This cake is a family favorite for parties, birthdays, and special occasions. The star of this cake is the frosting, which is not only four different colors, but four different flavors: cherry, lemon, mint, and chocolate. They work perfectly together, and everybody is always fighting over the last piece. With a rainbow theme, I thought this would be perfect for St. Patty's Day coming up. I always make it with a chocolate cake, but a yellow cake is fabulous, too!
Ultimate Rainbow Frosted Cake
1 chocolate or yellow cake, baked in two 8" cake rounds. (Use your favorite scratch or boxed recipe.)
Rainbow Frosting
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
pinch of salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup shortening, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2-3 drops red food coloring
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2-3 drops yellow food coloring
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
2/3 drops green food coloring
1/4 teaspoon mint extract
3 tablespoons cocoa
Directions
Prepare cake and cool completely. Cut each round in half, to create four total layers of cake. In a small saucepan, combine milk, flour, and salt. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, until thickened. Cool completely in the fridge. In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter, shortening, and sugar and beat well. Add a few heaping spoonfuls of the butter mixture to the cooled milk mixture and stir well. Add milk mixture to butter mixture and beat constantly for 7 minutes, until smooth and fluffy. Divide mixture evenly into four bowls to create the individual flavors.
First bowl, Cherry Frosting: Add red food coloring and almond extract, then fold until well combined.
Second bowl, Lemon Frosting: Add yellow food coloring and lemon extract, then fold until well combined.
Third bowl, Mint Frosting: Add green food coloring and mint extract, then fold until well combined.
Fourth bowl, Chocolate Frosting: Add cocoa powder and fold until well combined.
Frost each layer generously so that frosting shows from each layer. Enjoy!
