Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pans
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder (10g)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (3g)
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (100g)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (5ml)
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (5ml)
  • Green food coloring (gel or liquid, your preference)
  • Brown food coloring (gel or liquid, your preference)
  • Black food coloring (gel or liquid, your preference)
  • Optional: small amount of blue food coloring (for sky details)
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) water
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour the square cake pans, lining the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients alternately with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
  3. Divide batter evenly between cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  4. Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. Combine water and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let cool completely.
  6. Cream butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Add milk and vanilla extract.
  7. Divide frosting into several bowls. Tint one bowl with green food coloring for the 'grass' blocks. Tint another bowl with brown food coloring for the 'dirt' blocks. Reserve a small amount of white frosting. Optionally tint a very small amount blue for sky details if you like. A touch of black food coloring for the edge of the dirt blocks.
  8. Level the cakes with a cake leveler or serrated knife, if needed. Brush the tops of the cakes with simple syrup (optional). Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Frost the top with a thin layer of white buttercream. Top with the second cake layer.
  9. Frost the entire cake with a thin 'crumb coat' of white buttercream. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then frost the top and sides of the cake, starting with the green 'grass' blocks and brown 'dirt' blocks to create the Minecraft effect. Use the black-tinted frosting to give the dirt blocks an edge. Use a toothpick or skewer to help create the blocky texture. Be creative! Enjoy your homemade minecraft cake.
  10. Chill the decorated cake for at least 30 minutes before serving.