Baking might not be the easiest thing for many of us. We have had our struggles trying to ace that perfect cheesecake, and you bet we are always trying to find ways to make our lives easier with simple and fool-proof recipes.

Clueless people can opt for no-bake recipes, like we did with this one. To jazz it up bit, we decided to swirl in some colours to our no-bake cheesecake for an extra oomph.

You can finish off your cheesecake or serve it in any ways you like. We chose some rainbow sprinkles, but you could even whip up a nice berry compote or squeeze some whipped cream on it. Here is an Easy No-Bake Tie-Dye Rainbow Cheesecake Recipe.

Serving size: Six 3-inch Squares or Four large pieces

What You Need:

12 Oreo cookies (without filling)
6 tbsp melted unsalted butter
2 tbsp sugar
1 package of cream cheese (about 230 grams)
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 lemon (juiced)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 food colourings of your choice
rainbow sprinkles (or toppings of choice, such as gummy bears and M&M’s)

What To Do:

1) Put Oreo cookies in a large ziplock bag, and crush them with a rolling pin or wooden spoon until very fine crumbs form.

2) Pour crumbs into a small mixing bowl, then stir in sugar. After that, add butter and stir until well combined.

3) Press the crumb mixture into a pan or tupperware box, lay it even and press until it is evenly flat. Let it cool in the freezer for at least 10 minutes.

4) Use an electric mixer (if you don’t have one, a wooden spoon and a medium mixing bowl is fine) and beat the cream cheese in the mixing bowl until smooth. Beat in the condensed milk a little at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl if necessary. Then, add in the lemon juice and vanilla and continue beating in until well combined.

5) Separate the mixture evenly into three clean bowls. Add a very tiny amount of colouring (based on how vivid or pastel you want the colours to be) to each of the bowls and mix them until well combined.

6) Place the different coloured mixtures alternately on the pan (with the crumbs) using individual spoons or scoops. Using a toothpick, make clockwise swirl motions all around the different colours to create a tie-dye ripple effect. Just a few is enough to prevent the colours from combining too much.

7) Use a spatula to flatten the top, then wrap around the top with cling wrap.

8) Refrigerate it for at least 3 hours (preferably overnight), before slicing them up and serving. Add toppings as you wish.

You can experiment with different colours or patterns to your preference. Have fun with it!

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

The rainbow cake is a brilliant creation with multi-coloured layers, and if there was a beauty pageant for cakes, the rainbow cake would win hands-down.

Whether you like it or not, this is one cake that will steal the show at a party or draw the crowd to a cafe. We have a simple and easy rainbow cake recipe for those who want to try baking it at home. But for the rest of us who are more talented at eating than baking, here is a list of cafes that serve rainbow cake in Singapore.

#1 DEAN & DELUCA

One of the top sellers at Dean & Deluca is its Rainbow Cake (S$9). The pastry chef uses six different fruit extracts – strawberry, orange, lemon, green apple, blueberry and grape – to give the cake its brilliant rainbow colours.

#04-23/24 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6509 7708
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#2 FRESH FRUITS LAB

No fruits in Fresh Fruits Lab’s version of Rainbow Cake (S$7), but it is a lovely sweet treat that we’d do anytime. Nothing overly sweet, and the cake is soft enough for our liking. Complete with colourful sprinkles, this is your best bet when you are in the East!

351 Changi Road
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Thu, & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Eunos/Kembangan

#3 I AM… CAFE

Inspired by the city of Amsterdam, I Am… is a halal-certified cafe at Haji Lane that serves a selection of Western food like burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. Much has been said about its rainbow desserts, and they indeed live up to the hype. The huge stack of Rainbow Cake is quite a sight to behold, while the Rainbow Crepe is also equally popular.

674 North Bridge Road, 01-01
Tel: +65 6295 5509
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 1am
Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#5 LYNN’S CAKES & COFFEE

Lynn’s Cakes & Coffee at Eng Kong Terrace – just a few units down from Necessary Provisions – is a nice dessert place to check out. It is a clean and quaint little cafe where you can expect sweet treats like carrot cake, red velvet cake, chocolate cake and the gorgeous rainbow cake that are freshly baked on-site.

11 Eng Kong Terrace
Tel: +65 6314 2886
Tue to Thu: 11am – 7pm
Fri, Sat & Eve of PH: 11am – 9pm
Sun & PH: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

#6 MEDZS

Much has been said about how MEDZS has a similar concept to Marche, but if we could only mention one differentiation, it would be the sliced rainbow cake (S$6.90++) from the dessert section.

24 Raffles Place
#01-01, Clifford Centre
Mon to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

#7 MISS MOLLY

While Miss Molly is known for its fusion dishes such as Laksa Pasta with Prawns (S$13.80) and Har Jiong Kai Sandwich (S$8.80), it has also a range of gorgeous desserts such as the gorgeous Lavender Ombre Cake and the popular Rainbow Cake (S$8.90). Miss Molly has a cake set at S$11.90+ which comes with a slice of Rainbow Cake and coffee.

You may remember Miss Molly on Instagram for its pretty rainbow cakes (S$8.90).

2 Craig Road
Tel: +65 6222 2671
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#8 NOM BISTRO & BAKERY

Sick of the usual rainbow cakes? Head to Nom Bistro & Bakery at Macpherson Community Club. It offers three different versions of the rainbow cake (S$7.90) – salted caramel buttercream, chocolate ganache, and oreo buttercream.

Level 1, Macpherson Community Club
400 Paya Lebar Way
Tel: +65 6747 3839
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Macpherson/Paya Lebar

#9 THE COFFEE DAILY

The Coffee Daily is well-loved for several reasons: the cafe serves a pretty good cup of coffee, the staff are always friendly and welcoming, a cosy spot to chill out with friends, and it also serves a variety of desserts, including the highly popular rainbow cake (S$10 Nett).

If you are planning to go there, do note that the rainbow cake usually sells out as early as 3pm, so do give them a call to check on the availability before heading down.

75 Brighton Crescent
Tel: +65 6284 8894
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11.30pm
Sat: 9.30am – 11.30pm
Sun: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#10 W39 BISTRO & BAKERY

W39 Bistro & Bakery has only been around for a short while, but despite its rather inaccessible location, it has won themselves a loyal following among people staying in the west of Singapore. With pretty cakes, decent coffee, free wifi, and a variety of good magazines, it is not difficult to understand why its popularity. Among its selection of cakes, the show-stopper is definitely the rainbow cake. If you need any more convincing to travel all the way to West Coast, W39 Bistro has a value-for-money afternoon tea set – order any 2 cakes and 2 drinks for S$19 (available from Tue to Fri 3pm – 6pm).

39 Jalan Mas Puteh
Off West Coast Road
Tel: +65 9646 5372
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Also read our recipe on how to make a rainbow cake.

Words by Selene Zhang, photos by ladyironchef

Let’s face it. Who doesn’t love pretty things? I first saw the rainbow cake a few years back and never ever thought that I would one day be attempting to make it. I have to say that this cake, till date, is the most challenging one ever for me. I’m not sure why, but making a 3-layered devil food cake sure looks easy-peasy compared to this.

This is a huge monstrous cake that requires quite a lot of time and patience. But if you feel up to it, and would just like to create some kitchen magic, go ahead and give it a try! Sometimes all we need is just a little magic to spice things up.

Below is the recipe for the rainbow cake. Enjoy!

Everything starts when you put the gel colours into each individual batter, and you know that something magical is going to come out from the oven. Who knew that you could make colourful cakes other than the legendary red velvet? And who knew that different coloured layers could come together and create such a magical cake? Slap on some butter-cream and you have a perfectly normal looking cake. People will doubt you when they see the extremely plain looking exterior. But trust me, once you cut a slice of the rainbow cake, people will be applauding once they see what’s inside, and the magic that you have created.

How to make a rainbow cake:
Recipe adapted from Whisk Kid

White Cake
226g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/3cups (426g) granulated sugar
5 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups (426g) all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk at room temperature
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple gel paste colouring

Lemony Swiss Meringue Butter-cream
9 egg whites
1 ¾ cups (350) granulated sugar
452g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons lemon extract

To make the cake:
Preheat your oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Butter and line as many 8-inch round pans that you have. If you have a weighing machine, weigh your mixer bowl and take down the weight of it.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Next, using your stand mixer or electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on high speed till light and fluffy. Change the speed to medium-low and mix in the vanilla extract and then slowly add the egg whites and blend till fully incorporated.

Switch the speed to low, and using the wet-dry ingredients alternating method, add in one third of the milk and one third of the flour mixture. Keep alternating, ending with the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl when necessary and mix it till it all comes together.

Using your weighing machine, weigh the mixer bowl again and minus off the initial weight. Divide the weight by 6 and portion the batter in individual bowls accordingly to the weight that you have calculated. Each batter should get around 263g.

Using a toothpick or metal teaspoon, tint your batter using the gel paste colourings till you get your desired shades. Pour the batter into the lined pans and bake for 15mins each. One done, let it cool in the pans for about 10mins before removing it and letting it cool completely.

Meanwhile, while your cakes are baking, prepare the butter-cream. Using a double boiler method, put the egg whites and sugar in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water. Whisk the mixture continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved. To know if it is done, test it by simply rubbing the mixture between your fingers. It should feel smooth and velvety.

Once the mixture is cooked, transfer it to your electric mixer and beat it on high speed until room temperature. You should get a huge mass of white meringue when that is done.

Switch the speed to medium-low and slowly add in your butter. Do not add all at once as it will crumble the meringue and the cream will not be smooth and fluffy. Once all the butter is in, switch the mixer back to high speed and whip it until it all comes together, for about 5 mins. Add in the lemon extract and beat briefly.

To assemble the cake, simply put some frosting in between each layers, frost the entire cake and you’re done! You have just created some magic to impress others.

So there you have it, the magical rainbow cake. Cut a slice out and enjoy every bit of the rainbow goodness.

Selene is a food and fashion lover who co-owns local online fashion label Klarra.com. Baking has been her interest since the first lesson in home economics during her teenage years and she aims to open a bakery in the future. Fashion and food is her life and you can read more about her here. She’s also taking orders for the rainbow cake, you can contact her at zhangselene@gmail.com