Theme: Whimsical garden meets literary charm
Flavors: Lemon sponge + Elderflower syrup + Vanilla bean buttercream

Imagine a stack of vintage storybooks with flowers and vines growing between the pages — this cake is a fairytale on a plate.

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🍋 Lemon Sponge Cake (3 “Book” Layers)

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1 tbsp lemon zest

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line rectangular pans (approx. 9x13 inch for each book layer).

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

3. In another, cream butter and sugar until fluffy (3–5 min).

4. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in lemon zest and juice.

5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to wet mixture.

6. Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake 25–30 minutes or until golden and springy. Cool completely.

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✨ Elderflower Syrup (Optional but Fragrant)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup water

• 1 tbsp elderflower cordial

Instructions:

1. Simmer water and sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat.

2. Stir in elderflower cordial and let cool.

3. Brush over sponge layers to moisten and add floral depth.

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🌿 Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 2–3 tbsp heavy cream

• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (or extract)

• Optional: pastel food coloring (green, blush, lilac)

Instructions:

1. Beat butter until light and creamy.

2. Slowly add powdered sugar.

3. Mix in cream and vanilla paste until fluffy and smooth.

4. Tint with soft natural colors if desired.

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🎨 Assembly & Decoration

🧁 Shaping the Books:

1. Trim cake layers into rectangles, resembling closed books.

2. Layer with buttercream, then chill.

3. Use a serrated knife to slightly bevel the spine edges and carve gentle page lines on the sides.

📚 Covering the “Books”:

1. Roll out fondant in various colors for each cover.

2. Wrap fondant around the top, bottom, and spine, leaving “page” sides exposed.

3. Use a fork or sculpting tool to add fine lines on the exposed cake edges to mimic pages.

4. Use edible gold paint or pens to write book titles on the spines.

🌸 Garden Decor:

• Create sugar flowers: roses, peonies, daisies, lavender…

• Add fondant vines, butterflies, bees, and leafy details climbing between books.

• Scatter edible pearls or gold accents for a fairytale finish.

• Decorate the cake board with crumbled cookies dyed green or piped green buttercream for a mossy base.

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💡 Tips:

• Use a mix of blush, sage green, ivory, and sky blue for vintage book charm.

• For deeper flavor, infuse your buttercream with a hint of lavender or lemon oil.

• Personalize the book titles — include favorite quotes, names, or literary classics.