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Easy Budget-Friendly Graduation Sheet Cake Recipe for Large Groups

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A moist, fluffy, and budget-friendly sheet cake perfect for large gatherings like graduations, made with simple pantry staples and a light cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2¾ cups (345g) all-purpose flour
  • 2½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar, let sit 5 minutes)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120g) sour cream
  • 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk
  • Optional decorations: sprinkles, edible glitter, fresh berries, graduation-themed toppers, colored piping gel

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 18×13-inch sheet pan and line with parchment paper with overhang.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  5. Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined.
  6. Fold in sour cream and vanilla extract gently with a spatula.
  7. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then lift out using parchment paper and cool completely.
  9. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.
  10. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed. Add vanilla and milk until desired consistency is reached.
  11. Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake. Decorate as desired. Chill for 30 minutes if firmer frosting is preferred.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs and butter for best results. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to prevent tough cake. Check cake starting at 33 minutes to avoid overbaking. For even frosting, dip spatula in warm water before smoothing. Let cake cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.

Nutrition

Keywords: sheet cake, graduation cake, budget-friendly dessert, large group dessert, easy cake recipe, cream cheese frosting

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/easy-budget-friendly-graduation-sheet-cake-recipe-for-large-groups/