# What you'll need:
→ For the Cake
01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
06 - 2½ teaspoons baking powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
→ For the Galaxy Buttercream
09 - 1½ cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Gel food coloring in black, navy blue, purple, pink, and teal
→ For Decoration
14 - Edible gold and silver star sprinkles
15 - Edible glitter or luster dust
16 - White gel food coloring
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in vanilla extract.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in three alternating additions with the milk, starting and finishing with flour. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Do not overbake.
06 - Allow cakes to cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks and cool to room temperature completely.
07 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate sifted powdered sugar, then add milk and vanilla extract. Beat until fluffy and smooth.
08 - Divide buttercream into four to five bowls. Tint each portion with a different galaxy color using gel food coloring: black, navy blue, purple, pink, and teal.
09 - Place random spoonfuls of each colored buttercream onto plastic wrap. Roll tightly to form a compact log. Snip one end and insert into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
10 - Position the first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of galaxy buttercream. Repeat layering with remaining cake layers.
11 - Apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream over the entire assembled cake. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to set.
12 - Pipe and spread the swirled galaxy buttercream over the cake. Use an offset spatula to gently swirl and create a marbled galaxy effect across all surfaces.
13 - Using white gel food coloring and a food-safe paintbrush or splatter tool, flick white accents across the cake surface to resemble stars.
14 - Sprinkle edible gold and silver star sprinkles across the cake. Add edible glitter or luster dust for shimmer. Optional: place a graduation cap cake topper on the summit.
