Graduation Cake and Cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate academic achievement! Nothing says “Congratulations!” quite like a beautifully decorated cake or a batch of delicious cupcakes. From elementary school to college graduation, a sweet treat is always a welcome addition to the festivities. In this blog post, I’m excited to share my go to recipe for Graduation Cake and Cupcakes, along with some fun decorating ideas to personalize them for your graduate.
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I remember baking a graduation cake for my cousin Sarah’s high school graduation. It was a triple layer chocolate cake with buttercream frosting, and I decorated it with her school colors and a miniature graduation cap. Seeing her face light up when she saw it was the best feeling! Now, I want to help you create unforgettable memories with your own graduation desserts.
Why You Will Love This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes recipe is a winner for so many reasons. It’s incredibly easy to customize with your graduate’s favorite flavors and colors. Plus, the moist, delicious cake and creamy frosting are guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Whether you choose to make a single show stopping cake or a variety of cupcakes, this recipe is flexible enough to suit any Graduation Party Ideas.
What I love most about this recipe is its simplicity. Even if you’re not a professional baker, you can create stunning Graduation Cake and Cupcakes that will impress your guests. The recipe uses common pantry ingredients and straightforward instructions, which means less time in the kitchen and more time celebrating with your loved ones.
Ingredients Needed for This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
For the Cake:- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional, for school colors)
- Sprinkles: star sprinkles, school color sprinkles
- Fondant or gum paste for graduation caps (optional)
- Edible glitter (optional)
How to Make This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
- 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan for a cake, or line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
- 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- 3. Add the softened butter and milk to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
- 4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- 5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan (for cake) or fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full (for cupcakes).
- 6. Bake for 30 35 minutes for the cake, or 18 20 minutes for the cupcakes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- 7. Let the cake or cupcakes cool in the pan/tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 8. While the cake or cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- 9. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
- 10. Add the milk and vanilla extract. Beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If desired, add food coloring to achieve your school colors.
- 11. Once the cake or cupcakes are completely cool, frost them with the buttercream frosting.
- 12. Decorate with sprinkles, fondant graduation caps, or edible glitter. Get creative and have fun! For inspiration, be sure to check out how to make a “Pink Graduation Cake,” the simple steps in the “Pink Graduation Cake 2” recipe, and how to make a “Silly Graduation Cake P 2”.
How to Serve This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
Serve your Graduation Cake and Cupcakes chilled or at room temperature. They are wonderful on their own, or you can pair them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a side of fresh berries. Arrange the cupcakes on a tiered stand for a festive display, or cut the cake into slices and serve on individual plates. Follow us on Pinterest for more graduation party ideas!
Consider serving these treats as part of a larger dessert buffet at your graduation party. Offering a variety of sweets ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You can also package individual cupcakes in clear cellophane bags with ribbons for a personalized touch, serving as edible party favors.
How to Store This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
Store leftover cake or cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. If storing in the refrigerator, allow the cake or cupcakes to come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor and texture.
For longer storage, you can freeze unfrosted cake layers or cupcakes for up to 2 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil before freezing. Thaw completely at room temperature before frosting and decorating.
Tips to Make This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
- Don’t overmix the batter: Overmixing can lead to a tough cake. Mix until just combined.
- Use room temperature ingredients: This helps the ingredients blend together more easily and evenly, resulting in a moister cake.
- Cool the cake completely before frosting: Frosting a warm cake will cause it to melt.
- Level the cake layers: If your cake layers are uneven, use a serrated knife to trim the tops before frosting for a professional look.
Helpful Notes for This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
For extra flavor, you can add a tablespoon of lemon zest or orange zest to the cake batter. You can also substitute buttermilk for the regular milk in the batter for a tangier flavor.
If you don’t have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter, but omit the salt from the dry ingredients.
For a richer frosting, use heavy cream instead of milk. You can also add a few drops of extract like almond extract, or lemon extract.
Variation of This Graduation Cake and Cupcakes Recipe
- Chocolate Graduation Cake: Substitute 1/2 cup of the flour with unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Vanilla Bean Graduation Cake: Add the seeds of one vanilla bean to the cake batter.
- Lemon Graduation Cupcakes: Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and zest of one lemon to the batter.
- Marble Graduation Cake: Divide the batter in half. Leave one half vanilla and add cocoa powder to the other half. Swirl the two batters together in the pan before baking.
What are some popular graduation cake and cupcakes flavors?
Classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry are always a hit. You can also consider flavors that reflect the graduate’s personality or school colors!
How can I decorate graduation cupcakes to make them special?
Use graduation-themed toppers, edible glitter, or frosting colors that match the graduate’s school. Consider adding a small diploma or graduation cap made of fondant.
What are some easy graduation cake decorating ideas for a beginner?
A simple buttercream frosting with sprinkles in school colors is an easy and effective way to decorate a graduation cake. You can also use a stencil to create a graduation-themed design with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.
How far in advance can I bake graduation cake and cupcakes?
Cake and cupcakes can be baked 1-2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If frosting, do that closer to the event so it stays fresh.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy making these Graduation Cake and Cupcakes as much as I do! They are a wonderful way to celebrate a special graduation and create lasting memories. Whether you choose to bake a simple cake or elaborate cupcakes, I’m sure your graduate will appreciate the effort and love that goes into this homemade treat. So get baking and create some sweet memories with these delicious Graduation Cake and Cupcakes!
Graduation Cake & Cupcakes: Easy Party Ideas!
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
A classic and delicious cake and cupcakes recipe, perfect for celebrating any graduation. Customizable with school colors and decorations.
Ingredients
- Cake:
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
- Decoration:
- Sprinkles
- Fondant or gum paste for graduation caps (optional)
- Edible glitter (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch pan or line a cupcake tin.
- 2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- 3. Add butter and milk; beat until combined.
- 4. Add eggs one at a time, then stir vanilla.
- 5. Pour batter into prepared pan or fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
- 6. Bake 30 35 minutes for cake, 18 20 minutes for cupcakes, until a skewer comes out clean.
- 7. Cool in pan/tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 8. Prepare frosting: Beat softened butter until fluffy.
- 9. Gradually add powdered sugar cup at a time, beating well.
- 10. Add milk and vanilla extract; beat until smooth. Add food coloring if desired.
- 11. Once cake or cupcakes are cool, frost.
- 12. Decorate with sprinkles, fondant caps, or glitter.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 40g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
