# What You Need:
→ Cake Layers
01 - 2 3/4 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, at room temperature
06 - 2 cups granulated sugar
07 - 4 large eggs, at room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 1/4 cups whole milk, at room temperature
10 - Blue gel food coloring (navy, royal, and light blue shades)
→ Vanilla Buttercream
11 - 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
12 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
14 - 3 to 4 tablespoons milk or cream
15 - Pinch of salt
16 - Dark blue gel food coloring
→ Gold Decoration
17 - Edible gold leaf or edible gold dust
18 - 1 to 2 tablespoons clear alcohol (vodka or lemon extract, if using gold dust)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
03 - Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy for 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the wet mixture in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just blended.
06 - Divide batter evenly into three bowls. Color each with blue food coloring to achieve a gradient from light to dark.
07 - Pour each colored batter into prepared pans and smooth the tops.
08 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, continuing to mix. Add vanilla, salt, and milk or cream until a spreadable consistency is achieved.
10 - Reserve 1 cup of buttercream for the crumb coat. Tint remaining buttercream dark blue for the final layer.
11 - Level cake layers if needed. Place the darkest blue layer on a serving plate. Spread buttercream on top, stack with next lighter blue layer, and repeat. Finish with the lightest layer.
12 - Spread a thin layer of reserved plain buttercream over the entire cake. Chill for 20 minutes.
13 - Frost the cake smoothly with the dark blue buttercream. To create an ombre effect, blend lighter blue tones toward the top if desired.
14 - Decorate cake surface with edible gold leaf or brush gold dust mixed with clear alcohol in decorative streaks or along edges.
15 - Refrigerate until ready to serve for optimal texture and appearance.
