# What You’ll Need:
→ Vanilla Cake
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 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 1/4 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)
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Alternate adding dry ingredients and whole milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry. Mix until batter is smooth.
06 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 28–32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar followed by vanilla extract. Add heavy cream or milk as needed for a spreadable consistency.
09 - Reserve a portion of buttercream uncolored for crumb coating. Tint remaining buttercream with teal gel food coloring.
10 - Place rock sugar crystals in a bowl. Add teal gel food coloring and gently mix until evenly colored. Allow crystals to dry on parchment paper if damp.
11 - Level cake layers as needed. Optionally brush each layer with simple syrup to enhance moisture.
12 - Assemble cake by stacking layers with a thin layer of buttercream between each.
13 - Apply a crumb coat using uncolored buttercream. Chill cake for 20 minutes to set.
14 - Frost the entire cake with teal buttercream, smoothing the sides and top using an offset spatula.
15 - Using a serrated knife, carve a wedge or slice on the side of the cake to expose the interior for geode effect.
16 - Apply a thin layer of buttercream inside the exposed area, then press tinted sugar crystals into buttercream, arranging lighter crystals in the center and darker ones on the edges for a realistic geode appearance.
17 - Paint the edges of the geode with edible gold leaf or brush with gold luster dust mixed with a small amount of clear alcohol for a metallic finish.
18 - Complete presentation with additional gold accents and, if desired, add a graduation topper.
