I don’t have anyone graduating this year. Just the thought of it sends me into an ugly cry. Max is headed into 2nd grade and Violet into her first real year of preschool. My plan for this summer is lots of fun. All fun, all the time. Last summer I was a ball of anxiety heading into the launch of Erin Bakes Cake, so this year we chill. 

Even though I’m not celebrating a graduate this year, I know many of you out there are. Back when I owned my bakery we’d get a ton of graduation cake orders. Do I remember any one in particular? Nope, not really. They’re usually pretty uneventful as far as cakes go. I wish I would have thought up this cutie emoji graduation cake back then! Graduations are pure fun and celebration. Cakes to honor them should be too. Future’s so bright…you gotta wear shades. ?

I hate to state the obvious, but here we go! Customize this cake by making the cap in one of your school’s colors or the color your graduate will be donning down the aisle. Use sprinkles in your school colors or in the colors of whatever school your celebrant is onto next. 

How to Make an Emoji Graduation Cake

Supplies

• Round cake finished with yellow buttercream (I used a 6″ round cake.)
• Small about of extra buttercream in a piping bag (I used my favorite American Buttercream Recipe.)
• Parchment paper
• Cake pan, same size as your cake
• Pencil
• Diamond shaped cookie cutter (I used the largest one from this set: Ateco Diamond Cutter Set.)
• Piping bags or paper cones
• Black coating chocolate
• Coating chocolate in your school’s color
• Sprinkles in your school’s colors

The supply list contains affiliate links, because that’s how people on the internet make money. We live in the future! 

Make the Glasses and Smile

Set the cake pan on piece of parchment paper and trace it using a pencil. Draw an outline of sunglasses. If you are artistically challenged, don’t worry! You can always trace a pair of sunglasses or print out a picture of sunglasses to use as a guide. Fill a piping bag or paper cone with melted black coating chocolate. Fill in the sunglasses outline and draw a cheeky grin. Set the glasses and smile aside to dry completely before adding them to the cake. 

Make the Graduation Cap

Fill a piping bag or paper cone with melted coating chocolate in your school’s colors. I went with my high school’s blue and gold. (Go eagles!) Place a diamond shaped cookie cutter on a piece of parchment paper. Fill the cutter with a layer of the melted coating chocolate. Pipe a small disk off to the side to use as the cap’s button. Set the cap and button aside to dry. 

Once the cap is dry, carefully lift the cutter away from the chocolate shape. Flip the cap over onto the flat side. Attach the button to the center of the cap with a dab of melted chocolate. 

Add a Sprinkle Tassel

After I had finished filming my little emoji graduation cake video I decided the cap needed something – a tassel! And what better to use as a tassel than sprinkles? Pipe a little arch of coating chocolate out from the button. Dust the melted chocolate with sprinkles if your school’s colors while it’s still wet. Set the cap aside to dry. 

All Together Now

Carefully peel the sunglasses and smile away from the parchment paper. Flip the glasses over and attach them to the cake with dabs of buttercream. Flip the smile over and place it just below the glasses. Pipe a blob of buttercream where you’d like the cap to go and set the cap on top. 

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