We’re not sure what it is precisely, but something about the weather warming up where we live always reinvigorated our love for colour. Maybe it’s that natural hues are returning to the environment around us and the sun is bouncing off the shades outside, or perhaps it’s that the rainbows of pride season are starting to show, but we’re always in a very bright mood in our fashion, decorating, and crafting around this time of year. Lately, we’ve also been feeling the urge to incorporate the rainbows we love so much when we cook and bake!
Just in case you love the idea of making rainbow coloured or inspired food this spring just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the very best rainbow recipes, flavour combinations, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and ideas.
1. Sixlets rainbow birthday cake
If we’re being honest, cake decorating might be one of our very favourite parts of making any kind of food, ever. There are just so many ways to get creative and delicious according to just about any theme you can think of! Right now, we’re a little bit obsessed with this Sixlets candy idea from Sprinkle Bakes that shows you how to turn a cake into a swirling rainbow by arranging the candies according to colour all across the cake’s iced surface.
2. Rainbow pasta
If you’re going to start making rainbow food, would you rather make something that looks really novelty and unusual so that your kids will get a kick out of it, even though you’re trying to limit their sweets intake a little lately? Well, believe it or not, there are all kinds of savoury and meal based rainbow foods out there too, so you’re not just limited to cake and cookies! This totally awesome rainbow pasta tutorial from Tablespoon is the perfect example of what we mean.
3. Rainbow sugar cookies
Are you actually quite intrigued indeed by the concept of making a rainbow themed dessert, but you’ve always liked cookies better than iced cakes? Maybe you were just feeling quite intent on the idea of making something that’s shaped like a rainbow, rather than just covered in colours. Either way, we have a feeling you might get along very well indeed with something like these little rainbow sugar cookies outlined step by step on Etsy Journal.
4. Rainbow cupcakes with vanilla cloud frosting
What if you were a big fan of the rainbow cake idea but you know your kids really prefer cupcakes? Maybe you’d prefer to explore the idea of having the actual sponge of the cake be rainbow, rather than just how you decorative it. In any case, we think you simply must take a look at how Dinner Then Dessert made these beautiful rainbow coloured cupcakes topped with a fluffy white dollop of vanilla icing that looks just like a cloud.
5. Homemade rainbow bagels
Are your kids actually so in love with rainbows that you can’t help wondering whether you might be able to use the colours to motivate them a little during mealtimes? Then we think you’ll appreciate the way Mom Dot Com jazzed up their breakfast table a whole lot by making these fantastically bright rainbow swirled bagels from scratch! It’s easier to do than you might think.
6. Rainbow cream cheese sandwich bites
Just in case we’ve really got your attention with the idea of making slightly healthier rainbow meal entrees but you’re new to experimenting in the kitchen and you’re not quite ready to mix your own bagels from scratch, here’s a simpler tea sandwich idea from Tablespoon! They walk you through the process of making simple rainbow cream cheese sandwich bites that look great in school lunches.
7. Rainbow fudge
If you ask us, fudge is one of the very best treats out there. It’s simple to make, the flavours and preparation ideas are neatly endless, and just about everyone we’ve ever met adores it. That’s probably why we fell so in love with this delicious tasting and wonderful looking rainbow fudge idea outlined in simple detail on Wine and Glue!
8. Rainbow fruit smoothie
Has your favourite idea on our list so far actually been the mere concept of making some kind of rainbow food that’s a little healthier than cupcakes and fudge? In that case, we think you just might be the perfect person to give something like these layered rainbow smoothies a try! The First Year shows you precisely how it’s done.
9. Rainbow swirl bread
Maybe you are a dessert lover but your ideal treats just aren’t quite as sweet as things covered in icing and candies? Then we’d be willing to bet that you’re a big fan of things like dessert breads, which have a touch of sweetness but not too much. Luckily for all of us, Tablespoon is here to show you how to make beautifully swirled rainbow dessert bread.
10. Rainbow cheesecake dip
Just in case you’re still looking for something that’s a little extra unique because you’re a huge lover of the novelty and combination treat recipes that are so trendy right now, here’s an idea that we liked so much that we literally set out to the store and made it immediately! We’re pleased to report that this rainbow cheesecake dip outlined by Crazy For Crust was a huge success in our house.
11. Lemon magic bars with rainbow sprinkles
Maybe you are a big fan of cheerful colours and things that look like rainbows, but you’re still convinced you’r rather make something that tastes like your favourite flavours first and looks like a rainbow second, since the way a food tastes is so important to you? Then we’d suggest taking a look at something like these lemon magic cake bars that are simply adorned with rainbow sprinkles instead! Get a better idea of how it’s done on Inside Bru Crew Life.
12. Rainbow tie dyed sugar cookies
Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about soft rainbow sugar cookies but you’re not really that concerned about the shape of your treats so long as you get to play with colours with your kids? Then we think they might have an easier time making something like these rainbow “tie dyed” looking sugar cookies from Dine and Dish, rather than putting together the careful coloured layers of the rainbow shaped cookies we showed you earlier on our list.
13. Rainbow Jell-O cubes
If you’re going to work with lots of colours on something, would you actually much prefer to tie different fruity flavours into those different shades? In that case, we think something like these awesomely bright and super flavourful rainbow Jell-O cubes might be a little more up your alley! See how they’re made in full detail on Mom On Time Out.
14. Rainbow sandwich loaf
Are you actually still scrolling through out list and thinking about how you loved the concept of rainbow swirled bread but you can’t help wondering whether or not the same technique could applied to regular sandwich bread rather than sweet dessert breads? Well, we’re pleased to tell you that Tablespoon has a recipe for precisely that! We actually used this tutorial to brighten up our kids’ school lunches and nearly every parent from their class asked us for the link afterwards so they could make their kids rainbow sandwiches for their lunch bags too.
15. Sweet and salty rainbow popcorn
Just in case you’re still thinking about the idea of combining fun rainbow colours and impressive taste in one place, like the experienced foodie you are, here’s an idea from The Frugal Foodie Mama that’s especially good for lovers of sweet and salty snacks! Take a better look at their tutorial to see how this sweet and salty rainbow popcorn was made.
