Use this step-by-step tutorial to learn how to make a graduation hat cake. It's easier than you think and it's great for graduation parties.
I made this graduation hat cake for my sweet cousin's Grad party!
It was sort of a last minute thing but I was so HAPPY to make it for her.
All she said was that she wants it to be very PRETTY with a graduation cap.
As for flavor, she wanted a super soft vanilla cake with buttercream icing and it was supposed to feed 70 people.
So, this is what I made...a big sheet cake covered in buttercream roses, topped off with a graduation cap and a diploma.
Everything on this cake is edible EXCEPT for the diploma.
If I had more time, I would have made it out of rice krispie treats.
But, I did something very EASY...
I simply covered a gift wrapping paper roll in white fondant and then tied a red ribbon around it.
And voila... an easy peezy diploma!
This was my first time making a graduation hat cake and I thought it would be very hard but surprisingly, it WASN'T!
I was very PLEASED with how it turned out.
Doesn't it look sooooo REAL?!
It says: "Congratulations" on the top and and "Class of 2014" at the bottom.
I really DON'T like writing on top my cakes coz it just ruins the design BUT this looks sooooo much better!
And do you see those little stars on the cake board?
My little one made those...he wanted to help too!
I couldn't resist taking a few snaps of these beautiful buttercream roses. If you have never made them before, check out this post on How to Make Buttercream Rosette Cake and these Red Rose Cupcakes.
This is such a FORGIVING technique and so EASY too.
You just need the star tip and lots of icing!
To make this graduation hat cake, you will need the following supplies/ingredients:
Dome vanilla cake (just omit the Hershey's Kisses)
Buttercream icing
Black marshmallow fondant
Corn syrup
Spatula
Cardboard
Scissors
Black edible marker
Pizza cutter
Fondant smoother
Thin ribbon
Paintbrush
Small circle cutter
Rolling pin
And here are the steps:
Step 1:
Cut out a square piece of cardboard, using scissors.
Make sure the edges are straight.
Use a black edible marker to color the edges so that if your black fondant doesn't entirely cover the sides, the cardboard won't show through.
Step 2:
Spread some buttercream icing on top of your cardboard piece.
You can also brush some corn syrup on top of the cardboard instead of buttercream.
Step 3:
Roll out some black fondant
Step 4:
Place it over your frosted cardboard and gently press it so that the fondant and cardboard stick together.
Use a pizza cutter to cut out excess fondant until your are left with a smooth square piece.
Step 5:
Let's add some final touches now...
Use a small circle cutter or a big icing tip to cut out a small circular piece.
Step 6:
Brush some corn syrup at the center of the square cardboard piece.
Fold a ribbon in half and stick it here and then place the circle fondant piece on top.
Press gently until it all sticks into place.
Step 7:
Let's move onto the dome cake now...
Start frosting your dome cake in buttercream icing until you have a smooth coating.
Place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Step 8:
Roll out some black fondant.
Place it on top of your chilled cake.
Step 9:
Start smoothing out the fondant all over the cake with the help of your hands and a fondant smoother.
Step 10:
Then, cut off excess fondant with a pizza cutter.
Step 11:
Push a bubble tea straw in the center of your dome cake.
Brush some corn syrup or royal icing or melted chocolate on top of the dome.
Stick the square cardboard piece on top and steam everything.
And you are done making an easy graduation hat cake!
Well, that's all for today.
Until next time, tata my lovelies 🙂
Uru
I want to make this come graduation. Bookmarked
Absolutely incredible!
RavieNomNoms
I love love love those roses! That is how my wedding cake is going to look. Well minus the cap
Elizabeth
Genius! The looks awesome--I love the contrast between the shiny black fondant and the buttercream roses!
Mary Frances
Amazing job! The roses are so pretty.
Ritalouis
Lovely.....am trying this right away
Stephanie
Did you have to transport this cake? If so, did you transport it with the cardboard piece of the hat on or off? Any tips?
cakewhiz
@Stephanie... Yes, I had to transport this cake to her party and it was almost a 1 hour drive. The diploma and the hat cake were NOT on top of the cake. They were sitting on a non-slip mat at the back of the car for the whole ride. When I got to the party, I placed bubble tea straws into the main rectangular yellow rose cake and then, I placed the diploma and hat cake on top. It's best to do it this way coz it's less stressful and you know nothing would fall off the cake on your car ride. Hope this helps
Pat
I would love to make the graduation cap for my granddaughter's graduation cake in a couple of months, but I'm not sure what you mean when you say you steamed everything. Steamed? With what and how? I can't wait to give this a try.
Abeer Rizvi
Basically, when my graduation cap cake is ready, I steam it with a regular steam iron (that we use on clothes!) but about 10 inches away from the cap cake. It gives the cake a shine and gets rid of any powdered sugar residue. Hope this clarifies everything and good luck!:)
Bicannette
How far in advance can you make the cap?
Abeer Rizvi
The square piece on top of the dome cake can be made 1 or even 2 weeks in advance since it's not made from real cake. But the dome is made from real cake and that can become stale and icky if you make it so far in advance. So, I would make the dome cake 24 hours prior to the event. Hope this helps.
tiffany
I just have one question! For the cardboard piece, did you completely wrap it in fondant or is the underside still exposed cardboard? Beautiful cake btw!!!!
Abeer Rizvi
I didn't wrap the underside in fondant but you can use saran wrap or foil paper and tape to cover it. A lot of people also like to just stick contact paper on the underside so that the cardboard is not directly touching the dome cake. Hope this helps!
Katrina pernini
What do u make the dome cake from? A bowl?
Abeer Rizvi
No, I don't use a bowl. I use a dome cake pan. But if you have an oven-safe bowl, you can use that too.
Mareeeyarh
Nice it’s really simple n easy
Tricia
Hi! I’m sorry if this is a dumb question but how does the fondant cardboard piece of the hat attach to the dome cake? I did not understand that part in step 11...
Abeer Rizvi
So, you push a dowel or bubble tea straw into the center of the dome cake. Spread royal icing or melted chocolate on top. Place the fondant cardboard piece on top and hold it in place for a few seconds until it's secure. I did this part when I got to my cousin's party venue. I was worried it would fall over in the long car ride. Hope this helps.
Tricia
Got it!! Thank you!!
Michelle
I love the thorough instructions with different associated pictures. Thank you.
In step 11, how do you "steam them together"? Thanks
Abeer Rizvi
I use a regular steam iron that you use for clothes. Make sure your iron doesn't splutter water because some of the old ones do that and that can make a mess. Steaming removes all the cornstarch or powdered sugar stuck on fondant. It also makes everything shiny and smooth.
Stacey
Did you put the graduation cap on first and decorate around it or did you put it on after you are done all the roses on the cake?
Abeer Rizvi
I piped buttercream roses on the cake first and then placed the graduation cap on top of it.
Alana
Great tutorial! I have a question regarding covering the fondant on the cardboard. Did you cover the top and bottom, and if so, how do you mesh the two pieces together at the sides?
Thanks for sharing your ideas and tips!
Abeer Rizvi
I only covered the top of the cardboard with fondant but folded it in along the sides and stuck it to the inside with some corn syrup. The bottom of the cardboard doesn't even show. So, it doesn't have to be neat. Hope this helps.