Easy Graduation Cake {Cap & Diploma}

Learn how to make easy graduation cake with this step by step tutorial. This sheet cake is decorated with marshmallow fondant and buttercream frosting and includes a cap and diploma. Perfect for Kindergarten, high school or university graduates.

I made this cake for my sweet cousin's grad party. All she said was that she wanted a cap and diploma. The result was this big sheet cake that includes both of her requests. This turned out just as cute as my Graduation Cupcakes (Diploma Topper).

Jump to:

• Key ingredients for graduation cake
• Variations
• How to make easy graduation cap cake?
• Tips and techniques
• Recipe FAQs
• Storage
• More easy decorated cakes
• Recipe

Key ingredients for graduation cake

• Cake- You will need to prepare 5 cakes for this.
• Frosting- I like to use classic buttercream.
• Rice krispie treats- This is used to create the diploma.
• Fondant- Used to make graduation cap.

Variations

• Try other cake flavors- Including my Best Red Velvet Cake. You can also make things extra celebratory by making this Funfetti Cake.
• Pair with another frosting- Like Best Cream Cheese Frosting or White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.
• Use another color of icing- Instead of yellow, you could match it to the school colors using gel food coloring. Or just use the recipes for Red Frosting, Mint Frosting, or Easy Orange Frosting.
• Make smaller roses- I piped large roses on this cake but you can pipe smaller rosettes. That would also look very pretty. If you have never done this, check out this post on How to Make Rosette Cake (Buttercream).
• Make a fondant ribbon- Like I did with the Graduation Cupcakes instead of using a real piece of ribbon.
• Add a filling- Such as Homemade Caramel Sauce, Strawberry Jam, or Nutella. You can also make a Pinata Cake and fill it with sprinkles, mini candies, or chocolate chips.
• Try a different decorating technique- You don't have to do the rosettes, though I think they go beautifully with the graduation theme. Check out these Easy Cake Decorating Ideas (For Beginners) for new, simple ideas.

How to make easy graduation cap cake?

1. Bake cakes- You will need two sheet cakes and a dome cake.
2. Cover the dome cake- With icing and black fondant (Images 1-5).
3. Use a square cardboard piece- And cover it in icing, black fondant, and details. Then stick on top of the dome (Images 6-9).
4. Make an edible diploma- With rice krispie treats and fondant.
5. Fill and ice the sheet cakes- Then pipe yellow roses all over.
6. Place the dome cake and diploma- On top of the sheet cake (Image 10).

Tips and techniques

• Use dowels or bubble tea straws for support- When placing the cap cake and fondant diploma on top of the sheet cakes. If you don't use support, the weight will be too much and these pieces will dig into the cake and make a mess.
• Plan ahead- Bake the cakes and prepare the frosting about 2 days in advance and store them in sealed containers in the fridge. Assemble and decorate everything 1 day in advance. It will be less stressful this way.
• Use fresh marshmallows- When making rice krispie treats and fondant for best texture and flavor.
• Treat the frosting like glue- When making the cap and don't allow it to dry too quickly or it won't be tacky enough to stick things together.
• Edible marker- Can be used to cover anything the black fondant misses on the cardboard of the graduation cap.
• Cool all cakes fully- Before applying any frosting, fondant, or decoration.
• Chill frosting in the fridge- To make it easier to pipe and firm it up on the cakes before adding other decorations.
• Use a pizza cutter or knife- To cut off excess fondant.
• Sprinkle powdered sugar- On your work surface to prevent fondant sticking to it and getting too messy.
• Steam the fondant cake- Because this will dissolve the powdered sugar used on the work surface and give the cake a nice sheen.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Make ahead instructions- You can make this cake up 1-2 days in advance and place it in a sealed container in the fridge.
• Room temperature- If there are no perishable fillings, then this cake can be left covered for about 5 hours.
• Refrigerate- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days but the fondant decorations will become slightly sticky from the moisture in the refrigerator.
• Freeze- An unfrosted cake can be stored in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Store frosting in a separate airtight container for 1 month as well. Thaw and decorate as per instructions below when you are ready.

More easy decorated cakes

• East Gender Reveal Cake (Baby Shower)
• Easy Caterpillar Cake (And Party)
• Easy Summer Cake
• Pink Ombre Mother's Day Cake
• Easy Camping Cake (Indoor Camping Party)

Recipe