Graduation Cakes Celebrate Success and a Happy Future

Graduations occur at all stages of life. A child graduates from kindergarten, a teen graduates from high school, and a senior completes a university degree. At family celebrations and class parties, graduation cakes are an essential part of the party decor and a celebrative dessert. Whether buying at a supermarket, baking at home, or hiring a cake designer, you’ll be one step ahead with these graduation cake ideas.

Word it Right

Words of congratulation or hope for a bright future are common on graduation cakes. Consider words such as “Way to Go!”, “You’re a Star”, or “You did it!”. When wanting to shine a light of inspiration on the future, try “Believe”, “Reach for the Stars”, or “Live Your Dream”. Looking for something new or different to say? Visit a greeting card rack and look at what cards are saying.

Graduation caps and diplomas are traditional graduation cake decorations. You can’t go wrong with these, but there are many other motifs or symbols that can be used. Stars, rainbows, and flowers are all festive options. For younger graduates, black boards, apples, rulers, and other school supplies mark the occasion. Pictures of the graduate or graduating class personalize a cake.

Thematic Graduation Cake Designs

A graduation cake can be developed around a theme. Think about what was successful about the student’s school year or what exciting opportunities are opening up. What themes might capture the past year? Here are some ideas:

• Sports - the cake top can be a football field, basketball court, or skating rink to celebrate a sport the student enjoyed throughout the season. Also consider flat or 3D shapes, such as a football, ice skates, or soccer ball.
• Music - many students belong to a school band, orchestra or glee club. Celebrate their love of music with musical decorations or a musical shape. Try a guitar or saxophone shape; or use musical symbols such as notes, staffs, treble clefs, and microphones.
• Study Specialty - an area of specialization, such as biology, physics, computers, nursing, or law, provides excellent theme material for a cake. For example, imagine a cake for a nursing student with hospital uniform, stethoscope, thermometer and pressure cuff.
• Upcoming Plans - the theme can be based on what the graduate plans to do over the next while. For travels abroad, decorate to reflect the destination(s)--places such as Mexico, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean can provide ideas for all of the party decorations. For someone going on to university, look for images of the university, its colors, and emblems.

One or more cake toppers for graduation cakes may make a cake more exciting or sophisticated. For a tiered or stacked cake, consider a single figurine of a graduate. These figurines are available in a variety of styles and colors. It’s possible, if desired, to reflect the sex, hair color and ethnicity of the graduate. Choose a robed grad in a serious stance, victorious pose, or dancing for joy.

Photographs can be transferred to an edible format or displayed in a picture frame stuck into the cake. Consider featuring the graduate alone, with best friends, or as part of a class picture. A class picture is very appropriate for a class party.

An elegant flower topper, made of sugar paste or real flowers, provides a beautiful display, as do glistening stars rising up from thin wires. Fancy ribbons with gem and crystal accents can be the crowning decoration. Symbols may be used alone or as part of a larger design--mortar board caps, diplomas, horseshoes, stars, sports items and more can be purchased as toppers for graduation cakes.

Candles are not necessarily part of a graduation cake but are often used. Use number candles to present the graduation year; try tall thin sizzlers; or cover the cake with a forest of birthday candles to create a flaming effect.

A celebration cake can be round or rectangular, but shapes and sculptures can be fun for a change.  For example, the cake can be a graduation cap, horseshoe, saxophone, star, owl, or open book.  For a scholar, you might ask for a stack of books design, which consists of several cakes stacked like an irregular pile of books.  A professional designer will be able to make the sculpture look quite realistic, reflecting the student’s area of study, and perhaps including some amusing titles.

Making the Final Selection of Graduation Cake Decorations

Deciding on a celebration cake can be both exciting and sometimes overwhelming, when you want to mark the occasion well and impress special guests.  For a homemade effort, baking a trial cake and working well within your skill level are good ideas. When hiring a professional designer or engaging the help of a friend, who is a cake decorating enthusiast, consider samples of previous work and assess what they do best.  A baker who is good at piping butter cream flowers may not be as good at fondant designs. Overall, know that delicious flavors coupled with special decorative flourishes are sure to provide the memorable effect you are looking for.