30 Best Graduation Cake Ideas to Celebrate Their Big Day
These desserts deserve a diploma.
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Graduation is one of those significant life moments that call for endless celebration. And what's a celebration without cake? If your loved one is donning a cap and gown to mark their scholastic achievements, why not show them how proud you are by baking one of these special graduation cakes? Here, you'll find airy spring cakes, no-bake treats, and icebox cakes for every type of graduation party. There are also plenty of towering layer cakes to impress and practically scream "congrats!"
Hosting a backyard barbecue? Try a fun and refreshing ice cream cake or a piña colada cake with cherries on top. How about a cake that's fit for a crowd? Ree Drummond's strawberries and cream or chocolate sheet cakes will take care of that. Of course, there are over-the-top trifles, decadent cheesecakes, and plenty of cakes that younger kids will love, too. Just pick your grad's favorite flavor and have fun with it!
You can even get creative in decorating your cake with frosting in your school's colors. Or make life simple and use sprinkles instead. They look like confetti so they feel instantly celebratory! Whatever you decide, serve the cake alongside Ree's graduation cap brownie bites and an array of graduation party foods, and you'll have diploma-worthy celebration that's as memorable as it is sweet.
Lemon Poppy Seed Sheet Cake
This citrusy cake is like sunshine in a sheet pan! It's bursting with lemon and loaded with poppy seeds, both in the batter and the glaze, creating a perfect blend of flavor and texture in every bite.
Get the Lemon Poppy Seed Sheet Cake recipe.
Berry Chantilly Cake
Skip the trip to Whole Foods and make your own masterpiece from scratch! Seasonal berries shine when layered with delicate cake and mascarpone cream.
Get the Berry Chantilly Cake recipe.
Marble Cake
You don't have to choose between chocolate and vanilla with this Bundt cake! It has stunning swirls of both flavors throughout, plus a sweet and tangy buttermilk glaze on top.
Get the Marble Cake recipe.
Tres Leches Cake
Light, airy tres leches cake was made for summer celebrations like a graduation party! The poke cake is soaked with a mixture of three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream.
Get Ree's Tres Leches Cake recipe.
Oreo Cheesecake
This creamy cheesecake starts with an Oreo cookie crust and ends with a layer of chocolate ganache, whipped cream, and even more chopped cookies! Even the filling is loaded with—you guessed it—tons of cookies.
Get the Oreo Cheesecake recipe.
Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake
Peak graduation season is also peak strawberry season! Head to your local market and make this sweet treat. It has berries in and on top of the cake.
Get Ree's Strawberry and Cream Sheet Cake recipe.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Here's a gluten-free recipe for a successful celebration! Omitting flour causes this indulgent chocolate cake to be extra fudgy and moist. It's topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, which means you don't have to bother with making frosting!
Get Ree's Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe.
Lemon Raspberry Cake
This sweet-tart cake is as pretty as it is delicious! The pink raspberry frosting and lemony cake layers even have a special filling made with raspberry jam.
Get the Lemon Raspberry Cake recipe.
Sprinkle Ice Cream Cake
Though this cake was originally created for a birthday celebration, it’s just as wonderful for a graduation party, too. The sprinkle-filled cake layers and strawberry sprinkle ice cream will have everyone screaming, “hip, hip, hooray!”
Get the Sprinkle Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Oreo Icebox Cake
This no-bake cake layers fluffy whipped cream with Oreo cookies and fresh fruit. But the best part is that you can make it in advance for easy party planning! In fact, the cake needs to refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours so it has time to set.
Get the Oreo Icebox Cake recipe.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Bring some retro vibes to your graduation party with a classic pineapple upside-down cake. It’s made in a 9x13-inch baking pan so it feeds a crowd!
Get the Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe.
Eclair Cake
This cake is made with a creamy filling, graham crackers, and a chocolate ganache. It tastes just like a classic French pastry, but without all the hard work. (No baking required!)
Get the Eclair Cake recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
Now that school’s out for summer, you’re going to want a summer dessert. Enter: this beautiful and bright cake bursting with blueberries and fresh lemon flavor. There’s even a lemony cream cheese frosting on top!
Get the Lemon Blueberry Cake recipe.
Key Lime Cheesecake
This twist on key lime pie is just as tart and zesty, but it also has that creamy decadence that makes it perfect for a special occasion. Top it off with a big pile of whipped cream and lime zest to impress everyone at the graduation party.
Get the Key Lime Cheesecake recipe.
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
This beautiful cheesecake is full of sweet spring flavor thanks to both fresh berries and strawberry Jell-O. The creamy and fluffy filling is perfectly balanced with the buttery graham cracker crust.
Get the No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe.
Chocolate Strawberry Nutella Cake
This recipe starts off with a super simple chocolate cake, but it becomes more and more delicious from there. Add a layer of rich Nutella, swoops of fresh whipped cream, and a juicy pile of strawberries for the ultimate layer cake.
Get Ree’s Chocolate Strawberry Nutella Cake recipe.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
It doesn’t get easier than this 4-ingredient cake! The classic ice cream sandwiches act as the top and bottom layer with a minty filling that’s loaded with mint-flavored Oreos! Of course, you can always switch up the flavor based on your grad’s preferences. (Caramel ice cream with chopped up candy bars would be another hit!)
Get the Ice Cream Sandwich Cake recipe.
Piña Colada Cake
Now that school's out, it's time for a vacation—even if it's just in your own backyard! And this cake will bring all the tropical vibes with its fruity pineapple and coconut flavor. Top it off with some cherries, lime zest, and coconut chips. The mini umbrellas are optional but fun for decorating!
Get the Piña Colada Cake recipe.
Strawberry Icebox Cake
This no-bake cake can be made the night before and served straight from the fridge, so you'll have more time to spend with your favorite grad before they move on to the next phase in life. (Cue the tears!) It's cool, creamy, and loaded with berries.
Get the Strawberry Icebox Cake recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Trifle
A trifle is the perfect type of cake for effortless entertaining. It looks impressive, but it's really just layers of store-bought pound cake, berries, and whipped cream!
Get the Red, White, and Blue Trifle recipe.
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