Simple Graduation Sheet Cake (Printable)

Moist vanilla sheet topped with creamy buttercream and festive Class of 2026 piping.

# What you'll need:

→ Cake

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Buttercream Frosting

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/4 cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Food coloring for school colors

→ Decoration

15 - Additional food coloring for piping
16 - Sprinkles or edible decorations, optional

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch sheet pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top surface evenly.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
08 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat for 3 to 5 minutes until fluffy. Tint portions with food coloring as desired.
09 - Spread an even layer of buttercream over the cooled cake.
10 - Use colored buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a small round tip to pipe Class of 2026 on top. Add sprinkles or other edible decorations as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cake stays genuinely moist for days, which means no dry crumbs falling onto your guests' laps.
  • The buttercream frosting is silky enough to spread smoothly but sturdy enough to hold the piped Class of 2026 lettering without collapsing.
  • It's forgiving enough for a first-timer but impressive enough that people will ask you to make it for their celebrations too.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here—cold eggs and cold milk will make your batter look broken and curdled, which creates a denser, less tender cake even if it technically still works.
  • Don't open the oven door during the first 25 minutes of baking because the sudden temperature drop can cause the cake to sink in the middle, and you'll spend the rest of the party wondering what went wrong.
03 -
  • If the frosting becomes too soft while piping, pop it in the freezer for five minutes rather than adding more powdered sugar, which can make it grainy.
  • The cake actually tastes better the day after it's baked because the crumb sets and absorbs the frosting flavor more fully.
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