Description
Celebrate your big milestone with this stunning homemade graduation cake! This moist and fluffy cake is layered with rich buttercream frosting and topped with a fondant graduation cap and diploma for a festive touch. Perfect for graduation parties, this cake is customizable to match school colors and themes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, this recipe ensures a delicious and show-stopping dessert for your celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Decorations:
- Black fondant (for the graduation cap)
- White fondant (for the diploma)
- Gold edible dust or sprinkles
- Black and gold ribbon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Combine & Bake: Alternately add dry ingredients and milk, mixing until just combined. Divide batter between prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cakes cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until fluffy. Add heavy cream and vanilla, beating until creamy.
- Assemble & Decorate:
- Spread frosting between cake layers and coat the entire cake evenly.
- Roll out black fondant and shape it into a square for the graduation cap.
- Roll white fondant into a small scroll for the diploma and tie with a black ribbon.
- Dust with edible gold and arrange fondant decorations on top.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a layer of fruit preserves or chocolate ganache between the cake layers.
- Use a piping bag to create decorative borders or write “Congratulations!” on the cake.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Additional Time: 30 minutes (cooling & decorating)
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Graduation cake, celebration cake, buttercream cake, fondant cake, party cake