# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
06 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
10 - Gel food coloring: pastel pink, yellow, green, or blue
→ Buttercream Frosting
11 - 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
12 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
14 - 3–4 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
15 - Gel food coloring: pastel shades to match cake layers
→ Floral Topper
16 - 1 cup edible flowers (such as pansies, violas, roses, or chamomile)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
03 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs individually, beating well after each addition, then incorporate vanilla extract.
04 - Add flour mixture and milk alternately to the butter mixture, starting and finishing with the flour. Mix gently until batter is just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among three bowls. Tint each portion with a different pastel shade using gel food coloring and stir gently to achieve ombre tones.
06 - Pour each colored batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Leave cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
07 - Beat butter in a mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, then vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons milk or cream. Whip until smooth and fluffy, adding additional milk if necessary. Divide and tint frosting with pastel shades.
08 - Level cooled cake layers if needed. Place first layer on serving plate, spread with buttercream, then repeat for remaining layers. Apply a crumb coat, chill for 15 minutes. Frost exterior, blending colored buttercream for ombre effect.
09 - Arrange edible flowers elegantly atop cake just before serving.
