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