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Perfect School Colors Sheet Cake Recipe Easy Buttercream Diploma Tutorial

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A festive and moist sheet cake decorated with vibrant school colors and a piped buttercream diploma, perfect for graduations and school events. Easy to make with simple ingredients and customizable for dietary needs.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 ¾ cups (350 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3–4 tablespoons (45–60 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Food coloring gels in assorted school colors (recommend AmeriColor gels)
  • Buttercream in white or ivory base (from above frosting) for diploma decoration
  • Food coloring gel for black or dark brown (for diploma text)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch sheet cake pan. Line with parchment paper if desired.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together sifted flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.
  3. In a stand mixer, beat softened butter until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Add vanilla extract and milk alternately with dry ingredients, starting and ending with dry mix. Mix on low speed until just combined.
  5. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top with an offset spatula.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely.
  8. To make buttercream, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar on low speed. Add heavy cream and vanilla extract, then beat on high until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Adjust consistency as needed.
  9. Divide buttercream into bowls and color with food gels for school colors.
  10. Apply a thin crumb coat to the cake and chill for 15 minutes.
  11. Add a final smooth layer of colored frosting arranged in stripes, blocks, or patterns representing the school.
  12. Fill a piping bag with white or ivory buttercream and pipe the diploma shape on the cake using a fine round tip. Use dark colored buttercream for text and details.
  13. Chill the cake for 20 minutes to set the buttercream, then bring to room temperature before serving.

Notes

Use gel food colors for vibrant, natural-looking hues without thinning frosting. Practice piping on parchment paper before decorating the cake. Chill frosting if it becomes too soft. Crumb coat the cake for a smooth finish. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, substitute flour and dairy ingredients accordingly.

Nutrition

Keywords: sheet cake, school colors cake, buttercream diploma, graduation cake, easy sheet cake, celebration cake, buttercream frosting, school pride cake

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