# What You’ll Need:
→ Cake Ingredients
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk
→ Buttercream Ingredients
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Blue gel food coloring
→ Shell Ingredients
14 - 1 cup white chocolate chips or candy melts
15 - Edible pearl dust or luster dust (optional)
16 - Shell-shaped silicone mold
→ Decoration Ingredients
17 - Edible glitter or shimmer spray (optional)
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the wet ingredients, starting and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops.
07 - Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
09 - For the buttercream, beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well. Add vanilla and heavy cream, then beat until fluffy. Blend in blue gel food coloring, adjusting for desired hue.
10 - Level cake layers if necessary. Place one layer on a cake board; spread blue buttercream on top. Place the second layer above and cover cake with a thin crumb coat. Chill for 20 minutes.
11 - Apply a final thick layer of blue buttercream, smoothing and texturing for an ocean wave effect.
12 - For chocolate shells, melt white chocolate chips/candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour into shell molds, tap to release air bubbles, and chill until set. Gently unmold. Brush with edible pearl dust if desired.
13 - Arrange edible shells artistically on top and around the cake. Add edible glitter or shimmer as desired to evoke sea sparkle.
14 - Chill cake until serving.
