Graduation season is nearly upon us! The caps and gown are ready and the diplomas are (almost) in hand, but there’s one key ingredient missing from your epic party: THE CAKE!
Whether celebrating your own accomplishment or cheering on a loved one, you better ditch the boring sheet cake this year and go one step beyond with a show-stopping centrepiece.
But with so many picks out there, how do you exactly go about choosing a cake that’s both delicious and Instagram-worthy? Well, now that you’re here, worry no more!
We’ve got 25+ drool-worthy graduation cake ideas that are going to leave your friends and families wanting more, plus guaranteed to steal the spotlight on your socials.
Contents
- 1 Tips to Bake the Perfect Graduation Cake
- 2 25+ Delightful & Instagram-Worthy Grad Cake Designs for the Big Day
- 2.1 1. Raspberry Pink Velvet Cake
- 2.2 2. Choco Chip Cake ft. Candied Pretzels
- 2.3 3. Graduation Tassel Cake
- 2.4 4. Diploma Cake
- 2.5 5. Elegant Rose Cake
- 2.6 6. Bookworm Cake
- 2.7 7. Funny Squidward Cake
- 2.8 8. Initials Letter Cake
- 2.9 9. Dolly’s Doughnut Coconut Bundt Cake
- 2.10 10. Giant Fairy Bread Ice Cream Cake
- 2.11 11. Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
- 2.12 12. Coconut Cream Gingham Cake
- 2.13 13. Shortcut Tres Leches Cake
- 2.14 14. Meteorology Cake
- 2.15 15. Graduation Sheet Cake
- 2.16 16. Pineapple Meringue Cake
- 2.17 17. Key Lime Cheesecake
- 2.18 18. Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps
- 2.19 19. Photo Collage Cake
- 2.20 20. Law School Graduate Cake
- 2.21 21. Coffee-Toffee Crunch Cake
- 2.22 22. Peaches & Cream Cake Roll
- 2.23 23. Oatmeal Cream Pie Cake
- 2.24 24. Oreo Cake
- 2.25 25. Carrot Cake Trifle
- 2.26 26. Jello Cake
- 3 Save this page to Pinterest!
- 4 Sweet Endings
Tips to Bake the Perfect Graduation Cake
Okay, so graduation is around the corner, and you’re in charge of the cake. But where do you even begin designing the perfect cake? You know you want one that’s as awesome as the grad themself, something that’ll be the star of the party pics and leave everyone stunned!
But maybe you’re thinking, “Uh, well, I’m not exactly a cake-decorating pro.” Deep breaths! It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece that belongs in a museum.
Here’s the lowdown on baking a showstopping grad cake that’s beautiful, yummy, and totally achievable, even for beginners:
Brainstorm
First things first, grab a pen and paper (or your phone’s note-taking app!). Think about the grad and what makes them special. Are they obsessed with something particular? Do they have a favourite colour scheme? Perhaps they’re graduating with honours or from a specific programme – that can be a great jumping-off point for a theme!
Cake Inspirations
Now to get those creative juices flowing! Head to Pinterest or Instagram and search for “graduation cakes.” You’ll be flooded with a million ideas, from classic cap-and-gown sheet cakes to ones shaped like diplomas or textbooks.
Lucky for you, we’ve curated 25 of the best graduation cake ideas in the section below! Don’t get overwhelmed – use those ideas as inspiration, not a rigid blueprint.
Flavour
Next, you need to know what kind of cake the graduate loves. Classic vanilla with creamy frosting? Rich chocolate with raspberry filling? A fruity one with lemon or strawberry for a summer graduation? Here’s your chance to personalise it where it matters the most.
Try a flavour that reflects their future path. For instance, if they’re going into medicine, a red velvet “heart” cake could be adorable, or for those heading towards culinary arts, a funfetti cake with sprinkles would be perfect!
Seriously, who can resist a sprinkle of their favourite candy pieces in the batter?
Frosting
The frosting is like the paint on your cake masterpiece. Pick a colour scheme that reflects the theme you brainstormed earlier, though school colours are always a safe bet.
You can use store-bought frosting or whip up a simple buttercream at home. Experiment with different flavours, such as a chocolate fudge frosting or a little, fluffy lemon buttercream.
If you know your way around frosting, pipe some fancy swirls or borders. That said, even a simple smooth layer of frosting looks amazing. Pro tip: use a rubber spatula for a flawless finish!
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Decoration
Once you’ve got the flavour and frosting locked in, it’s decoration time! Of course, you don’t need to be a Michelangelo to give a cake its Instagram-worthy look without going overboard. Here are some easy-peasy ideas:
- Fondant can be intimidating, but trust us, you can do it! Roll out some pre-made fondant and cut out shapes like diplomas, graduation caps, or even their school mascot. No artistic skills are needed – simple shapes will work!
- Sprinkles come in a million colours and styles, and you can find fun candy accents like chocolate letters, edible glitters, and graduation-themed sprinkles at most confectionary shops.
- Grab a piping bag (or a ziplock with a hole) filled with frosting and write a personal message, the grad’s name, or as mentioned earlier, create simple swirls and borders. You’ll be surprised how elegant it can look!
- If piping a message directly on the cake seems too daunting, try piping melted chocolate on parchment paper first, refrigerate it until solid, and gently lift the letters off the paper and onto your cake, all in one piece!
- Fresh berries, sliced kiwi, diced mango, or a cascade of mixed fruits can add a beautiful pop of colour and a refreshing taste to your dessert. Perfect for a summer graduation cake!
- Bakeries can print edible images onto frosting sheets. It could be the graduate’s face on the cake or a picture of them in their cap and gown!
Don’t stress about perfection!
What’s more important is you bake the cake with love and get creative with it.
However, with a little planning and these simple tips, your grad cake is sure to be a highlight of the celebration.
Now on to the ideas!
25+ Delightful & Instagram-Worthy Grad Cake Designs for the Big Day
1. Raspberry Pink Velvet Cake
This raspberry-pink velvet cake is the perfect pick for a graduation party!
It comes in a beautiful pink shade and has a soft, smooth texture that just melts in your mouth. Plus, the cake is filled with fresh raspberries, adding a delicious burst of sweet and tart flavour that everyone will love.
It’s a light and refreshing starter that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser after all those years of hard work!
2. Choco Chip Cake ft. Candied Pretzels
This chocolate chip cake with candied pretzels is basically a giant, tastier version of your favourite ice cream flavour, in cake form.
Packed with yummy chocolate chips throughout the cake, it’s a guaranteed party hit. Plus, the candied pretzels around the edge add a fun, salty crunch.
You can even tint the candy coating on the pretzels to match your grad’s favourite colours or their school colours!
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3. Graduation Tassel Cake
A classic two-layer cake is perfect for any grad bash. It’s not too big but still packs a punch with its cute decorations: tiny fondant tassels of contrasting colours that look just like real ones and a cute little gum-paste graduation cap on top!
4. Diploma Cake
Forget boring diplomas – this diploma cake is the kind of “certificate” everyone will want at the graduation party.
It’s a delicious cake disguised as a rolled-up diploma, complete with a layer of creamy filling and topped with fresh strawberries for a burst of flavour.
(And trust us, it’ll taste way better than that real diploma!)
5. Elegant Rose Cake
Looking for a graduation cake that’s both classy and mouth-watering?
This Elegant Rose Cake is the answer! It’s a beautiful off-white cake decorated with stunning roses made of frosting – no fancy skills required, just a piping bag and some practice (don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds).
Pop a simple black fondant graduation cap on top, and you’ve got a gorgeous cake that celebrates the big day in style.
6. Bookworm Cake
For graduates who can’t get enough of books, here’s a cake just for them!
It’s a delicious cake decorated to look like a stack of realistic-looking “books”, each made from fondant. Edible wafer strips create the pages, with the grad’s name in fancy gold lettering for the titles along the book spines.
Let’s be honest, this one’s a certified hit with all the book lovers at the party!
7. Funny Squidward Cake
Graduation can be stressful, so you might as well celebrate with a laugh! Inspired by the hilarious meme from SpongeBob SquarePants, it’s a yummy cake decorated with an exhausted, grumpy-looking Squidward, finally achieving his (or maybe yours?) dream.
It’s the perfect way to capture that “OMG, I actually graduated!” feeling. Plus, everyone gets a kick out of a classic meme!
8. Initials Letter Cake
If you wish to keep it personal and pretty, this letter cake shaped like the graduate’s initials is worth a strong consideration.
It’s also surprisingly easy to decorate, perfect for last-minute baking heroes!
This cake is all about celebrating the achievement and the grad themself – in a delicious and Instagram-worthy way!
Related Article: 18 Beautiful and Funny 18th Birthday Cake Ideas
9. Dolly’s Doughnut Coconut Bundt Cake
Whether your grad’s a country music fan, a Krispy Kreme enthusiast, or just loves all things delicious, this Dolly’s Doughnut coconut bundt cake is the perfect way to celebrate the big day!
It’s a coconut cake baked in a bundt pan filled with a rich chocolatey centre and glazed top, just like a real doughnut.
In fact, the whole cake is shaped like a giant doughnut – because really, why not?
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10. Giant Fairy Bread Ice Cream Cake
This fairy bread ice cream cake is the ultimate Aussie graduation party throw-back!
Think of a giant version of your favourite childhood treat – fluffy white bread layered with creamy ice cream and ganache, all coated in a magical shower of hundreds and thousands!
It’s surprisingly easy to prepare (perfect for busy grad parents) and sure to be a hit with guests of all ages!
11. Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Beat the summer and party in style with this classy, no-bake ice cream sandwich cake! It’s the ideal way to cool down after all those graduation ceremonies.
Two giant layers of everyone’s favourite ice cream sandwiches, packed together with a mint-flavoured Oreo filling in between that’s super refreshing.
The best part? You can customise it to your liking. Swap out the mint for your favourite flavour, or get creative with different candy bar mix-ins… the possibilities are endless!
12. Coconut Cream Gingham Cake
Channel those country vibes and graduation cheer with this gorgeous chequered coconut cream cake!
Layered with a dreamy coconut cream filling and frosted to perfection, the real star is the gingham pattern piped all around, made of buttercream frosting.
It brings a fun and flirty touch that’s apt for a summer graduation party.
13. Shortcut Tres Leches Cake
Craving a show-stopping cake that’s surprisingly easy to bake? Inspired by the signature Latin American dessert, this tres liches cake features a light, fluffy butter cake soaked in a creamy milk mixture, garnished with berries. Talk about melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness!
The beauty of this recipe from Taste of Home is that it’s a shortcut version, so you can whip it up without any fancy equipment or hours in the kitchen.
It’s a lifesaver for busy grad moms running out of preparation time and still wanting to serve something impressive.
14. Meteorology Cake
This meteorology-themed cake is a nerdy yet appetising dessert to celebrate your grad’s degree in weather science.
You can decorate it with fondant panels that look like weather maps, complete with swirling clouds and maybe even a tiny lightning bolt (courtesy of cookie cutters!).
15. Graduation Sheet Cake
Graduation party on a budget? No problem. This Graduation Sheet Cake is a winner for both your wallet and your guests’ taste buds.
It’s a generously sized, scrumptious cake that can feed a crowd and then some. Plus, it’s not too fancy to make.
The blank frosting canvas allows you to decorate it however you please! Go for classic grad cap designs, write a special message, or get crazy with sprinkles and candies.
Versatile for any future parties you might have!
16. Pineapple Meringue Cake
If you’re looking for a confection to wow the crowd at your graduation party, this pineapple meringue cake is your answer.
It’s a tropical twist on a classic, featuring a fluffy pineapple cake base topped with a cloud of pillowy meringue, all topped with a crown of golden brown meringue that adds a caramelised sweetness.
This one’s guaranteed to be the star of the dessert table! And trust us – the combination of tangy pineapple and light meringue is absolutely delicious.
17. Key Lime Cheesecake
This key lime cheesecake is a lighter and tastier variation of the signature key lime pie, with all that same zesty tartness but with a creamy, tangy lime filling that sits on a crumbly cookie crust.
You can top it off with whipped cream and a sprinkle of lime zest for an extra wow factor.
This refreshing cheesecake is a must-keep at any grad’s big bash, and is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves a little pucker power in their dessert!
18. Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps
Ditch the cake pan for this graduation party! These creamy miniature graduation caps made of modelling chocolate are so decadent that they practically melt in your mouth.
They’re easy to grab and go, perfect for casual party settings. They’re also flourless, meaning gluten-intolerant folks will have a field day with these.
19. Photo Collage Cake
Celebrate TWO grads in style with a photo collage cake. It’s ideal for twins, siblings, or even best friends graduating together – a two-tier cake decorated with photos showcasing their highlights and memorable moments.
Just choose some pics beforehand, find a bakery that uses edible ink, and voila; the cake’s as awesome and special as their achievements!
20. Law School Graduate Cake
Whether you’re honouring a friend who just passed the bar exam or celebrating your own win in the field, this cake is guaranteed to make a statement at any graduation party.
It’s decorated with a classic gold law emblem, but it doesn’t stop there!
Elegant florals add a touch of sophistication, making this cake both celebratory and stylish.
It honours all those late nights studying and the bright future ahead while satisfying your sweet tooth at the same time!
21. Coffee-Toffee Crunch Cake
We can’t recommend enough of this coffee-toffee crunch cake – it’s seriously amazing. Whether you’re a full-blown caffeine addict or just love a good dessert, all you need to know is that coffee is infused right into the batter and frosting, giving it a subtle buzz.
On top, it’s loaded with crushed chocolate-covered toffee bars, adding a sweet and crunchy texture to every bite.
Plus, it’ll make up for a neat Instagram Story that’ll surely leave everyone on the other side of the screen drooling!
22. Peaches & Cream Cake Roll
It’s the perfect dessert for any occasion, and it looks as good as it tastes.
Just imagine soft, fluffy cake wrapped around a creamy peach filling – it’s like summer in every bite! it’s super easy to slice into perfect portions, so you can serve it up at your grad party without any fuss. T
rust us, your guests will be coming back for seconds (and maybe even thirds)!
23. Oatmeal Cream Pie Cake
A blast from the past that’s turned into a mouthwatering graduation cake.
It’s packed with oatmeal and brown sugar goodness, giving it that nostalgic flavour you know and love.
Layers of fluffy marshmallow filling and creamy vanilla bean frosting on the top enhance it further.
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24. Oreo Cake
Three layers of blissful vanilla cake stuffed with chopped Oreos, topped with creamy Oreo frosting and whole cookies.
It’s pure indulgence in every bite and will pretty much disappear faster than you and all your fellow cookie monsters can say “Dunk!”
25. Carrot Cake Trifle
Level up your grad party with a carrot cake trifle! Bursting with flavours are these layers of spiced carrot cake cubes, creamy pudding, and crushed speculoos cookies, all topped with swoops of creamy whipped cream cheese.
It’s quite simple to prepare and will most likely get a few snaps from the guests.
26. Jello Cake
Vibrant swirls, moist cake, and a heavenly white chocolate whipped cream topping make the jello cake a retro hit for any celebration, especially your graduation party!
Save this page to Pinterest!
Sweet Endings
There you have it! From showstopping classics to fun and unique creations, these 25+ graduation cake ideas will make your party the most Instagrammable one yet. Whether you’re a baking pro or a frosting newbie, there’s a cake design here for everyone.
Go ahead, pick your favourite, grab your whisk, get creative, and be sure to snap a pic of your masterpiece before it disappears. Because trust us, it will! Don’t forget to leave links to Instagram posts – we can’t wait to see your stunning creations!