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Easy Buttercream Graduation Diploma Sheet Cake

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A simple and festive vanilla sheet cake with smooth buttercream frosting, decorated to look like a graduation diploma. Perfect for last-minute celebrations and crowd-pleasing parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature (can substitute with almond milk)
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract (for buttercream)
  • 3–4 tablespoons (45-60ml) heavy cream or whole milk (for buttercream)
  • Pinch of salt (for buttercream)
  • Black gel food coloring (for diploma lines and text)
  • Optional: Edible gold or silver star sprinkles for decoration

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch sheet cake pan with butter and lightly dust with flour or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Scrape down sides halfway through.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract until smooth.
  5. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined; do not overmix.
  6. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
  9. For the buttercream, beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy.
  10. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, mixing slowly at first to avoid sugar clouds.
  11. Add vanilla extract, pinch of salt, and heavy cream or milk until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.
  12. Spread an even layer of buttercream over the cooled cake using an offset spatula. Chill in fridge for 15 minutes if needed.
  13. Mix a small amount of black gel food coloring into some buttercream or use black decorating gel.
  14. Transfer black buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip and pipe diploma lines, borders, and congratulatory messages.
  15. Add optional edible gold or silver star sprinkles for a festive touch.
  16. Chill decorated cake for at least 30 minutes before serving to let buttercream set.

Notes

Use room temperature butter and eggs for best texture. Do not overmix batter to avoid a dense cake. Practice piping on parchment paper before decorating the cake. Chill cake between frosting layers to prevent sliding. Adjust frosting consistency with milk or powdered sugar as needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation cake, buttercream cake, sheet cake, party cake, easy cake recipe, vanilla cake, diploma cake, celebration dessert

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/easy-buttercream-graduation-diploma-sheet-cake-recipe-perfect-for-parties/