Half & Half Cake 🍋🫐🍫🍦

A fun duo-flavor cake to match Gemini’s dual nature—playful, dynamic, and full of contrast!

Flavor Pairing Ideas:

• 🍋 Lemon & Blueberry – Fresh and zesty!
• 🍫 Vanilla & Chocolate – Classic and indulgent!
• 🍓 Strawberry & Pistachio – Sweet and nutty!

Ingredients

Base Cake Ingredients (for both flavors)

• 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk

For Lemon Cake Half:

• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• A few drops of yellow food coloring (optional)

For Blueberry Cake Half:

• ½ cup (75g) fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 tablespoon flour (to coat blueberries and prevent sinking)

For Chocolate Cake Half:

• ¼ cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons hot water

For Vanilla Cake Half:

• ½ teaspoon extra vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the Cake Batter:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
5. Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, mixing until smooth.
6. Divide batter into two equal parts in separate bowls.

Customize Each Half:

• For Lemon Cake: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and yellow food coloring.
• For Blueberry Cake: Toss blueberries in flour, then fold them into the batter.
• For Chocolate Cake: Mix cocoa powder with hot water, then stir into one bowl of batter.
• For Vanilla Cake: Add extra vanilla extract for a richer flavor.

Bake the Cakes:

1. Pour each batter into its own half of the cake pans (use parchment dividers if needed).
2. Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
3. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Frosting & Assembly

Suggested Frostings:

• Lemon Blueberry Cake: Cream cheese frosting with a lemon zest garnish
• Vanilla & Chocolate Cake: Classic buttercream or half-chocolate, half-vanilla frosting

How to Assemble:

1. Place one cake layer down and frost.
2. Add the second cake layer, aligning flavors (lemon over lemon, chocolate over chocolate, etc.).
3. Frost one half with one flavor, and the other half with the second frosting.

🎭 A true Gemini cake—two flavors, one perfect balance!