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Perfect Sheet Cake Recipe with Easy Buttercream Diploma Design for Celebrations

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A moist, buttery sheet cake topped with a smooth buttercream frosting featuring a simple diploma design, perfect for graduations and celebrations. This recipe is quick, easy, and uses pantry staples for a crowd-pleasing dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 2 ½ teaspoons (10 g) baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature (can substitute almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract (for buttercream)
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons (30–60 ml) heavy cream (for buttercream)
  • Gel food coloring: red and black (for diploma design)
  • Optional: edible gold dust or shimmer
  • Optional: sprinkles or edible pearls

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch sheet pan with butter or non-stick spray and lightly dust with flour.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract with the last egg.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add one-third of the flour mixture, then half the milk. Repeat twice, ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
  6. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Tap pan gently to release air bubbles.
  7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool cake completely on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before frosting.
  9. To make buttercream, beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well between additions.
  10. Add vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons heavy cream. Beat on high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Adjust consistency with more cream or sugar as needed.
  11. Divide frosting into portions. Tint about ¼ with red gel food coloring, another ¼ with black, and leave the rest white.
  12. Spread white buttercream evenly over cooled cake using an offset spatula.
  13. Using piping bags fitted with small round tips, pipe a diploma scroll design in the center with black outline and red ribbon. Add small black lines to mimic text.
  14. Optionally, dust with edible gold shimmer or add sprinkles around edges.
  15. Refrigerate cake for 15-20 minutes to set frosting before serving.

Notes

[‘Use room temperature eggs and milk for a smoother batter and better crumb.’, ‘Let cake cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.’, ‘Practice piping on parchment paper to steady your hand.’, ‘Use gel food coloring to avoid thinning the frosting.’, ‘Watch baking time closely and use toothpick test to avoid overbaking.’, ‘Use an offset spatula for a smooth frosting base layer.’, ‘If frosting is too soft to pipe, chill for 10-15 minutes and whip again.’, ‘Cake can be baked a day ahead and stored airtight at room temperature.’, ‘Frost the cake the day of serving or refrigerate frosted cake overnight and bring to room temperature before serving.’, ‘For dairy-free, substitute butter and milk with plant-based alternatives.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour blends.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: sheet cake, buttercream frosting, diploma design, graduation cake, celebration cake, easy cake recipe, moist cake, homemade cake

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/perfect-sheet-cake-recipe-with-easy-buttercream-diploma-design-for-celebrations/