# What You Need:
→ 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 - 3–4 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 gold accents
→ 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 paper.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream unsalted butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully blended before adding the next. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until smooth, avoiding overmixing.
06 - Distribute batter evenly within the prepared pans. Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer layers to wire racks and allow to cool completely.
08 - In a mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, then vanilla extract. Add heavy cream as needed for a smooth, spreadable consistency.
09 - Use teal gel food coloring to tint the majority of buttercream; reserve some uncolored for crumb coating.
10 - Place rock sugar crystals in a bowl. Add drops of teal gel food coloring and gently stir until evenly colored. Dry on parchment paper if needed.
11 - Trim cake layers as needed. Optionally, brush each layer with simple syrup to enhance moisture.
12 - Stack layers with a thin layer of buttercream between each. Coat exterior with uncolored buttercream for a crumb layer; chill cake for 20 minutes.
13 - Apply teal buttercream to entire cake, smoothing sides and top with an offset spatula.
14 - Use a serrated knife to cut a wedge into the side of the cake, creating a geode shape and exposing interior layers.
15 - Spread a thin layer of buttercream inside the carved section. Press teal sugar crystals into the buttercream, using lighter crystals in the center and darker tones along edges.
16 - Paint exposed geode edges with edible gold leaf or brush gold luster dust mixed with clear alcohol for a metallic effect.
17 - Add additional gold accents to the surface as desired. Place graduation-themed topper for presentation.
