Futuristic Galaxy Cake 🌌✨💫

A cosmic cake filled with unique, vibrant flavors like ube and lavender—perfect for Aquarius, the sign that’s truly out of this world.

Ingredients

For the Ube and Lavender Cake:

• 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lavender extract (or lavender buds finely ground)
• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
• ½ cup (120g) ube purée (or ube extract for a more intense flavor)
• Purple food coloring (optional, for a vibrant ube color)

For the Lavender Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 ½ cups (420g) powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon lavender extract
• 2 tablespoons whole milk (or heavy cream for extra richness)
• Purple food coloring (optional for gradient effect)

For the Galaxy Glaze (optional):

• ½ cup (120g) dark chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup (for shine)
• Blue and purple food coloring (for the galaxy effect)

For Decoration:

• Edible glitter or stars
• Silver or gold leaf
• Blackberries or other cosmic-looking fruits
• Fondant planets or star-shaped sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Make the Ube and Lavender Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla and lavender extract.
5. Mix in the ube purée (and food coloring if using) until the batter is evenly colored and smooth.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined.
7. Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Lavender Buttercream Frosting:

1. Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well.
2. Stir in lavender extract and milk, and beat until smooth and fluffy.
3. Add purple food coloring if desired, and mix until a soft pastel shade is achieved.

Make the Galaxy Glaze (Optional):

1. Heat heavy cream until simmering, then pour it over dark chocolate chips in a bowl.
2. Stir until smooth, then add corn syrup for shine.
3. Divide the glaze into two bowls. Add blue food coloring to one and purple food coloring to the other to create a “galaxy” effect.

Assemble the Cake:

1. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread a thin layer of lavender buttercream.
2. Add the second cake layer and frost the entire cake with a smooth layer of lavender buttercream.
3. Use the remaining buttercream to pipe some decorative swirls or rosettes on top for extra texture.

Create the Galaxy Effect:

• Drizzle the galaxy glaze over the top, letting it drip down the sides.
• Use a spatula or a spoon to swirl the blue and purple glaze to create a cosmic galaxy pattern.
• Add edible glitter or star sprinkles for extra shimmer and cosmic magic.
• Decorate with fondant planets, blackberries, and gold leaf for a futuristic, starry finish.

🌟 A vibrant, out-of-this-world cake for the adventurous spirit of Aquarius!