# Ingredient List:
→ Vanilla Cake
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
08 - 1 ¼ cups whole milk
→ Buttercream
09 - 2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
10 - 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 - 3 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
13 - Teal gel food coloring
→ Geode Decoration
14 - 2 cups rock sugar crystals, clear or white
15 - Teal gel food coloring
16 - Edible gold leaf or gold luster dust
17 - Clear alcohol, such as vodka, for painting
→ Assembly
18 - Simple syrup (optional, for moistening cake layers)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Blend in vanilla extract.
05 - Add dry mixture and milk alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
06 - Divide batter evenly among cake pans. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
07 - Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla extract. Add heavy cream or milk for desired consistency.
09 - Tint most of the buttercream teal using gel food coloring. Reserve a portion uncolored for crumb coating.
10 - Place rock sugar crystals in a bowl. Add teal gel food coloring and gently mix until evenly colored. If damp, spread crystals on parchment paper to dry.
11 - Level cake layers if necessary. Optionally, brush layers with simple syrup. Stack layers with a thin layer of buttercream between each.
12 - Apply a thin crumb coat using uncolored buttercream. Chill cake for 20 minutes to set.
13 - Cover cake with teal buttercream, smoothing sides and top with an offset spatula.
14 - Using a serrated knife, carve a wedge or slice into the side of the frosted cake to expose the interior.
15 - Spread a thin layer of buttercream inside the cut-out geode section.
16 - Press teal sugar crystals into the buttercream, creating a geode effect with lighter crystals at center and darker ones at edges.
17 - Paint edges of geode with edible gold leaf or brush gold luster dust mixed with clear alcohol for a metallic finish.
18 - Add additional gold accents and a graduation topper to finish. Present for celebration.
