High School Graduation Cake

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

05 - 2 cups granulated sugar

06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature

07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened

10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted

11 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

12 - 3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream

13 - Pinch of salt

→ Decorations

14 - Edible gold foil sheets

15 - 1 diploma-shaped cake topper

16 - Sprinkles or star confetti, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.

02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.

04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.

05 - Alternately add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.

06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and smooth the tops.

07 - Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

08 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

09 - Beat butter on high speed until creamy and pale, approximately 3 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla, salt, and enough milk to reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.

10 - Level cooled cakes if necessary. Place one layer on a serving plate. Spread a thick layer of buttercream on top, then place second layer over it.

11 - Apply a thin crumb coat layer of frosting around the cake. Chill for 30 minutes.

12 - Frost cake smoothly with remaining buttercream.

13 - Using tweezers, carefully apply edible gold foil sheets to desired areas on the cake for a luxurious appearance.

14 - Place the diploma topper at the center or side of the cake. Add sprinkles or confetti if desired.

15 - Chill briefly to set, then serve at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

The cake itself is straightforward enough that you won't stress, which means you can actually enjoy the decorating part instead of white-knuckling through baking.
That moment when you carefully lay down the gold foil and step back to see it catch the light is pure magic, the kind of thing people photograph and remember.

02 -

Room temperature ingredients are not optional here—cold eggs and milk will cause your batter to break and look curdled, which compromises the final texture even if it still bakes.
The edible gold foil is deceptively strong once it hits the frosting, so it's more forgiving than it looks, but you absolutely need to keep your hands dry or it will stick to your skin instead of the cake.

03 -