Rainbow Sponge

 HOW BRILLIANT IS THIS CAKE?

Isn’t it simply psychedelic? So pretty to look at and rather enticing to eat. Nothing very fancy; in fact it is easy as pie. Anyone can do it. I did use a vanilla sponge recipe of my own and made everything from scratch … but you could just as easily use a boxed cake mix of any white cake. Plop on some fluffy white Betty Crocker icing and you are good to go. Minimal effort, maximum visual appeal.

I first came across this cake sometime in the middle of this year while trawlling the internet for ideas in the run up to Gay Pride Weekend. This cake came out tops … i mean literally, my screen just filled up with pictures of all manner of rainbow cake. I was hooked and I vowed to make it sometime this year. Sadly I did not make it for Gay Pride Weekend; I got sidetracked and only realized on the day itself. DOH!

Every year in Amsterdam, Gay Pride Weekend is held in August. The night before shops and home owners in the city start putting up colourful decorations and balloons ~ mostly bright pink. You get a sense that everyone gets involved in the spirit. Personally I think Amsterdamians just like an excuse to party. Flags, banners, feathered boas and hats … you name it, they have it. Boats get decked out as well.

On the day itself the canals are where it’s all at. Thousands line the streets on either side awaiting the floating parade to begin. Scores of boats and barges take part in a competition, vying for the title of best decorated. If you can’t make it down to the city to join in the festivities, its ok because the parade is televised on tv as well. Feel confident that you can get the best angles and footage of the event (complete with commentry and trample-free toes) from the comfort of your own home. But it’s way better to be there in and amongst the crowd.

 So anyway, rainbow cake ~ it’s something everyone needs to try, Gay Pride Party or no.
I really enjoyed making this cake today, mainly because I was bored and I really felt the urge to make something whacky. I happened to be online with a girlfriend of mine, who happens to be in Switzerland, and we were discussing the various prospects. She suggested I do a dry run of meringue kisses; something I need to practice before making a Meringue Tower for the office (part of a Christmas Baking project) … but that sounded like a lot of work and concentration.

So I went for the rainbow cake option. Got out my stand mixer and ingredients, and went to work. As per usual, you cream the buter and the sugar first. Then add the vanilla extract and the eggs one at a time. Then add in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk in three additions. Once I had enough batter, I divided the mixture into six tea cups and added the individual colours. I say six because I didn’t bother going for yellow in my rainbow. I know what you all are thinking, “That’s not a rainbow!” But I seriously didn’t bother with yellow. Being a bit discriminatory with my colours here. Lol. Once you have all your colours simply pour them in your prepared tin in order of the rainbow, starting from the bottom : Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and finishing off with Red.

Tap the tin sharply on the counter to even out the mixture and to get rid of air pockets. Then bake in a 180°C oven for 25 – 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack and wait for it to be completely cool before you smother it in icing. Slice and be mesmerized. The colour on the inside of the cake will be more vibrant than the outside.

There are many YouTube videos out there who are ready to help you in a step-by-step manner until you reach your goal. So check them out and happy baking, people.

Basic Vanilla Sponge.

• 2 eggs
• 125 g butter
• 200 mls milk
• 130 g sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 240 g flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 salt

~ ENJOY ~