# 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:
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.
03 - In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in pure vanilla extract.
05 - Alternate adding the flour mixture and whole milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Tint each bowl with a different pastel color using gel food coloring, mixing gently for an ombre effect.
07 - Pour each colored batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons milk or cream. Beat until fluffy, adding additional milk if needed. Separate frosting into portions and tint with pastel shades for ombre decoration.
09 - Level cooled 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. Frost the cake, blending pastel frosting colors to create a gradient ombre effect.
10 - Arrange edible flowers on top just before serving for a striking spring centerpiece.
