21 Graduation Cake Ideas That Scream 'Congrats, You Did It!'
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Graduation day is a bittersweet moment, but after the diploma—and a few teary-eyed well wishes are shared—it's time to get the party started! Of course, we're talking about celebrating your grad in the best way possible: with something sweet! Whether it's high school, college, or even middle school graduation, those days of studying and hard work deserve to be commemorated with an epic cake made from scratch (along with your graduation gift). To mark the occasion, we've rounded up our best graduation cake ideas.
Ahead, you'll find all different types of cake for any style of graduation party. Hosting a backyard barbecue? You can't go wrong with a 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 chocolate sheet cake will take care of that! Of course, there are over-the-top trifles, cakes with fun sprinkles, and plenty of cakes that younger kids will love, too. Everyone is a fan of a homemade cookie cake! You can even get creative in decorating your cake with frosting in your school's colors. Serve it up 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.
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.
Cookie Cake
This cake-sized chocolate chip cookie is big enough for all your guests. Top it with fluffy chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles, or get creative with your grad's school colors. Either way, it's sure to be a hit!
Get the Cookie Cake recipe.
Coca-Cola Cake
This rich, chocolaty cake gets a little extra rise and a subtle caramel flavor from the addition of coca-cola. The chocolate glaze is the perfect canvas for adding any color sprinkles or decoration.
Get the Coca-Cola 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.
Lemon Cake
This bright, lemony cake just screams springtime! A few drops of yellow food coloring in the lemon cream cheese frosting will help guests know what they're getting.
Get the Lemon Cake recipe.
German Chocolate Cake
If you're looking to earn top honors from your friends and family, just make this extra-special German chocolate cake! The creamy coconut-pecan filling, chocolate cake layers, and chocolate Swiss buttercream are all worthy of straight A's.
Get the German Chocolate Cake recipe.
Ice Cream Cake
Now that the weather is heating up, you can skip turning on the oven by making an ice cream cake that's worthy of a celebration! You can even customize each layer with your grad's favorite ice cream flavors.
Get the Ice Cream Cake recipe.
Hummingbird Cake
This classic cake is sweet and comforting with its warm cinnamon spice and chopped pecans for crunch. Plus, the cream cheese frosting is always a hit!
Get the Hummingbird Cake recipe.
Chocolate Sheet Cake
No Drummond family celebration would be complete with this chocolate cake that's fit for a crowd. Ree says it's "absolutely, without a doubt, the best chocolate sheet cake ever."
Get Ree's Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe.
Carrot Cake Trifle
This is a fun idea for taking a nostalgic, childhood favorite cake and turning it into something totally brand new! You'll love the swoops of whipped cream cheese topping, decadent pudding, and crushed speculoos cookies along with the cubes of spiced carrot cake.
Get the Carrot Cake Trifle recipe.
Blackberry Cobbler Cake
Even more intimate gatherings deserve to be celebrated with cake! This blackberry cake with a crunchy, sugar-coated topping is a simple way to say, "congrats!"
Get the Blackberry Cobbler Cake recipe.
Coffee-Toffee Crunch Cake
Instant coffee in both the cake and the frosting make this beautiful dessert buzzing with flavor (and caffeine). If that weren't enough, crushed chocolate-covered toffee bars give the cake a fun, sweet crunch.
Get Ree's Coffee-Toffee Crunch Cake cake.
Jello Cake
This retro dessert is making a comeback and it's easy to see why! The cake itself is super moist and pretty with its swirls of color. Plus, the white chocolate whipped cream is the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Jello Cake recipe.
Chocolate Bundt Cake
Dress up a simple chocolate bundt cake by adding a devilishly decadent chocolate glaze along with fun silver and gold sprinkles. It looks and tastes like a celebration!
Get the Chocolate Bundt Cake recipe.
Blueberry Cheesecake
This creamy cheesecake starts with a buttery graham cracker crust and ends with a juicy layer of blueberry sauce. Sprinkled throughout are pops of fresh blueberries!
Get the Blueberry Cheesecake recipe.
Mini Bundt Cakes
These adorable mini cakes will have everyone reaching for seconds! There are three different glazes to make the assortment more fun: blackberry, dark chocolate-sea salt, and maple-whiskey.
Get the Mini Bundt Cakes recipe.
Ice Cream Icebox Cake
This slice-able cake is a great way to doctor up store-bought vanilla ice cream. It's swirled with blackberry preserves and homemade lemon curd, then layered with crushed gingersnaps to form a beautiful cake.
Get the Ice Cream Icebox Cake recipe.
Coconut Layer Cake
This recipe isn't shy with the coconut flavor. It's evident in both the cake layers and the frosting. Not to mention the sweetened shredded coconut for decoration!
Get Ree's Coconut Layer Cake recipe.
Key Lime Cakes in a Jar
Whether you're celebrating with a picnic in the park or a neighborhood potluck, these adorable jarred cakes are just as impressive as any big cake recipe. They're packed with key lime flavor and macadamia nuts for crunch.
Get Ree's Key Lime Cakes in a Jar recipe.
Confetti Snack Cake
This sprinkle-filled cake will bring back a flood of memories from those funfetti cakes you know and love. The homemade version is surprisingly easy and the perfect pop of color for any celebration.
Get the Confetti Snack Cake recipe.
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