Gilded Gold Graduation Cake
This cake is a two-tiered delight with really elegant decorations, perfect for a fancy party that deserves such a beautiful centerpiece cake.
Tiny edible gold pearls are the secret to making the cake so fancy in its appearance. The black and gold pattern match the black of the graduation cap perched on top of this cake.
A sure thing to impress your guests and your graduate. Simple fondant makes it easy to create the diploma and cap that decorate this cake, and inside a delicious a simple chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream.
The Best Graduation Cake Ideas
In fact, if you’re up to it, feel free to prepare an elaborate and gloriously decadent layer cake, such as a chocolate peanut butter layer cake, or a tiramisu layer cake or a 3-layer s’mores cake.
For something less fussy, you can also opt for a simple, but elegant, champagne bundt cake or a sheet pan cookie cake.
Here are 54 of the best graduation cake ideas to celebrate all the new grads! Browse through them, make sure to pin your favorites and let’s get baking.
Best Graduation Cake Ideas
Last Updated on September 12, 2022 by Kimberlee Johnson
Are you planning to throw a graduation party? Celebrate the big day with an awesome graduation cake! A store-bought cake is traditional, so a fun and creative way to make it more special is by checking out graduation cake ideas you should try.
Our team created exclusive content about some amazing graduation cake ideas, so feel free to scroll down this post!
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Create A Graduation Hat
If you are attending college , one way to celebrate your high school grad is by getting an elegant graduation cake with a grad hat. You can bake a cake in the shape of a grad hat or ask the local bakeshop to customize the cake.
In addition, you can get a traditional tiered cake with a grad hat topper if you want a simple yet elegant grad cake. There are adorable store-bought cakes with elegant designs for inspiration if you want to make a cake for the celebration.
Sparkling Cranberry White Chocolate Cake
I think you should really consider this cake for your graduation cake, because its delicious, its easy to make, and its sure to impress.
I love the flavor of this cake because its light, yet still flavorful enough to stand up to the cranberries and white chocolate.
The texture is also amazingits not too dense or too fluffy.
Its just right!
It might seem like it would be difficult to put together, but actually all you have to do is mix together the ingredients and bake them in muffin tins.
Once theyve cooled down, you can top them with fresh cranberries and powdered sugar for a nice crunchy texture that goes great with the smoothness of the frosting.
The wow factor comes from all those little bits of cranberry throughout each biteyou cant help but smile as you eat each bite!
And as for design well I would go with something simple so that people dont spend too much time focusing on what it looks like .
And finally, heres my tip: add more cranberries next time!
For me, there is nothing more quintessentially summer than a gooey smores.
Roasting marshmallows over a crackling fire, then sandwiching them between two pieces of chocolate cake it just doesnt get any better than that!
And what could be a more appropriate way to celebrate your graduation than with a graduation cake that captures the spirit of summer?
A smores cake is sure to be a hit with your guests.
Plus, its surprisingly easy to make!
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Today Is Your Day Graduate
April 24, 2015 by Carrie Sellman
Graduation season is here again and that means its time to celebrate! Ive partnered up with Cakes.com to bring you inspiration for a cap-tossing graduation party plus a graduation cake tutorial. After years of homework, studying and tests, our graduates have earned a diploma and an incredible party!
It all starts with a modern black and white color scheme, bold stripes, rainbow sprinkles and some cheers for the graduate. YAY! Hip Hip Hooray! Today is your day! Thats what this party is all about. Literally!
This cake says it all! I dont know about you, but Ive always found it challenging to write on a cake. No matter how much time I spend trying to make it perfect, it never looks quite right. For this dessert table, I used Custom PhotoCake® Edible Cake Images to create a message with ease. In no time at all, I had perfect lettering in a trendy font and its completely edible!
I wanted to use these edible icing sheets in a new way for this project personalized with custom graphics that I created. While you can use any JPG, GIF or PNG file of your own, Im also hooking you up with my files as a free download. These work interchangeably for the 7.5 cake images and the 2 cupcake images as well. Find the Today is your Day file HERE. The YAY file is HERE. And the Hip Hip Hooray file is HERE. Just save them to your computer and upload at Cakes.com when you order!
TODAY IS YOUR DAY CAKEa DIY by Carrie Sellman
Supplies
Quotes For High School Graduation
Eighteen-year-olds are often excited to get the heck out of Dodge. They are ready for freedom, adventure, and life without their parents. At the same time, many older teens crave the comfort of being taken care of at home. These conflicting emotions can understandably cause quite a bit of angst.
Here are some quotes to reassure those seniors. These quotes can also be used to teach seniors about some of the keys to a happy life. Share them on social media, or use them as filler when creating a memory board as a graduation party decoration.
1. What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.Ralph Waldo Emerson
Remind the graduate that character is a critical factor in succeeding in life. Having a good attitude may not give you riches, but it will provide you with peace of mind.
2. Whats popular isnt always right, and whats right isnt always popular!Unknown
You probably have said this until you are blue in the face if you are a graduates parent. Remind your child who is going to college to focus on what is right instead of acting as everyone else does.
3. A person can succeed at anything for which there is enthusiasm.Charles M. Schwab
Enthusiasm is one of the keys to having a happy life. Apparently, Charles M. Schwab must have been very enthusiastic about money to have achieved the success that he enjoyed.
4. What the human mind can conceive and believe, it can accomplish.David Sarnoff
» MORE:
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Rainbow Cake With Jelly Beans
This cake is for the fun-loving fresh grad who prefers something a little more vibrant.
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This rainbow cake has six different-colored layers and a rainbow-colored frosting to match.
Oh, and its also finished with jelly beans, for good measure.
To say its colorful is an understatement.
Graduation During A Difficult Time
Graduation is supposed to be a time of joy, but sometimes life has other ideas. Here are some message ideas for when difficult personal, family or broader circumstances make it impossible to celebrate the way you and the graduate would have hoped.
When Commencement Is Canceled
- Of course, were disappointed we wont get to watch you walk across the stage like wed always dreamedbut that just means were going to celebrate you even bigger as soon as we get the chance!
- Even though graduation is going to look different for you, the achievement is still the same. Youve put in the same hard work. Youve learned and grown so much. And I couldnt be prouder.
- Were sorry youve had to let go of the graduation ceremony and celebrating youve been looking forward to for the past four years. We wish it could have been different, but we want you to know were still so proud of you and what youve achieved.
- Its going to take more than a canceled graduation ceremony to stop me from blowing an air horn in your honor. Way to go, Grad!
- You are still celebrated for this amazing accomplishment.
- Aunque por el momento no podemos celebrar tu graduación, celebramos con orgullo tu logro.
When the Graduate Is Struggling
When the Future Feels Uncertain
Helpful Tip: Its okay to be real in the face of hard circumstances. If the real you would say This sucks, then write This sucks. But dont leave it at that. Try to take your message in a more hopeful, caring direction from there.
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Graduation Quotes To Put In A Card
Heres your chance! Share what you have learned about life by writing a poignant quote in the graduates card.
88. If I had my life to live over again . . . I would have more actual troubles and less imaginary ones. Nadine Stair
This is good advice for someone who may be anxious about their future.
89. Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use. Charles Schulz
Of course, follow this quote with words to encourage the graduate to use all of their gifts.
90. Life is a great big canvas throw all the paint on it you can! Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was an actor, dancer, and singer.
91. Remember, life is not what happens to you but what you make of what happens to you. Everyone dies, but not everyone fully lives. Too many people are having near-life experiences. Unknown
What did you do today to show that you are fully living?
92. Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, and to work, and to play, and to look up at the stars. Henry Van Dyke
This quote may help the graduate gain an essential perspective on life.
93. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. Marcus Antonius
94. The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Joseph Addison
Everyone needs a reason to get up in the morning.
Charles Kingsley was an English priest and professor.
This quote is excellent on many levels.
Peter De Vries wrote The Tunnel of Love.
Best Graduation Cake Ideas For Your Grad
From kindergarten and high school to college, these graduation cake ideas will help you and your family celebrate in style.
So grab your cap, gown, and cake knife, and lets bake!
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Sure, you could easily buy a cake and save some time. But homemade cakes are way more meaningful not to mention cheaper.
And these graduation cake ideas are sure to make your graduate feel all the love.
From rustic and fruity to fancy and chocolatey, these easy cake recipes for graduation are sure to impress.
Let the celebrations commence!
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Sheet Tray Graduation Cake
The easiest and most time efficient way to create a festive graduation cake for a party is to use a sheet tray to bake and build your cake.
Just make three large sheet tray cakes and stack them on top of each other to achieve this lovely rectangular shape to decorate with school colors and your graduates name.
Layer each cake with your favorite flavor of frosting and then use fondant to make decorations for the top!
Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
This cake has a lot going for it: its got the perfect balance of sweet and savory, its easy enough to make that even a beginner baker can tackle it, and it tastes amazing!
The texture is soft and fluffynot too dense or richand the flavor is sweet but not too sweet.
Its also got a nice crunchy top crust that adds another dimension to its texture.
The design of this cake is simple: just add some icing around the top edge of the cake and throw some sprinkles on there.
Its not fancy by any means, but it makes an impactful statement without being too flashy or elaborate.
You can easily get away with serving this at a casual event like a graduation party without feeling like youre making too much of an effort to impress guests.
If youre looking for something you can whip up quickly with minimal effort, this is your cake!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake is a classic for a reason: its delicious and fun to make.
The flavor is rich and tropical, with just a hint of caramelized sugar on topperfect for those warm summer nights when youre celebrating your graduation.
The texture is soft and tender, so if youre looking for something with more bite or crunch, this might not be the right choice for you.
But if you want something more dessert-like than dinner-like, this is definitely worth considering.
Its also very easy to makeso if youre planning on whipping up a batch of these cakes yourself rather than ordering them from a bakery or restaurant, this would be a great option!
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Bold In Blue Graduation Cake
Together the black, white and blue of this cake make for a show stopping centerpiece for a summer graduation party.
I know the flowers may look daunting but dont worry, because you can easily buy pre-made sugar flowers to decorate this beautiful cake and impress everyone attending.
Three tiers makes this cake extra special and with blue and black frosting you can create such a work of art for your graduation cake.
Write A Sweet Message
From the beginning, family members give support and encouragement in your endeavors. Now that someone finally got the diploma, one of the graduation cake ideas you can try is dedication cakes in school colors.
If you prefer traditional cake, you can celebrate grad with a simple and elegant cake with a sweet message on top. Most parents love this idea because they can show through the graduation cake that they are proud of you and honor your achievement in life.
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Graduation Quotes From Parents
Graduation ceremonies bring out a wide variety of emotions: happiness, sadness, excitement, and . . . relief! These emotions ring true for both the graduates and their parents.
Here are some graduation quotes that cover a wide variety of emotional states.
37. It takes a whole village to raise a child. African Proverb
Some parents of graduates feel thankful on graduation day for all of the people who played an essential role in their childs life. Their childs village may have included teachers, school staff, bus drivers, coaches, youth ministers, neighbors, scout leaders, and friends.
38. Go forth and set the world on fire.St. Ignatius of Loyola
Show your graduate that you are excited about their new phase of life.
39. Ill love you forever, Ill like you for always, As long as Im living, my baby youll be.Robert Munsch
You may recognize these words as being from the best-selling childrens book, Love You Forever. If you view your graduate as your baby or chubby-cheeked toddler, youll connect with this quote.
40. When they hand you your diploma, keep moving. Just in case they try to take it back.Unknown
Are you and your graduate relieved that this day has finally come? Then add a little levity to the situation by sharing this quote with your son or daughter.
41. Dance like nobodys watching, because they are not, they are all checking their phones.Unknown
Graduation Cake For Dentists
This graduation cake has a graduation hat and diploma on top. A graduate who is graduating from college can have a graduation cake topper made with the image of a tooth. The grad will get a smile, which is usually associated with happiness. This graduation cake idea would make a great addition to any grads celebration.
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Wording On A Graduation Cake
Updated 1 Jun 2012 , 9:34pmby TinkerCakes
Advice please!I’m doing a 10 in square graduation cake. “Congratulations Sean” is too long to fit and look decent. I did one last week and just put ‘Congrats, Lorin” on it, but I’d really like some other suggestions. The only other thing I can think of is “Well done Sean” but he’s a graduate, not a steak! Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.
Put the message on an angle from one corner to the other.Use smaller tip for the writing, making the letters tall and thin.Though not a grad cake this will give you an idea of what I am talking about: Look at the cakes posted in the gallery to get ideas
Thanks, Kakeladi! I should have mentioned I’m using tappits or whatever they’re called, I’m not writing it out in script. But maybe I’ll practice my writing and go with that. Thanks!
Maybe his name and Class of 2012?
Strawberry And Cream Sponge Cake
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Strawberries and freshly whipped cream are a classic dessert combination. They combine to beautiful effect in this light and luscious sponge cake that tastes like summer on a plate. It looks impressive, but is surprisingly straight-forward to bake and assemble, with fresh fruit and not too many baking ingredients.
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Fluffy & Moist Coconut Cake
Heres another tropical treat for your coconut-loving grad.
The cake features coconut milk, coconut extract, and sweetened coconut. Needless to say, the coconut flavor is strong in this one.
But thats not all.
Youll also make a quick coconut and cream cheese frosting and cover the whole thing with even more sweetened shredded coconut.
I think the pure coconut flavor is out-of-this-world amazing. But if you want a little kick, try adding a layer of fruit curd.