# 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 - 3–4 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 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.
02 - Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition; mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to the mixture, starting and finishing with dry ingredients.
06 - Divide batter evenly into prepared pans and bake for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
07 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes before transferring to racks to cool completely.
08 - Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add heavy cream for a spreadable consistency. Tint most buttercream teal, reserving some uncolored for crumb coating.
09 - Place rock sugar crystals in a bowl and add drops of teal gel food coloring. Gently stir until evenly colored and dry on parchment if needed.
10 - Level cake layers as needed and brush with simple syrup if desired. Stack layers with buttercream between, and apply a crumb coat with uncolored buttercream. Chill for 20 minutes.
11 - Frost entire cake with teal buttercream, smoothing the sides and top.
12 - Using a sharp knife, carve a wedge or slice into the cake side to expose the interior. Apply a thin layer of buttercream inside the cut-out.
13 - Press teal-colored sugar crystals into the buttercream, arranging lighter crystals in the center and darker on the edges.
14 - Brush geode edges with edible gold leaf or gold luster dust mixed with clear alcohol for a metallic finish.
15 - Add additional gold accents and a graduation topper if desired.
