Galaxy Graduation Cake (Printable Copy)

A stunning celestial buttercream creation featuring vibrant galaxy colors and edible star decorations.

# What You Need:

→ Cake

01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 cup whole milk, room temperature
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
06 - 2½ teaspoons baking powder
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

→ Galaxy Buttercream

09 - 1½ cups unsalted butter, softened
10 - 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - ¼ cup whole milk
12 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
13 - Gel food coloring: black, navy blue, purple, pink, teal

→ Decoration

14 - Edible gold and silver star sprinkles
15 - Edible glitter or luster dust
16 - White gel food coloring for stars and swirls

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
06 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
07 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
08 - Divide buttercream into four or five bowls. Tint each with a different galaxy color using gel food coloring: black, navy blue, purple, pink, and teal.
09 - Place random spoonfuls of each color onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Roll up to form a log. Snip one end and transfer the log to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
10 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thin layer of galaxy buttercream. Repeat with remaining layers.
11 - Apply a generous crumb coat all over the cake. Chill for 20 minutes.
12 - Pipe and spread galaxy buttercream over cake, swirling gently with an offset spatula to create a marbled galaxy effect.
13 - Use white gel food coloring and a food-safe paintbrush or splatter tool to flick stars across the cake surface.
14 - Decorate with edible gold and silver star sprinkles and a sprinkle of edible glitter or luster dust.
15 - Add a graduation cap cake topper for a festive touch.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • A visually breathtaking galaxy-themed cake that's ideal for special celebrations.
  • Rich, moist layers with classic butter and vanilla flavors appeal to a wide audience.
  • Customizable galaxy buttercream colors allow for creative expression.
  • Vegetarian-friendly and yields 12 generous servings, perfect for parties.
  • Incorporates edible stars and glitter for an elegant celestial effect.
02 -
  • Use high-quality gel food coloring for vibrant galaxy colors that won't fade.
  • When rolling the buttercream log, avoid mixing colors too much to preserve distinct galaxy swirls.
  • Chill the cake after the crumb coat to make the final decoration smoother.
  • Use a food-safe paintbrush or splatter tool with white gel coloring to create realistic star effects.
  • Check star sprinkle packaging to avoid allergen contamination.
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