is decorating them, and of course - eating them. :)

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Need to hire a blogger? I’m a mommy blogger and a blogger for hire.

Submitted by Vered on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 09:26

Ah fun!

And there's a different kind of "rainbow" going on in your cupcakes!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Mon, 07/06/2009 - 09:32

How about Cold cuts for kids

My kids like cold cuts but I want them to eat as healthy as possible, without sacrifing flavor. Any suggestions as to what brands to buy? i.e. Sarah Lee, Old Neighborhood, Hillshire Farms..??

Thanks

Submitted by BostonMOM23 on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 05:53

No clue . . .

I rarely buy cold cuts so I don't know anything about them.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 16:58

I did this...

with my kids and it was a huge hit! I love the idea and although the massive amounts of food coloring bother me, once in a great while it is worth it.

A.A.

Submitted by sugarbritches26 on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 17:01