Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s nice and hot, ready to bake your cake evenly and perfectly.

Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. This step will help your cake come out smoothly after baking, preventing any sticking and ensuring clean, neat layers.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together using an electric mixer. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy—this will give your cake its soft texture.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract for that classic, comforting flavor. The batter should look smooth and creamy.

In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Sifting ensures no lumps and that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. Start and finish with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until everything is just combined. Be sure not to overmix the batter to keep the cake light and fluffy.

Now comes the fun part! Divide the batter into two bowls. Add food coloring (pink or blue) to one of the bowls and gently mix until the color is evenly spread throughout the batter. You should have one bowl of plain batter and one vibrant colored batter.

Pour the plain batter into one of the prepared pans, then add the colored batter on top. You can either pour it in the center for neat layers or swirl the two batters together for a marble effect. The excitement builds as the color slowly mixes with the plain batter!

Place the pans in the oven and bake for 25–30 minutes. You’ll know the cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Keep a close eye on it toward the end of the baking time to avoid overbaking.

Let the cakes cool in their pans for about 10–15 minutes. After that, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. It’s essential that they’re completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting your frosting.

Once your cakes have cooled, it’s time to frost! Spread a thin layer of frosting on the first layer, then stack the second layer on top. Coat the entire cake with a generous amount of frosting. Use a spatula to smooth the frosting for a clean, professional finish.

Now, for the fun reveal part! Decorate the top of your cake with sprinkles, edible glitter, or a cake topper that matches your party theme. If you want an extra surprise, you can add a few sprinkles of colored sugar or small candy inside the cake before frosting, so it spills out when the cake is cut.