# What you need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs
07 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk
→ Buttercream Frosting
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
14 - 18 ounces white fondant
15 - Gel food coloring (black, gray, red, blue, yellow, green)
16 - Cornstarch for dusting
# Steps to follow:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x13-inch rectangular cake pan.
02 - Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by pure vanilla extract, mixing well after each addition.
05 - Alternately add flour mixture and whole milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt, beating until smooth and fluffy.
09 - Level the cooled cake. Using a printed template or freehand, cut the cake into a video game controller shape.
10 - Spread a thin layer of buttercream over the shaped cake to seal in crumbs, then chill for 30 minutes.
11 - Tint portions of white fondant using gel coloring for black, gray, and colored buttons. Roll out fondant on a cornstarch-dusted surface.
12 - Cover cake with gray fondant. Apply colored fondant pieces to simulate buttons and pixel details for a pixelated controller effect.
13 - Display the finished cake on a serving platter resembling a pixelated video game controller.
