# 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 in 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 in pastel shades
→ 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 - Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour. Mix gently until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly among three bowls. Tint each portion with a different pastel gel food color, mixing gently to create ombre tones.
07 - Pour colored batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes; check for doneness with a toothpick. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons milk or cream. Beat until fluffy, adjusting milk for consistency. Divide and tint frosting for ombre effect.
09 - Level cake layers if needed. Place first layer on serving plate, spread with buttercream, repeat with remaining layers. Apply a crumb coat and chill for 15 minutes. Frost cake, blending pastel shades for ombre effect.
10 - Arrange edible flowers on top just before serving.
