1. Prep the Basics

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans (or use parchment paper to line them).

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set it aside—you’ll need it in a minute.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until it’s fluffy and light—this takes about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4. Combine Wet and Dry

Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined—don’t overdo it.

5. Add the Secret Color

Now, the fun part! Divide your batter into two bowls. Color one portion with your reveal color (pink or blue) and leave the other plain. Use gel food coloring for a vibrant results.

6. Bake the Layers

Pour the plain batter into one pan and the colored batter into the other. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the layers cool completely before moving on.

7. Optional: Create a Surprise Center

If you’re adding candy or sprinkles inside, carefully cut a 4-inch circle out of the center of each cake layer. Save the cutouts—you’ll use them to seal the top.

8. Make the Buttercream Frosting

You can then proceed to cream the butter for about 30 seconds when it is nice and fluffy. Add the powder sugar in small amounts. Gradually continue to add the heavy cream until smooth. Add vanilla extract as perk. Get food color to limit dyeing the frosting in a fun outer design.

9. Assemble the Cake

• Place the plain cake layer on your serving plate.
• Frost the top, then add your candy or sprinkles in the center cutout (if using).
• Top with the colored layer. If you made cutouts, use the saved cake pieces to “cap” the center before frosting the whole thing.

10. Decorate!

Frost the entire cake and get creative with decorations—think rosettes, piping, or even a drip effect. Keep the outside design neutral to maintain the surprise.