Description
Celebrate your graduate’s achievement with this elegant Rose Vanilla Graduation Cake. Combining delicate floral notes of rose water with classic vanilla, this moist and fluffy cake is layered with rose-infused buttercream and adorned with fondant roses and a graduation cap topper. It’s a show-stopping centerpiece for any graduation celebration. (Keywords: Rose Vanilla Cake, Graduation Cake, Celebration Cake)
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- For the Cake
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (310g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (173g) sour cream, room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 6 large egg whites, room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups (325g) all-purpose flour
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water, room temperature
- For the Rose Water Buttercream
- 1 1/2 cups (336g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups (237g) shortening
- 10 1/2 cups (1208g) powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp rose water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 5–6 tbsp water or milk
- Pink and ivory food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and non-stick spray.
- Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well.
- Add egg whites in three batches, mixing until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the wet mixture, starting and ending with dry.
- Stir in the water until smooth.
- Divide batter between pans and bake for 23–26 minutes. Cool completely.
- For buttercream, beat butter and shortening until smooth. Add powdered sugar in batches, then rose water, vanilla, and liquid to desired consistency.
- Color and pipe buttercream as desired. Assemble layers with buttercream and decorate with fondant roses and graduation topper.
Notes
- Rose water intensity can vary; adjust to taste.
- Cake can be made a day in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Use gel coloring for vibrant buttercream shades.
Nutrition
- Calories: ~520
- Sugar: 48g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
