Quick Rainbow Cake Tips

Hers:

Whisk Kid's Fantastic College Age Cake

Mine:

Crush Widow's Thirty Something 2 kids and No Time Cake

If you barely have time to watch the Martha Stewart Rainbow Cake video, but still believe you have time to bake a 6 layer cake, then these tips are for you.

1. Be prepared to chant, "it'll be fine."

2. Use boxed mix for Pete's sake. 

3. Pour 1 cup into properly prepared (butter, flour, parchment paper bottom) 8" or 9" rounds ( takes 2 boxes)

4. Bake for 14 minutes at 350.

4. Cool completely, wrap them in plastic and freeze them. I made mine the day before.

5. When you are ready to assemble you'll think your layers seem small and lame, but just tell yourself, "it'll be fine."

I used too much batter, 1 1/2 cup per 8"round, so I recommend 1 cup in a 9" round.  I also didn't trim enough so ended up with a leaner. A glorious, outrageous, homemade, rainbow, leaner surrounded with gumballs and sprinkled with rainbow love, but still - a leaner.  What saved this cake from complete disaster at a 90 degree pool party and my sanity with how quick, easy, and ummy it was to make?... Almost - Homemade Vanilla Buttercream.  Again if you don't have time to be Swiss Miss with the buttercream, this will hold even the meanest of leaners together and with only 1/2 cup of powered sugar and a pinch of salt is suprisingly good.   I used 2 batches to frost this cake. Here it is from:

Almost -Homemade Vanilla Buttercream ( adapted from Karen Tack and Alan Richardson)

1 1/2 Cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
16 oz of marshmallow creme
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 salt (optional but not really if you want a salt sweet combo -yes thank you)

Beat butter with mixer on medium until light and fluffy.
Add marshmallow creme and beat until smooth, scraping sides
Add powdered sugar and vanilla
Beat until light and fluffy
Store in refrigerated for 3 days or freeze up to a month,  Bring to room temperature before frosting cake
Makes 3 cups

Then all you need is a clown 

and free airplane rides 

and all is well.