# 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, as needed
→ Decorations
14 - Edible gold or silver pearls, optional
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 mixing bowl, beat unsalted butter with granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
03 - Add eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
05 - Add dry mixture to butter mixture in three additions, alternating with milk. Begin and end with flour mixture; mix just until incorporated.
06 - Transfer batter to the prepared pan and smooth surface. Bake for 28–32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center tests clean.
07 - Let cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
08 - Beat unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually blend in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, mixing until light and fluffy. Adjust consistentcy with more milk or sugar as needed.
09 - Divide buttercream as necessary and tint with gel food coloring for roses, leaves, and diploma accents. Reserve a portion of buttercream white for base coating.
10 - Spread a smooth layer of white buttercream over the fully cooled cake using an offset spatula.
11 - With piping bag fitted with rose tip, pipe buttercream roses in selected colors. Use leaf tip for green leaves.
12 - Shape a scroll from fondant or white chocolate and tie with colored fondant ribbon. Position on cake.
13 - Apply edible pearls and any additional decorations for visual impact.
