Surprise Cake

Name: Surprise Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients: 2 packages white cake mix (regular size); 8 large eggs, room temperature; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 cup canola oil; Blue, green, pink and yellow gel food coloring; FROSTING:; 8 cups confectioners' sugar; 1-1/2 cups butter, softened; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4 to 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 1-1/4 cups assorted candy, sprinkles and mini white chips

Total Time Prep: 25 min. + decorating Bake: 30 min. + cooling

Yield 16 servings

Test Kitchen Approved

When a regular cake doesn't cut it, make a surprise cake. The first slice always earns oohs and aahs!

Ingredients

2 packages white cake mix (regular size)
8 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup canola oil
Blue, green, pink and yellow gel food coloring
FROSTING:
8 cups confectioners' sugar
1-1/2 cups butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 to 6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1-1/4 cups assorted candy, sprinkles and mini white chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 4 greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, buttermilk and oil; mix until well combined, about 2 minutes. Divide batter among 4 bowls; tint 1 portion blue, second portion green, third portion pink and remaining portion yellow with food coloring. Transfer batters to prepared pans.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cake layers to be level (save cake scraps for another use). For frosting, in a large bowl, beat confectioners’ sugar, butter, vanilla and enough cream to reach desired consistency.
Using a 3-in. round cookie cutter, cut a circle out of the center of the blue cake layer and the pink cake layer (save for another use). Place the green cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with the pink layer and 3/4 cup frosting. Repeat with blue layer and frosting. Fill center of cake with assorted candies and sprinkles. Top with the yellow cake layer.
Spread remaining frosting over top and side of cake. If desired, use additional frosting and sprinkles to decorate. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 574 calories, 27g fat (13g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 353mg sodium, 84g carbohydrate (71g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.