# Components:
→ Vanilla Cake
01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1¾ cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
→ Ocean Blue Ombre Frosting
09 - 1½ cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup whole milk, plus more as needed
12 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
13 - Blue gel food coloring in various shades
14 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
15 - White chocolate seashells or pearls
16 - Edible glitter or shimmer dust
17 - Blue and silver tone sprinkles
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
05 - Add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly among the prepared pans. Smooth tops with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and salt. Beat in milk, a little at a time, until frosting is smooth and spreadable.
10 - Divide frosting into 4 bowls. Tint each with blue gel food coloring, creating a gradient from pale to deep ocean blue.
11 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with a thin layer of the lightest blue frosting. Repeat with remaining layers.
12 - Using an offset spatula, frost the sides and top of the cake, starting with the lightest shade at the top and gradually working down to the deepest blue at the base, blending where the colors meet for an ombre effect.
13 - Decorate with white chocolate seashells, edible glitter, and sprinkles as desired.
14 - Chill cake for 30 minutes before slicing for best results.
