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Perfect Pull-Apart Cap and Gown Cupcake Cake Easy Graduation Dessert Idea

pull apart cap and gown cupcake cake - featured image
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A fun and festive pull-apart cupcake cake shaped like a graduation cap and gown, perfect for last-minute graduation parties. Easy to make, customizable, and a crowd-pleaser with moist cupcakes and creamy frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk (for frosting)
  • Gel food coloring: black, blue, and gold (or your school colors)
  • Chocolate chips or small candy pieces (for button details on gown)
  • Edible gold glitter or sprinkles (optional, for tassel sparkle)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line muffin pans with cupcake liners or grease them lightly.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
  6. Spoon batter into liners, filling each about ⅔ full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  7. Let cupcakes cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  8. Beat softened butter for frosting until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
  9. Divide frosting into bowls and tint with gel colors: black for the cap, blue for the gown, and gold for the tassel.
  10. Arrange cupcakes on a large platter into the shape of a graduation cap (12 cupcakes) and gown (12 cupcakes).
  11. Frost the cap cupcakes with black frosting, smoothing with an offset spatula.
  12. Frost the gown cupcakes with blue frosting similarly.
  13. Pipe or spread gold frosting to create the tassel across the cap, adding edible glitter if desired.
  14. Use chocolate chips to mimic buttons on the gown.

Notes

Do not frost cupcakes while warm to avoid melting frosting. Gently level domed cupcakes with a serrated knife before frosting if needed. Use softened butter at room temperature for smooth frosting. For gluten-free, substitute flour with 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. For dairy-free, swap butter and cream with vegan alternatives like coconut oil and almond milk. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze unfrosted cupcakes up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation dessert, cupcake cake, pull-apart cupcakes, cap and gown cake, easy graduation dessert, party dessert, cupcake decorating

Find it online: https://avabake.com/perfect-pull-apart-cap-and-gown-cupcake-cake-easy-graduation-dessert-idea/