Print

Budget-Friendly Graduation Cake Recipe Under 20 Dollars Easy and Delicious

budget-friendly graduation cake - featured image
Print Recipe

A simple, delicious, and budget-friendly graduation cake recipe that uses basic pantry staples and comes together quickly, perfect for celebrations without breaking the bank.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (about 312 g)
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar (350 g)
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113 g), softened
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup whole milk (240 ml)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar (360 g)
  • 8 oz cream cheese (227 g), softened
  • ¼ cup heavy cream (60 ml)
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Sprinkles or edible decorations (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter until smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes). Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the whole milk and vanilla extract.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in three parts, mixing gently but thoroughly after each addition. Avoid overmixing.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula. The batter should fill each pan about halfway.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with just a few crumbs.
  7. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and turn them out onto cooling racks. Allow them to cool completely before frosting (about 1 hour).
  8. Beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low until combined, then increase speed to medium and add heavy cream until frosting is light and fluffy. Tint with food coloring if desired.
  9. Place one cake layer on your serving plate. Spread a thick, even layer of frosting on top. Add the second cake layer, then cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
  10. Decorate with sprinkles, edible glitter, or simple piped borders using remaining frosting.
  11. Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow frosting to set and flavors to meld.

Notes

If frosting is too soft, chill for 15 minutes; if too stiff, beat in a little more cream. Avoid overmixing batter to keep cake tender. Sift or whisk dry ingredients to avoid clumps. Check cake doneness with toothpick starting at 30 minutes. Cake can be made a day ahead and assembled on event day. Variations include chocolate version, gluten-free, dairy-free, and fruit-filled options.

Nutrition

Keywords: budget-friendly cake, graduation cake, easy cake recipe, cream cheese frosting, party cake, affordable dessert

Find it online: https://islatable.com/budget-friendly-graduation-cake-recipe-under-20-dollars-easy-and-delicious/