I made this cake for a small anniversary dinner, and it instantly became one of my favorites. No piping, no frills — just smooth white frosting and a touch of gold. It felt so fancy, but was surprisingly simple to put together. It’s the kind of cake that makes people say, “Wait, you made that?!”

Classic White & Gold Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 ¾ cups sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup milk

Shortcut: Use 1–2 boxes of white cake mix and add 1 tsp vanilla for a homemade flavor boost!

For the Frosting:

• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened

• 5 cups powdered sugar

• 2–3 tbsp milk or cream

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Decorations:

• Edible gold leaf sheets (a little goes a long way!)

• Optional: white pearls or fresh white flowers

• Offset spatula or cake scraper for smooth sides

 Instructions

 1. Bake the Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans.

3. In one bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

5. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.

6. Mix in dry ingredients and milk, alternating slowly.

7. Divide into pans and bake 25–30 minutes.

8. Let cool completely before frosting.

2. Make the Vanilla Buttercream:

1. Beat butter until smooth and creamy.

2. Slowly add powdered sugar.

3. Mix in vanilla and milk until the frosting is light and spreadable.

4. Optional: beat a few extra minutes for super fluffy texture.

 3. Frost and Decorate:

1. Stack and fill the cake layers with frosting.

2. Frost the outside with a smooth layer of buttercream.

3. Use a scraper or spatula to smooth out the sides and top.

4. Chill for 10–15 minutes to set the frosting.

4. Add Gold Leaf:

1. Gently apply small pieces of edible gold leaf using clean tweezers or a dry brush.

2. Place randomly or in a soft stripe for a modern look.

3. Optional: Add white pearls, dried flowers, or a satin ribbon at the base.

Nutrition (Per Slice, Approximate):

Calories: 440
Protein: 3g
Carbs: 55g
Fat: 22g
Sugar: 48g
Fiber: 0.5g