GLAZE CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 8-inch cake pans with baking spray and line the bottoms with parchment rounds.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Beat the granulated sugar and butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to medium low; beat in half the flour mixture, then all of the milk and then the remaining flour mixture until just combined.
• Separate the batter into 6 different bowls and tint one bowl red, one orange, one yellow, one green, one blue and one purple. Transfer each color to a separate disposable pastry bag or resealable ziptop bag. Pipe half of the red batter into the center of one of the prepared pans, then pipe the remaining red batter into the center of the second pan. Pipe half the orange batter into the center of the red batter in the first pan, then repeat with the remaining orange batter in the second pan, tapping the pans gently as needed to level out the batter. Repeat with the remaining colored batter until all the batter is piped and both cake pans are about half full.
• Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pans to a rack and let cool 10 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• To decorate: Using a serrated knife, level the top of each cake layer. Spread a small amount of Buttercream Frosting onto an 8-inch cake board. Place one cake layer onto the cake board bottom-side up. Add about 1/2 cup of frosting to the top of the cake and smooth to an even layer. Invert the second cake layer over top of the frosting layer. Using an offset spatula, frost the cake with an even coat of frosting. Refrigerate to set and chill, about 3 hours.
• Place the chilled cake onto a wire rack fitted inside a baking sheet. When the Mirror Glaze is the proper temperature, pour the colors together into a single container for a swirled effect. Pour the glaze over the cake, then let it stand to set before transferring to a cake stand. 
• Combine the confectioners' sugar, butter and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with milk as desired.
• Whisk together the gelatin and 3 tablespoons water in a small bowl; set aside to bloom.
• Combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is clear, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the bloomed gelatin to dissolve. Add the white chocolate and let stand 1 minute to melt. Add the condensed milk and combine with an immersion blender until emulsified and smooth.
• Divide the glaze into bowls and color as desired. When the glaze is between 75 and 80 degrees F, it is ready to pour.

Steps:

• Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°. Butter a 9x4" loaf pan, fully coating bottom and sides. Line pan lengthwise with parchment paper, leaving about a 2" overhang. Are you reading this and wondering, "Can I use wax paper instead of parchment paper?" The answer is: absolutely NOT. That strip of parchment paper will help you to lift the finished cake out of the loaf pan cleanly. Wax paper, on the other hand, will melt and stick to the cake—it's never meant to go into the oven. Now you know!
• Using a Microplane, finely grate the zest from 2 lemons into a large bowl. Add 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted room temperature butter and 1 cup granulated sugar to bowl. It might be tempting to ignore the part about the butter being "room temperature," but working with butter that's soft and spreadable—but not melted—is essential here.
• Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat until mixture is very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. You know how people talk about "creaming" butter and sugar together? That's what you're doing here. You're basically whipping a bunch of air into the butter and sugar mixture, which will help keep the finished cake light and fluffy. And as we mentioned in the last step, that butter needs to be room temp in order for this to work.
• Beat in 3 eggs one at a time, waiting until each is incorporated before adding the next. Continue to beat until mixture is lighter and even fluffier, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk 1¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1½ tsp. baking powder, and ½ tsp. salt in another large bowl. It might seem funny to add salt to a dessert recipe, but a little bit helps to make all of the rich, sweet elements really sing.
• Add one-half of dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat on low speed just until combined.
• Beat in 6 Tbsp. milk on low just until smooth, then add remaining dry ingredients and beat just until combined. Now that you've added the flour, you want to mix the batter as little as possible—if you beat it up too much, you'll start to form gluten, which will make the cake tough. Using a spatula, scrape down sides of bowl and give batter a final mix so dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Scrape batter into your buttered loaf pan; smooth top with a spatula. Bake cake, turning once halfway through, until a cake tester, toothpick, skewer, or thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, 45-55 minutes.
• While the cake bakes, make the glaze: First, remove zest from remaining lemon with a vegetable peeler in wide strips. (FWIW, if this part seems overly fussy or annoying, you can feel free to just use a Microplane to zest all of the lemons for the glaze, but we think doing it this way looks cuter.)
• Transfer zest to a cutting board and slice as thinly as possible; set aside.
• Halve 2 lemons (the ones you already zested) and squeeze the juice into a small bowl with a reamer or fork (you should have about ½ cup lemon juice).
• Place 1½ cups powdered sugar in another medium bowl. Slowly whisk in about half of lemon juice until smooth, then add sliced lemon zest; set glaze aside.
• Let cake cool about 10 minutes. (Yeah, it really does need to cool a bit, so set a timer if you're impatient.) Poke 10-15 holes evenly throughout cake with a cake tester or toothpick. Pour the remaining lemon juice—the stuff that didn't end up going into the glaze—over the top of the cake. Let cool completely. (Seriously!)
• Run a butter knife around edges of pan to loosen. Using parchment overhang, lift cake onto a wire rack; remove parchment.
• Now, pour the lemon zest glaze over cake, letting it fall down the sides. Let icing set for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve on its own, or with a spoonful of Greek yogurt, a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of ice cream on top. (You deserve it!)