# Components:
→ 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)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Blend in vanilla extract until combined.
04 - Alternately add dry mixture and milk to wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry mixture. Mix just until smooth.
05 - Divide batter evenly between pans. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
06 - Beat butter in a bowl until smooth. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, then vanilla extract. Incorporate cream or milk until a spreadable consistency is achieved. Tint most buttercream teal, reserve some plain for crumb coat.
07 - Place rock sugar crystals in a bowl. Add teal gel food coloring, mixing gently until the crystals are uniformly colored. Allow to dry on parchment if damp.
08 - Level cake layers if needed. Optionally brush each layer with simple syrup. Stack layers with a thin layer of buttercream between each. Apply a crumb coat with plain buttercream and chill for 20 minutes.
09 - Frost cake with teal buttercream, smoothing sides and top using an offset spatula.
10 - Using a serrated cake knife, carve a wedge or slice out of the cake side to expose the crumb. Spread a thin layer of buttercream inside the cut-out.
11 - Press teal-colored sugar crystals into the buttercream to create a geode effect, using lighter crystals centrally and darker crystals around the edges for depth.
12 - Paint the geode's cut edges with edible gold leaf or brush gold luster dust mixed with clear alcohol for a metallic finish.
13 - Enhance the cake with additional gold accents and, if desired, place a graduation topper on top.
