Rainbow Fruit Cake Recipe

If the words “fruit cake” make you think of the traditional Christmas cake that’s hard as a brick, think again. This refreshing and bright cake is the polar opposite and one of our most festive desserts. Instead of being studded with a dried fruit mixture, it features fresh berries and kiwis and a decadent cake cream spiked with sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese. Serve it at your next cookout and watch everyone’s eyes widen when you slice into it!

Making this Colorful Fruit Cake

It’s hard to believe this cake only requires under 10 ingredients to make. Below, find an overview of the recipe.

• Make the Cake Batter: In the large bowl of a stand mixer, beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture increases 3x the volume. Gently fold in the flour in thirds using a cake spatula. Next, separate the batter into 5 equal portions and stir in a different food coloring into each one.
• Bake the Cake Layers: Pour one portion of batter into a 9-inch cake pan and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes on the center rack of the oven. Repeat until all your cake layers are baked.
• Make the Cake Cream: Using a stand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and condensed milk together until smooth. Add in the heavy whipping cream and beat on high until it’s 3x in volume.
• Assemble the Cake: Place a cake layer on your serving plate and spread some cake cream on top, followed by a layer of fresh fruit. Stack another cake layer on top and repeat until you run out. Use the remaining cream to frost the outside of the cake and decorate the top with more fresh fruit. Enjoy!

5 Pro Tips for the Tastiest Fruit Cake

Follow the tips below to nail each component of this festive cake.

• Don’t over mix the cake batter. To prevent the cake from losing its fluffiness, make sure to only fold the flour in just until it’s well-combined.
• Use the “toothpick test”. Unsure if your cake layer is fully-baked? Stick a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, you’re golden!
• Allow the cream cheese to soften at room temperature. Cold cream cheese is impossible to work with, so make sure to take it out of the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before you plan on whipping up the cake cream.
• Use extra cold heavy whipping cream. Extra cold heavy whipping cream gets super fluffy when you beat it. If you have to, pop it in the freezer for 10 minutes before you make the cake cream.
• Don’t over beat the cake cream. If you beat heavy whipping cream too long, it will turn into butter. Once the cake cream increases 3 times in volume, immediately stop mixing it.

Different Ways to Decorate Your Fruit Cake

Below, find a couple of different ideas for decorating your fruit cake.

• Rustic-Style: Keep the sides unfrosted for a rustic look. Make the same amount of frosting and just pile it high in between the layers.
• Bright & Citrusy: Skip the food coloring and add a couple of tablespoons of poppy seeds to the cake batter. Top the cake with fresh peeled oranges and strawberries and shave on a bit of lemon zest and orange zest.
• Cinnamon & Banana: Skip the food coloring and top the cake with sliced bananas and a dusting of cinnamon. Optionally, decorate the sides with crushed walnuts.

Best Practices for Storing a Fruit Cake

Because you are decorating this cake with fresh fruit, you should only whip it up one day in advance. For best results, store it in an airtight cake container in the fridge to keep the fruit from turning soggy. This will also prevent the cake from absorbing any lingering smells in the refrigerator.

FAQ

Other Fruity Cakes to Try

• Fruit & Prune Lumberjack Cake – Hearty cake with prunes and apples
• Drunken Raisins Cake – Rum cake with raisins
• Amazing Orange Almond Cake Recipe – Festive orange and pomegranate cake
• Apricot Farmer’s Cheesecake – Sweet cheesecake with apricots

Recipe

Rainbow Fruit Cake Recipe

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Servings

12 servings

Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This cheery fruit cake features luscious cream cheese frosting, fresh fruit, and 5 layers of colorful cake. Great for summer BBQs and birthdays!

Ingredients

• 10 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• food coloring
• 3 cups heavy whipping cream
• 10 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 8 oz cream cheese softened at room temperature
• fresh kiwi and berries for decorating

US Units – Metric

Instructions

Preparing the Cake Layers

• Beat the eggs with sugar until the mixture doubles three times in volume. Using a spatula, fold in the flour in thirds, being extra careful not to over mix the batter. Next, separate the batter into five equal portions for the five separate cake layers.
  
• Add a different food coloring into each layer, folding it in lightly so you don't compromise the fluffiness of the batter.
  
• Bake each layer at 350°F in a 9-inch pan for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean after being stuck in the center.
  

Making the Cake Cream

• Beat the cream cheese with sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Next, add in the extra cold heavy whipping cream and beat on high speed until it increases 3 times in volume.
  

Assembling the Cake

• Place a cake layer on a decorative plate. Spread on some of the cake cream and top with a layer of fruit. Repeat until you run out of cake layers.
  
• Use the remaining cake cream to frost the outside of the cake. Decorate the top with fresh fruit. Slice and enjoy!
  

Nutrition Facts

Rainbow Fruit Cake Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 594 Calories from Fat 306

% Daily Value*

Fat 34g52%

Saturated Fat 20g100%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 10g

Cholesterol 247mg82%

Sodium 166mg7%

Potassium 229mg7%

Carbohydrates 63g21%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 47g52%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 1390IU28%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 148mg15%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.