This gingham-inspired cake is infused with flavors of vanilla and nutty almond.

Leftover white and dark blue cake rings can be stacked together to form another two cake layers.

Make or buy more frosting to build another cake, or freeze the layers for later use.

Southern Living Gingham Cake sliced and ready to serve

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Ingredients

Cakes:

Baking spray with flour

2(15.25-oz.)

packageswhite cake mix(preferably Pillsbury or Duncan Hines), divided

2 cups (about8 1/2oz.

)unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2tsp.vanilla extract

3/4tsp.tablesalt

1/2tsp.almond extract

7cups(about 28 oz.

Southern Living Gingham Cake ingredients

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Spray 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray; line bottoms with parchment paper.

(Batter will be slightly thick.)

Let Cakes cool in pans 10 minutes.

Southern Living Gingham Cake preparing the pans

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Invert Cakes onto wire racks, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.

(Batter will be slightly thick.)

Fold in remaining 1/4 teaspoon food coloring into remaining batter; divide batter between remaining 2 prepared cake pans.

Southern Living Gingham Cake making the batter

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Let Cakes cool in pans 10 minutes.

Invert Cakes onto wire racks, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.

With mixer on low speed, gradually add powdered sugar alternately with sour cream, beating just until combined.

Southern Living Gingham Cake dividing the batter among the pans

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Add food coloring and 6 tablespoons of the cream.

Peel off parchment paper on each Cake layer to loosen then return parchment to Cake layers for easier handling.

Repeat with remaining Cake layers.

Southern Living Gingham Cake layers after baking

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Assemble:

Place outermost ring of 1 light blue Cake layer on a serving platter.

(Its OK if a ring breaks while moving; just position pieces as planned and continue building.)

Make second layer:

Spread 1/2 cup of the Frosting evenly over bottom layer of Cake.

Southern Living Gingham Cake dividing more batter among pans

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Place outermost ring of 1 white Cake layer on top of frosted bottom layer.

Spread 1/2 cup of the Frosting over top.

Chill in refrigerator, uncovered, until firm, about 30 minutes.

Southern Living Gingham Cake making the frosting

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake trimming the layers

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake cutting the cake layers into rings

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake cutting the cake layers into circles

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake spreading the frosting inside the cake ring

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake assembling the rings into layers

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake assembling the cake layers

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake making the crumb coat

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Southern Living Gingham Cake after frosting the cake

Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle