# What You’ll 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 to 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
# How to Make It:
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 blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each addition. Incorporate vanilla extract.
04 - Alternately add flour mixture and whole milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined; do not overmix.
05 - Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Tint each with a distinct pastel color using gel food coloring, carefully mixing to achieve ombre gradients.
06 - Transfer each colored batter to separate cake pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted at the center emerges clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Unmold onto wire racks and allow to cool completely.
07 - Beat butter until smooth. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, then add vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons milk or cream. Beat until frosting is light. Adjust consistency with additional milk as needed. Divide into portions and tint with pastel colors for ombre effect.
08 - Level cake layers if necessary. Arrange first cake layer on serving platter. Spread buttercream over layer, repeat with remaining layers. Apply a crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes. Finish frosting with blended pastel shades to create ombre appearance.
09 - Arrange edible flowers on top just before serving, creating an elegant seasonal effect.
