# Ingredients List:
→ 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 - 3–4 tablespoons milk or cream
15 - Pinch salt
16 - Dark blue gel food coloring
→ Gold Decoration
17 - Edible gold leaf or edible gold dust
18 - 1–2 tablespoons clear alcohol (vodka or lemon extract, if using gold dust)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
04 - Mix in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Incorporate pure vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture in three additions, starting and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly among three bowls. Tint each portion with blue gel food coloring to achieve light, medium, and dark blue ombre tones.
07 - Transfer each colored batter into the prepared pans. Smooth tops. Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes; then remove and allow to cool completely on wire racks.
08 - Beat unsalted butter for vanilla buttercream until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar while mixing. Blend in vanilla extract, salt, and 3–4 tablespoons milk or cream to reach desired consistency.
09 - Reserve 1 cup plain buttercream for crumb coat. Color remaining buttercream dark blue with gel food coloring for final decoration.
10 - Level cooled cake layers if needed. Place darkest blue layer on serving plate and spread a thin layer of buttercream. Stack medium blue layer, repeat spreading buttercream. Finish with lightest layer.
11 - Spread a thin layer of reserved plain buttercream over entire cake. Chill for 20 minutes to set.
12 - Smoothly frost cake with tinted dark blue buttercream. Create ombre effect by blending lighter blue shades toward the top as desired.
13 - Decorate cake surface with edible gold leaf or brush gold dust mixed with clear alcohol in streaks or along edges.
14 - Refrigerate the finished cake until ready to serve.
