Instructions

1. Cakes: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease four 8-inch square baking pans and line bottoms with parchment paper. Whisk together cake mix, cream soda, oil, eggs and pumpkin pie spice.
2. Divide batter into 4 portions. Stir 30 drops of yellow and 12 drops of red coloring into one portion for the darkest shade. Stir 20 drops of yellow and 6 drops of red coloring into another portion. Stir 3 drops of yellow and 2 drops of red coloring into another portion. Stir 10 drops of yellow and 1 drop of red coloring into remaining portion for the lightest shade.
3. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans, smoothing tops; bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until tester comes out clean when inserted into center of cake. Let stand for 10 minutes; turn out cakes onto racks. Let cool completely.
4. Pretzel Streusel: Preheat oven to 350oF. Toss together crushed pretzels, sugar, flour and pumpkin pie spice; cut in butter until crumbly. Arrange in single layer on parchment paper–lined baking sheet; bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and toasted. Let cool completely.
5. Buttercream Frosting: Using electric mixer, whip butter until light and fluffy; gradually beat in icing sugar. Beat in cream, vanilla and salt until smooth. (If frosting is too soft to spread, refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes.)
6. Using 3-inch round cutter, cut each cake into 4 rounds, reserving scraps for another use. Layer individual cakes by starting with the darkest cake on the bottom and ending with the palest cake on top, spreading frosting between each layer and on top (do not frost sides). Sprinkle top of each cake with Pretzel Streusel. Refrigerate cakes for at least 2 hours before serving.

Variation

Beverage Pairing: Orange Aquafina Sparkling

Cooking time (duration)

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 25 min.

Number of servings (yield)

4 servings

Category

Dessert

Related

All Pepsi Recipes

Tips

Alternatively, use food coloring gels for even more vivid colors.
Use remaining Pretzel Streusel as a topping for ice cream or yogurt.
Use cake scraps to make cake pops, trifle or rum balls.