1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans. Prepare the cake mix batter according to package directions.

2. Pour 1 cup batter into each prepared pan. Drop 3 to 4 drops each of the red and blue food coloring randomly on batter. Swirl the coloring with a wooden skewer. Divide the remaining batter evenly between the pans, spooning batter gently on top of swirled colors. Drop 3 to 4 drops each of red and blue food coloring randomly on the batter again; swirl coloring with a wooden skewer.

3. Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and place on wire racks to cool completely.

4. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread the top with about 3/4 cup frosting. Top with the second cake layer. Spread the side and top of the cake with the remaining frosting. Draw several sets of concentric circles on top and side of cake with the red and blue decorating gels. Drag a wooden skewer through the circles to feather the colors and make bursting fireworks designs.


Tips:  Removing the Cakes from the Pans
Here's how to easily remove the cake layers from pans:

• Let each cake layer cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing—the cake will release steam and begin to pull away from the pan edge.
• Check to see if the cake will come out easily by placing one hand on top of the cake and carefully inverting the pan. If the cake comes loose, terrific! If it doesn’t, then:
• Run a table knife around the edge of the cake to help loosen it. Then place your hand on the top and carefully invert the pan again.
• Remove the cake and carefully place on a rack to cool completely.

Recipe courtesy of the Easy To Bake, Easy To Make recipe collection.