# What You Need:
→ Cake
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 ½ 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 ½ teaspoons baking powder
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Buttercream Frosting
09 - 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Food coloring (gel preferred), as needed for roses, leaves, and diploma
→ Decorations
14 - Edible gold or silver pearls (optional, for accents)
15 - Fondant or white chocolate for diploma and ribbon (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 12x18-inch sheet cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
03 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Add dry mixture to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with milk. Start and finish with the flour mixture. Mix until just blended.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk, mixing until the frosting is fluffy. Adjust with additional milk or sugar as needed for desired consistency.
09 - Separate buttercream into bowls. Tint portions pink, red, or yellow for roses, green for leaves, and reserve some white for the main cake coating.
10 - Cover the cooled cake with an even layer of white buttercream using an offset spatula.
11 - Using a piping bag with a rose tip, pipe buttercream roses in desired colors. Pipe green leaves with a leaf tip.
12 - Shape fondant or white chocolate into a scroll for the diploma. Tie with colored fondant ribbon and place atop the cake.
13 - Adorn with edible pearls and other decorative elements as desired.
