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Perfect Elegant Graduation Sheet Cake with Gold Stars

elegant graduation sheet cake - featured image
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A simple yet striking sheet cake perfect for graduations and celebrations, featuring a moist vanilla base, silky buttercream frosting, and shimmering gold fondant stars.

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour – 2 ½ cups (310g), sifted
  • Baking powder – 2 ½ teaspoons
  • Salt – ½ teaspoon
  • Unsalted butter – 1 cup (226g), softened
  • Granulated sugar – 1 ¾ cups (350g)
  • Large eggs – 4, room temperature
  • Pure vanilla extract – 1 tablespoon
  • Whole milk – 1 cup (240ml), room temperature
  • Unsalted butter – 1 cup (226g), softened (for frosting)
  • Powdered sugar – 4 cups (480g), sifted
  • Heavy cream – 2 tablespoons (30ml)
  • Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
  • Salt – a pinch
  • White fondant – 8 oz (227g)
  • Edible gold dust or luster dust – 1 teaspoon
  • Clear vanilla extract or lemon extract – a few drops

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch pan or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat softened butter and sugar on medium-high speed for 4-5 minutes until pale and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
  5. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients in three parts alternating with milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
  6. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
  7. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  8. For frosting, beat softened butter for 2 minutes until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed.
  9. Add heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on high for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Adjust cream if needed.
  10. Once cake is cooled, spread an even layer of buttercream over the top.
  11. Knead fondant until pliable. Roll out to about 1/8 inch thickness on a lightly powdered surface.
  12. Use star-shaped cutters to cut out stars in various sizes.
  13. Mix edible gold dust with a few drops of clear vanilla or lemon extract to create paint consistency.
  14. Using a small brush, gently paint each star with gold dust. Let dry for 15-20 minutes.
  15. Arrange gold stars on top of the frosted cake in a scattered but balanced pattern, pressing gently to adhere.
  16. Refrigerate cake for about 30 minutes to set frosting and stars before serving.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the cake tender. If fondant is sticky, dust with cornstarch or powdered sugar. Chill frosting if too soft before spreading. Multiple thin layers of gold dust give better shimmer than one thick coat. You can substitute milk with almond or oat milk for dairy-free, and use gluten-free flour for gluten-free option.

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation cake, sheet cake, buttercream frosting, gold fondant stars, celebration cake, easy cake recipe, vanilla cake

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/perfect-elegant-graduation-sheet-cake-with-gold-stars-recipe-easy-step-by-step-guide/