Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole milk
- Sage green gel food coloring
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream
- Sage green and cream gel food coloring
Decoration:
- Small graduation cap topper
- Satin ribbon bows (sage green)
- Piping tips (star and shell)
- Piping bags
Step-by-Step Instructions
When I start making this Graduation Cake, I always preheat my oven to 350°F and grease my cake pans well. I’ve skipped lining the pans before and regretted it, so now I always use parchment rounds at the bottom. I cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy — this step takes longer than you think, and trust me, it makes a difference in texture. (See the next page below to continue steps…)