Celebrate Your Newest Graduate with These Graduation Cake Ideas (2024)

This elegant, airy cake covered in toasted coconut shavings is a great way to welcome your favorite grad into adulthood. Serve it with oatmeal cream pies and strong coffee.

Get the recipe for Coconut Angel Cake.

Celebrate a graduation country-style by dressing the cake up in its Sunday best!

Get the recipe for Coconut Cream Gingham Cake.

We love a spring graduation, when everything is outdoors, the air smells fresh, and you can smell the lilacs in bloom. These beautiful cupcakes will make you feel like you can taste 'em, too!

Get the recipe for Buttermilk-Lime Cupcakes.

This flower-covered cake is so pretty it's like a bouquet that you can eat!

Get the recipe for Two-Tiered White Velvet Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Spring is prime graduation time, of course, and this stunningly speckled cake makes a celebratory nod to the season.

Get the recipe for Speckled Malted Coconut Cake.

Is your favorite grad a fan of strawberries? This bright, light cake will soon be their fave!

Get the recipe for Strawberry Limeade Cake.

Whether your grad's a country fan, a donut fan, or both, this gooey chocolate-filled bundt is beautiful and tasty!

Get the recipe for Dolly's Donut Coconut Bundt Cake.

Pair this delicately flavored cake with your favorite Earl Grey or English Breakfast for an elegantly simple High Tea–style graduation.

Get the recipe for Lemon-Rosemary Tea Bread.

The tender crumb of this delicious velvet cake pairs very well with the tart flavor of fresh raspberries.

Get the recipe for Raspberry Pink Velvet Cake.

Make this classic sheet cake for the graduate who likes to go old-school.

Get the recipe for Vanilla Sheet Cake with Chocolate-Cinnamon Filling.

This crowd-pleaser is sure to be snapped up by everyone at the party. Don't skimp on the crushed toffee topping!

Get the recipe for Toffee Crunch Cake.

Light and fluffy, a chiffon cake is well worth the effort. This sweet-tart version pairs well with homemade buttermilk ice cream!

Get the recipe for Orange Chiffon Cake.

Think of this delicious dessert like chocolate chip ice cream, but in cake form. Encircling the confection with candied pretzels is an easy cake-decorating trick with impressive results. Tint the candy coating for the pretzels in your grad's favorite colors—or go with her or his school colors!

Get the recipe for Chocolate Chip Cake with Candied Pretzels.

As smart looking as it is delicious, this gorgeous bundt gets an A+ across the board for presentation, ease, and flavor!

Get the recipe for Orange Blossom Bundt Cake.

If you're running low on time, not to worry! This recipe takes a basic box cake mix and—with a few simple, easy ideas for upgrades—makes it celebration-worthy!

Get the recipe for Rich Chocolate Layer Cake.

Here's a beautiful cake for a grad who's not a fan of frosting, but who loves tropical flavors. The rich, roasted flavors of the caramel and the hint of salt will have guests begging for the recipe.

Get the recipe for Salted-Caramel Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

Another great way to use caramel, this cake is like the black-tie version of banana bread!

Get the recipe for Banana-Caramel Cake.

Serve a slice of this rummy coconut cake to your favorite college grad!

Get the recipe for Coconut-Rum Cake.

Packed with pecans, caramel, and a fudgy topping, every bite of this rich cake is an absolute celebration.

Get the recipe for Praline Turtle Cake.

Anisette liqueur helps give this light cake some depth and flavor, as well as keeping the crumb moist!

Get the recipe for Chocolate Whipped Cream Cake.