55 Congratulatory Graduation Cake Ideas That Look Impressive

Spring means the school term is coming to an end, and graduation season is almost on us!

Finishing school (of any type or level) is no easy feat, and the fact that these graduates are putting in effort and determination to complete that stage of education is an act that totally deserves more than a pat on the back. If you have someone in your life who is graduating soon, this is a great time to start preparing to celebrate.

Of course, no celebration is complete without a celebratory cake! Someone wise once said that “a gathering without cake is just a meeting,” so let’s take a hint from them and bake some cake. Here are 55 of our most showstopping cake recipes to celebrate the accomplishments of the students in your life. 

Related: 30 Naked Cakes You’ll Fall in Love with For Celebratory Occasions

What Kind of Cake To Serve at a Graduation Party

While you can definitely do “graduation-themed” cakes—such as tassel cakes, graduation hat cakes, diploma cakes or even money cakes, you don’t have to feel confined to those.

Maybe the graduate has a favorite cake flavor he/she would love to have on his/her special day. Cupcakes are also a great idea for a grad party because they are self-serve and perfect for mingling.

Or perhaps the guest of honor has another favorite dessert they would love to see transformed into a cake? Check out the S’mores Cake, Oatmeal Cream Pie Cake and Snickerdoodle Cake for tasty examples of this extra personal touch.

Why stop at just one cake? You can also offer a few different varieties for a fun cake buffet.

Related: 25 Best Graduation Party Food Ideas

The Best Graduation Cake Ideas

In fact, if you’re up to it, feel free to prepare an elaborate and gloriously decadent layer cake, such as a chocolate peanut butter layer cake, a tiramisu layer cake or a 3-layer s’mores cake.

For something less fussy, you can also opt for a simple but elegant champagne bundt cake or a sheet pan cookie cake.

Here are 55 of the best graduation cake ideas to celebrate all the new grads! Browse through them, make sure to pin your favorites and let’s get baking.

Graduation Cake Recipes

Graduation Tassel Cake

Decorated with little mini tassels and a gum paste graduation cap, this two-layer cake is great for parties and post-commencement get-togethers.

Get the recipe: Graduation Tassel Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps

These decadently creamy flourless chocolate cake graduation caps will not disappoint! Each mini chocolate cake topped with a square of chocolate is decorated with white modeling chocolate to look like a mortarboard.

Get the recipe: Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps

White Chocolate Coconut Cake

Any graduate who loves coconut will love this cake.

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Coconut Cake

Related: 25 Recipes For Coconut Lovers

Martha Stewart’s Marvelous Black Forest Cake

Moist chocolate layers are brushed with a cherry brandy known as kirsch, then filled with pastry cream and cherries. Divine, glossy chocolate ganache is poured over the top.

Get the recipe: Martha Stewart’s Marvelous Black Forest Cake

Rose Water and Pistachio Pavlova With Strawberries

Vibrant strawberries, rose water, and a scattering of fragrant, fresh rose petals elevate the pavlova to a confection worthy of a memorable celebration feast.

Get the recipe: Rose Water and Pistachio Pavlova With Strawberries

Naturally Sweetened Lemony and Hazelnut Blueberry Cake

In this naturally sweetened cake, cream berries and nuts are incorporated into one delicious cake.

Get the recipe: Naturally Sweetened Lemony Hazelnut Blueberry Cake

Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Passion Fruit Naked Layer Cake

If you are looking for something new and unique for a graduation party, this buttermilk chocolate chip passion fruit naked layer cake will not disappoint!

Get the recipe: Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Passion Fruit Naked Layer Cake

Vanilla Cake

This small vanilla cake recipe bakes up incredibly soft, stays moist for days, and is perfect for any celebratory occasion!

Get the recipe: Vanilla Cake

White Chocolate Raspberry Cake

This white chocolate raspberry cake is made of layers of soft, airy, buttery vanilla cake, luscious raspberry filling and white chocolate cream cheese frosting!

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Graduation Hat Cake

Use this step-by-step tutorial to learn how to make a graduation hat cake. It’s easier than you think and it’s great for graduation parties.

Get the recipe: Graduation Hat Cake

Related: 31 Best Cake Recipes Everyone Should Try Once

Almond Layer Cake With Blackberry Buttercream

This celebratory almond layer cake with blackberry buttercream is an elegant combination of the perfect yellow cake with an unusual tangy berry frosting.

Get the recipe: Almond Layer Cake With Blackberry Buttercream

Champagne Cake

This gorgeous celebratory cake is made with sparkling wine and gin in the buttercream frosting, making it perfect for a graduation party.

Get the recipe: Champagne Cake

Citrus Champagne Bundt Cake

This light and lovely citrus champagne bundt cake is perfumed with winter citrus and is the perfect celebratory bundt cake!

Get the recipe: Citrus Champagne Bundt Cake

Raspberry Vanilla Cake With Champagne Frosting

A soft vanilla cake layered with raspberry jam and champagne frosting. Let’s get this party started.

Get the recipe: Raspberry Vanilla Cake With Champagne Frosting

Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake

Vegan chocolate raspberry mousse cake—layers of dark chocolate mousse and vegan white chocolate raspberry mousse sit on top of a layer of rich, moist chocolate cake.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake

Easy Double Chocolate Sour Cream Cake

An easy, rich chocolate cake your family will ask for again and again.

Get the recipe: Easy Double Chocolate Sour Cream

Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake

Layers of moist chocolate cake, peanut butter frosting and chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups! It’s rich, delicious and so fun!

Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Layer Cake

Lemon Layer Cake

This perfectly moist, tender and soft lemon layer cake is iced in a wonderful lemon cream cheese frosting and bursting with irresistibly zingy and tangy lemon flavor!

Get the recipe: Lemon Layer Cake

Related: 70 Refreshing Lemon Recipes

Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake

This lemon mascarpone layer cake is made with a moist lemon cake, lemon curd and a smooth and creamy whipped mascarpone frosting! It’s light, yet sweet and tart and so darn good!

Get the recipe: Lemon Mascarpone Layer Cake

White Chocolate Mocha Cake

This white chocolate mocha cake pairs tender white chocolate espresso cake layers with a whipped white chocolate ganache and silky espresso buttercream.

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Mocha Cake

Delicious Berry Mascarpone Layer Cake

This berry mascarpone cake has three layers of rich white cake topped with mascarpone cream and fresh fruit. It’s light, fruity and perfect for spring!

Get the recipe: Delicious Berry Mascarpone Layer Cake

Tiramisu Layer Cake

This tiramisu layer cake has soft genoise sponge cake layers soaked in espresso with a creamy mascarpone frosting.

Get the recipe: Tiramisu Layer Cake

Oatmeal Cream Pie Cake

Your favorite childhood lunchbox treat is transformed into a delicious oatmeal cream pie cake. Oatmeal brown sugar cake, marshmallow filling, and vanilla bean frosting are the perfect back-to-school indulgence.

Get the recipe: Oatmeal Cream Pie Cake

Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Cake

This Kahlua coffee chocolate cake is made with a moist chocolate Kahlua cake covered in Kahlua coffee frosting!

Get the recipe: Kahlua Coffee Chocolate Cake

Maple Pecan Layer Cake

Sweet and tender maple pecan layer cake full of chopped pecans, frosted and filled with decadent brown butter buttercream.

Get the recipe: Maple Pecan Layer Cake

Perfect Vanilla Cake

This perfect vanilla cake bakes up soft, buttery, and moist, with a fine, delicate crumb. So easy it’s practically foolproof, and it all comes together in just one bowl.

Get the recipe: Perfect Vanilla Cake

White Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake

This white chocolate raspberry cake recipe is made with fluffy white cake layers and its white chocolate frosting is perfectly balanced with a tart raspberry filling!

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake

Wild Strawberry and Lemon Verbena Layer Cake

This wild strawberry and lemon verbena layer cake starts with a box of white cake mix but is improved upon with additions of sugar, flour, sour cream and delicious flavorings.

Get the recipe: Wild Strawberry and Lemon Verbena Layer Cake

Related: 50 Best Recipes For Strawberry Season

Almond Amaretto Cake

This almond amaretto cake is a must for any almond lover! Almond cake layers infused with Amaretto liqueur paired with classic vanilla buttercream.

Get the recipe: Almond Amaretto Cake

Oreo Cake Recipe

The best Oreo cake recipe! Three layers of moist vanilla cake filled with chopped Oreos and then thick and creamy vanilla frosting that tastes just like the filling from actual Oreos. Topped with more Oreo frosting and Oreo cookies!

Get the recipe: Oreo Cake Recipe

Orange Creamsicle Cake

This orange creamsicle cake is an easy orange layer cake made from scratch for birthdays, family meals and summer potlucks. It’s the perfect orange dessert!

Get the recipe: Orange Creamsicle Cake

White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake

Smooth and delicious, this bundt cake recipe will make you a fan of white chocolate and berries! The flavors are subtle and deep at the same time, the crumb is dense and tender and the cake lasts for several days.

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake

Chocolate Chip Cake

This chocolate chip cake is two layers of moist and delicious cake with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips baked right in, and a sweet vanilla chocolate chip buttercream frosting to boot!

Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Cake

Easy Berry Chantilly Cake

The beautiful layers, the simple flavors of perfect whipped cream, raspberries, blueberries, a hint of jam and tender yellow cake make something magic.

Get the recipe: Easy Berry Chantilly Cake

Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake

This lemon raspberry layer cake has moist, light layers of lemon cake, lemon curd filling and a raspberry frosting. It’s decorated with buttercream, lemon slices and a few blossom flowers for a cake that’s perfect for summer!

Get the recipe: Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake

Fudgy Brownie Cake

The ultimate cake for any chocolate lover-with layers of fudgy brownie cake, chocolate frosting, chocolate ganache and a pile of brownies on top.

Get the recipe: Fudgy Brownie Cake

Summer Sangria Cake

The best summer fruit cake-sangria cake with fluffy sponge cake, whipped cream and fruit!

Get the recipe: Summer Sangria Cake

Light Fluffy Spiced Sponge Cake

This is a deeply spiced and flavorful but light and fluffy sponge cake recipe.

Get the recipe: Light, Fluffy Spiced Sponge Cake

Related: 25 Creative Carrot Cake Recipes

Strawberry Funfetti Ice Cream Cake

The summer fun has just begun! This colorful strawberry funfetti ice cream cake will have you smiling from ear to ear!

Get the recipe: Strawberry Funfetti Ice Cream Cake

S’mores Layer Cake

A summer favorite turned into a drool-worthy dessert fit for a party, no campfire required! This s’mores layer cake has a graham base, fudge frosting and a homemade marshmallow meringue frosting.

Get the recipe: S’mores Layer Cake

Moist Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake

Bite into a dream come true with an ultra-moist gluten-free red velvet cake recipe that is also ridiculously easy to throw together!

Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake

Chocolate Bundt Cake

This easy homemade chocolate bundt cake recipe is heavenly, topped with chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Bundt Cake

Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake

Sunshine-sweet lemon blueberry layer cake dotted with juicy berries and topped with lush cream cheese frosting. One of the most popular cake recipes on this website!

Get the recipe:Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake

Sheet Pan Cookie Cake

Sheet pan cookie cake: This classic chocolate chip cookie cake is the ultimate birthday cake!

Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Cookie Cake

Perfectly Moist Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

This is truly the best-ever carrot cake recipe. It’s incredibly moist, perfectly spiced, and smothered in cream cheese frosting. It’s the only carrot cake recipe you’ll ever need!

Get the recipe: Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Snickerdoodle Cake

Create an absolutely mouthwatering snickerdoodle cake filled with buttery cinnamon swirls and topped with creamy brown sugar cinnamon buttercream frosting.

Get the recipe: Snickerdoodle Cake

Yellow Cake

Yellow cake is an old-fashioned cake made with a rich blend of butter, eggs and buttermilk for a tender butter cake that’s perfect for birthdays and everyday celebrations!

Get the recipe: Yellow Cake

Turtle Chocolate Layer Cake

This turtle chocolate layer cake starts with rich, decadent and moist chocolate cake layers that are filled with a caramel pecan sauce and covered in a smooth caramel frosting, then finished off with a caramel and ganache drip and chopped pecans!

Get the recipe: Turtle Chocolate Layer Cake

Related: 16 Keto-Approved Chocolate Desserts

3-Layer S’mores Cake

This S’mores cake is an over-the-top decadent dessert with layers of moist chocolate cake, graham cracker crust, chocolate ganache and homemade marshmallow filling, all surrounded by a luscious buttercream frosting. It’s a scrumptious, irresistible twist on one of summer’s most iconic desserts!

Get the recipe: 3-Layer S’mores Cake

Mocha Cake With Coffee Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This mocha cake is made up of eight luscious chocolate cake layers frosted with coffee-flavored Swiss meringue buttercream and topped with toasted hazelnuts.

Get the recipe: Mocha Cake With Coffee Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Chai Layer Cake

This chai layer cake features three layers of chai-infused cake frosted with vanilla bean Swiss buttercream.

Get the recipe: Chai Layer Cake

Caramel Layer Cake

This decadent caramel cake is moist, buttery and full of caramel flavor! Made with homemade caramel, the best vanilla cake ever and a fluffy vanilla buttercream swirled with caramel sauce, you’ll love this caramel layer cake!

Get the recipe: Caramel Layer Cake

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Layer Cake

This brown sugar cinnamon layer cake is full of autumn flavor and spice, with moist cake layers, candied pecans, and the fluffiest buttercream frosting.

Get the recipe: Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Layer Cake

Related: 25 Keto-Friendly Brown Sugar Recipes

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