# What You'll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
05 - 6 large eggs, room temperature
06 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
07 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Buttercream Frosting
09 - 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Food coloring (gel preferred), as needed
→ Decorations
14 - Edible gold or silver pearls (optional)
15 - Fondant or white chocolate for diploma and ribbon (optional)
# Method Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 12x18-inch sheet cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with milk. Begin and end with flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth surface with an offset spatula.
07 - Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean.
08 - Allow cake to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, mixing until fluffy. Adjust consistency as needed.
10 - Divide buttercream into bowls. Tint portions with gel food coloring for roses, leaves, and diploma. Leave remainder white for cake coating.
11 - Spread cooled cake with an even layer of white buttercream using an offset spatula.
12 - Pipe roses using a piping bag fitted with a rose tip. Pipe leaves with a leaf tip.
13 - Shape fondant or white chocolate into a diploma scroll, tie with a colored fondant ribbon, and place on cake.
14 - Add edible pearls or additional decorative accents as desired.
