Today we are celebrating my daughter Hannah’s 7th birthday with none other than a gorgeous, moist, and delicious Rainbow Butterfly Cake with Cloud Buttercream Frosting — made especially for her!!! Oh, happy day…
It seems like only yesterday when I first saw her chubby little face and vivid eyes at the hospital where she was born. Imagine my eyes brimming with tears of joy when I held my miracle, my little bundle of joy… Yes, she’s my miracle, whom God sent to me after being diagnosed with infertility. God is great at all times. He defies science and delivers miracles!!! And oh what a miracle…
My husband and I have been blessed with a healthy, happy, and very sweet girl who has filled our world with pride and joy. To celebrate such an important day, I knew I had to make something beautiful– something reminiscent of her in many ways… something that represents her colorful, happy world. Rainbows (for both the cake and decoration) and butterflies seemed to be the most fitting themes. As for flavors, this rainbow butterfly cake combines both vanilla and pink lemonade flavorings, which are two of her three favorites (chocolate is the third, which I made as a separate, smaller cake).
I have to say that I really enjoyed this rainbow butterfly cake– both the adult ‘me’ and the inner child that still lives within… But my real prize was in seeing my baby’s happy face! She ate the rainbow butterfly cake and asked for more… and more.
Happy Birthday, Hannah!!! May your life be nothing less than beautiful and happy. We love you ” bigger than the sky!!!”
xx
Rainbow Butterfly Cake with Cloud Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- For the Rainbow Butterfly Cake Batter:
- 3 Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix 15.25 oz/432 gr, I used Betty Crocker
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1-1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 9 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon lemonade powder and 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- Wilton gel food colors (blue, yellow, pink, violet, orange, and green)
- 2-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- For the Cloud Buttercream Frosting:
- 3 Duncan Hines Creamy Home-Style Buttercream or 2 batches of homemade buttercream (white).
- For Decorating the Rainbow Butterfly Cake:
- Edible rice paper butterflies Link: http://a.co/44bCUJV
- Skittles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F (180º C). Grease both the bottom and sides of 3 (9-inch) round pans. Cut 3 (9-inch) circles out of parchment paper and cover bottom of each pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, milk, yogurt, oil, and eggs. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds and then on medium for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
- Divide batter into 6 small bowls (about 1-1/2 cups into each small bowl). Mix 1 tablespoon of lemonade powder and 1 teaspoon of lemon extract into one of these divided batter batches and add a bit of pink icing gel until obtaining a bright pink. Set aside.
- Pour 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract into each of the other 5 small bowls and stir to combine. Mix in the following icing gel colors to color each batter individually: Bright blue, yellow, violet, orange, and green.
- See photo of the gel food coloring colors that we used.
- Using an ice cream scooper or small cups, divide each of the six colored batters into the 3 prepared baking pans, first pouring one color into the center of the pan, and then sequentially pouring the next color into the center of the pan on top of the first, and so on, in a concentric bullseye pattern. Bake for about 36 - 42 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cover each pan loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil after half of the baking time has elapsed, in order to avoid browning of the top of the cake layer.
- Remove pans from the oven and place on a rack to cool completely. Remove each of the 3 cake layers carefully from their pans, as well as from the parchment paper on the bottom. Assemble the layers of the rainbow butterfly cake, frosting between each layer with the buttercream and then frosting the top and sides of the cake (For the second layer of frosting, spread the frosting in swirls to make a cloud effect). Decorate as desired, and serve with a scoop of ice cream.
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Ash-foodfashionparty says
Happy Birthday to your little dearie!!! I know how you got while writing this post and it shoes. GOD is great and you are blessed, so happy for you.
The cake is so stunning, love how you’ve tied it with your feelings for her and the way the cake represents Hannah.
Denise Browning says
Ash: Thanks so much! I have no words to thank you enough on this special day for my daughter and us.
The Café Sucré Farine says
Oh Denise, what a beautiful post for a beautiful girl! I know she LOVED this cake, I surely would. Love her story too, yes God is truly good!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Chris! Yes, God is great!!!!!
Juliana says
Happy BIrthday Hannah…such a cute little girl…and the cake is absolutely gorgeous…looks very moist and so colorful…and so beautifully decorated with butterflies. I wish I could have a slice fo this cake.
Lovely post Denise…Feliz Aniversario Hannah 😀
Denise Browning says
Juliana: Muito obrigada! Sim, ela adorou esse bolo. Ver a carinha de felicidade dela foi tudo pra mim.
Deb says
What a sparkling cake for a delightful daughter! Happy Birthday Hannah!
Denise Browning says
Oh, Deb! Thanks so much…
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Awwww happy birthday to your daughter! This cake is SO pretty!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Kayle! Welcome to FBTY!!!
Liz says
Such a gorgeous birthday cake for Hannah! Beautiful on the inside and out! And I love seeing all her photos through the years 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thanks so much, Liz! My baby is growing fast…:(
Sugar et al says
Happy Birthday Hannah! What a beautiful and fitting cake for a precious occasion like this one. Touched by your post Denise and the pictures are so lovely. I love everything about this cake…your love shines through:-)
Denise Browning says
Thanks a lot for your sweet words, Sonali!
Georgia says
Happy Birthday Hannah and wish you many more! You’ve a wonderful mother to bake this beautiful cake for you!
Denise Browning says
Georgia: Thanks so much for both stopping by and your nice words.
Kate@Diethood says
Okay. One. I have goosebumps all over. God blessed you with a miracle, indeed. Two. Hannah is just as beautiful as I imagined… you Brazilians are such hotties! Three. That cake. OH.MY.G! Gorgeous!!! I want one!!!!! 😀
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HANNAH! (My daughter’s name is Ana, which is actually the same as Hannah. 🙂 )
Denise Browning says
Oh, Kate my friend…Thanks so much! You are always so kind. Yes, Hannah and Ana means the same… In Brazil, the name Ana is a very popular one. I named mine Hannah because of an ancestor.
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
Happy Birthday Hannah! Eat one of those gorgeous butterflies for me. And have many more. Your mom made you a lovely cake!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Abbe! I’ll pass your birthdays wishes on to her.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Happy Birthday to Hannah! She’s so lucky! I want you to be my mom to make this gorgeous cake! My poor kids continue to wish homemade birthday cakes… (well they don’t probably think I can pull it off!) I love teh butterfly on the cake. Very, very beautiful!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nami! I am sure that you’re able to make a cake like this and much more…You do great things.
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says
Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! And what a gorgeous cake – a true delight for a kid. Pinned!
Denise Browning says
Thanks a lot, Julia! I do appreciate it.
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
Wow – what a gorgeous cake! Your little gal must have been THRILLED!
Happy birthday to your little blessing – I have a daughter who is a teen now – they grow up TOO TOO fast!
What a beautiful post!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Shashi! I agree with you: They grow too fast… I so miss when they were babies.
Mi Vida en un Dulce says
Hannah looks so happy with her birthday cake…!!! You are a very nice mother, look at the cake you prepared, so beautiful and colorfull.
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nydia! I was happy because Hannah loved her cake.
Rachel Cotterill says
Gorgeous butterflies – and such a colourful cake! 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thanks for stopping by, Rachel!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Hannah is a very lucky girl to get a gorgeous cake like that AND you for a mum!
Denise Browning says
Thanks so much, Maureen! My children are the apple of my eyes…
Coffee and Crumpets says
How did I miss such an important post??! Happy Birthday to lovely Hannah!! Hope she had a fabulous day and with such a beautiful cake, I am sure it was quite awesome! I loved seeing her baby photos…she’s adorable. Give her my love xx
Nazneen
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nazneen! I will!!!
Raymund says
Wow thats the most perfect cake someone her age can get, looks so cute, cool and amazing
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Raymund! She has really enjoyed it!
Kumar's Kitchen says
Very very Happy Birthday to Hannah!!! oh this cake looks even more beautiful than a rainbow :-)…
it is deliciously edible and made with so many good wishes,it is just the perfect show stopper for the occasion…awesome 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cquek says
gosh i want that cake for my Birthday please.
Denise Browning says
Thanks a lot! I wish I could make one for you…
Asmita says
Happy Birthday to Hannah. The cake is absolutely gorgeous! Love the little butterflies. I am sure my little girl too will fall in love with this.
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Asmita! Hannah loved her cake. I hope yours like it as well.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Happy Birthday Hannah!!! Best birthday cake for a very cute girl 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Kiran! My baby loved her cake and was quite happy to blow her candles.