Easy Single Rectangle Cake Decorating

Step 1: Bake Chocolate Cake Layers

Prepare your cake batter as instructed. If you're using a cake mix, one boxed mix is enough to fill all 4 pans. If you find yourself with leftover batter, you can always make another cake layer or bake a few cupcakes to serve on the side!

Follow the instructions on your recipe for baking your cake layers. Be sure to check your cakes after about 15 to 20 minutes, as your layers may bake faster than instructed. They're done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 2: Tint Your Buttercream

Using Royal Blue, Violet, Pink, Teal, Rose and Lemon Yellow icing colors, tint your creamy white buttercream as follows:

Combine Royal Blue and Violet icing colors to tint 1 ½ cups buttercream dark purple
Use Pink icing color to tint 2 cups buttercream pink
Use Teal icing color to tint 1 ½ cups buttercream teal
Use Rose icing color to tint 2 cups buttercream rose
Use Lemon Yellow icing color to tint 1 cup buttercream yellow

Want to customize your cake? Use gel icing colors or Color Right food coloring to create your own frosting colors. Try shades of red and pink for Valentine's Day or match your buttercream colors to your wedding palette.

Step 3: Prepare Your Decorating Bags

Prepare 5 disposable decorating bags, separately, with your piping tips (we used star tips 2D, 21, 1M, 4B and petal tip 104). Fill them with buttercream as follows:

Tip 4B with dark purple buttercream
Tip 2D with pink buttercream
Tip 21 with teal buttercream
Tip 1M with rose buttercream
Tip 104 with yellow buttercream

Now you're ready to assemble and decorate!

Step 4: Assembling and Decorating Your Cake

Place one cooled cake layer on your serving tray or platter. Using your prepared decorating bags, cover the top of the first layer with stars, rosettes and zig-zags. Top with another cake layer and repeat until all the layers are placed.

Helpful Hint: This is a great way to practice your piping! Since the first three layers are covered, you have plenty of chances to perfect your piping skills for the top layer!

Once your last cake layer has been placed, you're ready to decorate the top. Start with the big rosettes first, then fill in the gaps with stars and zig-zags. When you're done, top your cake with some colorful sprinkles and get ready to celebrate!

Need a piping refresher? Check out our how-to's on these easy piping techniques:

How to Pipe a Star
How to Pipe a Rosette
How to Pipe a Zig-Zag

And there you have it! Bright, colorful and easy to decorate, this rectangle cake is a great way to celebrate any occasion!

More Recipes for Your Rectangle Cake Pan

You can use the Easy Layers loaf cake pan set to make these other delicious recipes!

Filled with the flavors of banana, pecans and pineapple, this Hummingbird Cake is a great taste of tropical living. Top your cake with a sweet cream cheese icing and some dried pineapple slices for the perfect finishing touch.

For something dark and decadent, this Dark Chocolate Orange Cake is sure to please. Layers of chocolate cake, chocolate ganache and buttercream combine for a dessert that looks (and smells) amazing!

Celebrate the flavors of summer with this Strawberry Shortcake recipe. Angel food cake, whipped cream and fresh strawberries are layered together for a light and refreshing treat you can serve at your next BBQ or family gathering.

This elegant Summer Fruit Loaf Cake would be great for any occasion. Topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, lemons and red currants, this loaf cake is a summer celebration! It also features layers of buttercream and a sweet powdered sugar glaze for a decorative and delicious touch.

Have you ever baked with our Easy Layers pan sets? We'd love to see your creations! Share a photo on social media and tag us @wiltoncakes.

Chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting being sprinkled with chocolate powder

Ultimate Chocolate Cake From Scratch

This decadent chocolate cake recipe is fluffy, moist and perfect for beginning bakers. Learn how to make this ultimate treat step-by-step.

Prep Time 25 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Cool Time (optional) 15 mins

Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
6 squares semi sweet chocolate (6 oz.)
¾ cup softened butter (1½ sticks)
1½ cups milk
1½ cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray cake pans with nonstick vegetable spray. Set it aside.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Set it aside.
In large microwavable bowl, melt chocolate and butter for 2 minutes, or until butter is melted. The mixture can also be melted in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth. Transfer to large bowl; add sugar and beat with electric mixer until combined.
Add eggs to chocolate mixture, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla; mix well.
Alternate adding flour mixture and milk to chocolate mixture, beating well until everything is incorporated. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake 32 to 36 minutes at 350℉, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool cakes in pans on cooling grid for 15 minutes. Remove from pans. Transfer to cooling grid to cool completely before decorating.