1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cake batter according to box directions (or your homemade recipe).
2. Divide about ½ cup of batter into each of 6 bowls.
3. Color each bowl a rainbow color using gel food coloring. Stir until smooth and evenly colored.
4. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners (or lightly grease the cups).
5. Spoon batter into each liner in layers to create a rainbow. A fun order is: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red (top).
6. Gently tap the pan on the counter once or twice to help the batter settle. (Try not to swirl—layers look best when they stay distinct.)
7. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool completely. Frost or enjoy plain to show off the rainbow inside.

Kid-Friendly Tips

• Kids can help mix colors and spoon the layers into liners
• Use gel coloring (not liquid) for brighter colors with less “runny” batter
• Assign each kid a color station so mixing stays neat

Easy Variations

• Rainbow layer cake: Use the same colored batters in separate 9-inch pans, then stack and frost
• Rainbow swirl: After layering, drag a toothpick through once for a marbled look
• Theme twist: Add gold sprinkles on top for a “pot of gold” party cupcake

Notes

For clean layers, use small spoonfuls for each color and spread gently to the edges before adding the next color. Let cupcakes cool fully before frosting so the frosting doesn’t melt.