# What You'll Need:
→ For the Cake
01 - 2 ½ cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
03 - 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
04 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
05 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
06 - 2 ½ tsp baking powder
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - 1 tbsp vanilla extract
→ For the Galaxy Buttercream
09 - 1 ½ cups (340 g) unsalted butter, softened
10 - 5 cups (600 g) powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk
12 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
13 - Gel food coloring: black, navy blue, purple, pink, teal
→ For Decoration
14 - Edible gold and silver star sprinkles
15 - Edible glitter or luster dust
16 - White gel food coloring (for stars and swirls)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
07 - For the buttercream: Beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
08 - Divide buttercream into four or five bowls. Tint each with a different galaxy color (black, navy blue, purple, pink, teal) using gel food coloring.
09 - Place random spoonfuls of each color onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll up to form a log. Snip one end and transfer the log to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
10 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of galaxy buttercream. Repeat with remaining layers.
11 - Apply a generous crumb coat all over the cake. Chill for 20 minutes.
12 - Pipe and spread the galaxy buttercream over the cake, swirling gently with an offset spatula to create a marbled galaxy effect.
13 - Use white gel food coloring and a food-safe paintbrush or splatter tool to flick on stars across the cake surface.
14 - Decorate with edible gold and silver star sprinkles and a sprinkle of edible glitter or luster dust.
15 - Optional: Add a graduation cap cake topper for a festive touch.
