# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
06 - 1 ¾ 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 ½ 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, chamomile)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Alternate adding dry ingredient mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix gently to just combine.
05 - Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Color each portion with a different pastel shade using gel food coloring, mixing gently to ensure a smooth gradient.
06 - Pour each colored batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, then vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons milk or cream. Beat until fluffy, adding additional milk if needed. Divide frosting into portions and tint with pastel colors according to desired ombre effect.
08 - Trim and level cake layers if necessary. Place the first layer on a serving plate, spread with buttercream, and repeat with remaining layers. Apply a crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes. Finish with final frosting application, blending shades for a seamless ombre effect.
09 - Arrange edible flowers decoratively on top just before serving.
