Rainbow Jello Cake or Cupcake- Easy Fun Birthday Cake

We went out of town for Memorial Day.  We drove a lot and had a lot of fun.  I love vacations and family fun, but I dislike the loads and loads of laundry, car cleaning, and getting kids back on schedule that is necessary after.  Don't we all feel like we need a vacation from our vacations? 

Yesterday I gave you the best White Whipped, but Sturdy, Frosting recipe ever.  

Today, I wanted to give you an easy way to make a colorful, fruit flavored, festive, and fun cake/cupcake for a birthday, party, or gathering of any kind.

With this recipe you can make however many colors and flavors you want, and with the light and fluffy frosting you'll have a clean and simple look. 

Using this recipe I've easily made a lot of different flavored/colored cakes using only a jello box.  

In the picture above I made an Orange and Strawberry layered cake with orange cupcakes and strawberry cupcakes.  The orange and strawberry cake was delicious, and the pink and orange cupcakes were fun for the kids.  

Everyone wins when you can easily make a rainbow cake with a different flavor and color for each layer. .   

Rainbow Jello Cake/Cupcake
Recipe: Alohamora adapted from Our Best Bites

Active Time: 20 minutes

Inactive Time: 20-40 minutes plus cooling time

Servings: 36 cupcakes, two  8 or 9" round pans, 1 11x17" pan, two 6" round pans and 12 cupcakes. 

Ingredients: 
1 box white cake mix
1 c. flour, unbleached
1 c. sugar
3/4 tsp salt
4 egg whites
1 1/3 c. water
2 Tbsp oil
1 c. Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract

1 or More,(3oz) pkg Jello flavor of choice

Frosting: 

Use this Whipped but Sturdy White Frosting for a simple clean look. 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour your desired cake pans.  If you are doing cupcakes you only need cupcake liners.
2. In a stand mixer or large bowl mix the first four ingredients, the dry ingredients, together with a whisk. 
3. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl in the order listed and beat it on low for 2-4 minutes until the batter is smooth, light, and fluffy.
4. If you are doing a cake with just one flavor and color pour the entire Jello box into the batter and mix until it is mixed in completely.  If you are doing a cake with two colors and flavors separate the batter in half into two different bowls.  Pour half a Jello box of one flavor/color into one bowl and mix until combined.  Then pour the half of the other Jello box flavor/color into the other bowl and mix until combined.  If you are doing three colors, divide the batter into thirds and use 1/3 of a jello box.   
5. Pour the batter into the prepared greased and floured pan(s). 
6. Bake the 6 inch cake pans at 325 for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Bake the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes, and the other pans for 30-40 minutes.  All of the cake pans should pass the toothpick test aka the toothpick entered should come out of the cake/cupcakes clean. 
7. Cool the cake/cupcakes on a wire rack in the pans for at least 15 minutes before removing them from the pan to cool completely.  I end up leaving the cake in the pan to cool completely for a couple hours. 
8. When the cake and cupcakes are cool you can frost them and decorate with sprinkles b/c everyone loves sprinkles, or sparkles as my 4 year old says.   
9. Enjoy! 
10. Store leftover cake or cupcakes in an airtight container on the fridge or on the counter. 

Happy Easy Rainbow Jello Cake and/or Cupcakes eating!