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Decadent Cap and Gown Chocolate Graduation Cake

cap and gown chocolate graduation cake - featured image
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A rich, moist chocolate cake designed to look like a graduation cap and gown, perfect for celebrations. Features a smooth cream cheese chocolate frosting and decorative piping for a festive touch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (312 g) all-purpose flour (King Arthur Flour recommended)
  • 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (Ghirardelli recommended)
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups (360 ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice as substitute)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
  • 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened (full-fat recommended)
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • ¾ cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2–4 tbsp (30–60 ml) heavy cream or milk, to adjust consistency
  • Black and gold edible glitter or sprinkles (optional)
  • Black fondant or black candy melts (optional for cap top)
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and dust with cocoa powder. Line bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Slowly add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing on medium speed until just combined. Stir in boiling water carefully; batter will be thin.
  5. Divide batter evenly between pans and bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely (about 1 hour).
  7. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, mixing on low speed. Add vanilla and heavy cream to reach spreadable consistency.
  8. Trim rounded tops of cakes for flat layers. Place one layer on serving plate and spread frosting generously.
  9. Stack second layer and carve top edges to form gown shoulders. Crumb coat entire cake with thin frosting layer and chill 15 minutes.
  10. Apply final thick, smooth frosting layer. Use piping bags with small round tips to pipe cap outline and gown folds. Pipe tassel detail and sprinkle edible glitter.
  11. Optional: Roll black fondant and cut a square to place on top of cake for mortarboard look, securing with frosting.

Notes

Sift dry ingredients to avoid lumps. Use room temperature eggs and buttermilk for better rise. Thin batter is normal due to boiling water. Chill cake layers before carving to reduce crumbling. Chill frosting if too soft before piping. Practice piping on parchment paper to perfect decoration. Store cake covered in fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: chocolate cake, graduation cake, celebration cake, cream cheese frosting, cap and gown cake, easy chocolate cake, party dessert

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/decadent-cap-and-gown-chocolate-graduation-cake-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-celebrations/