# What You’ll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Buttercream Frosting
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar
11 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
14 - 2 pounds white fondant
15 - Food coloring gel (blue, red, green, or preferred team colors)
16 - Edible black food marker or black fondant
17 - Cornstarch for rolling fondant
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x13-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
04 - Mix in the vanilla extract. Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour, mixing on low speed until just combined.
05 - Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth top. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Allow cake to cool completely in the pan.
06 - Beat softened butter until smooth. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk until frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
07 - Remove cooled cake from pan. Using a serrated knife, carve cake into a jersey silhouette—rectangle with curves at the shoulders and indented sides for armholes.
08 - Spread a thin layer of buttercream frosting over the entire cake as a crumb coat. Chill for 30 minutes.
09 - Tint fondant with desired team colors using food coloring gel. Roll out fondant on a cornstarch-dusted surface to 1/8 inch thickness.
10 - Drape the rolled fondant over the chilled crumb-coated cake. Smooth surface gently and trim excess fondant.
11 - Embellish cake with additional colored fondant or edible black food marker to create jersey collar, numbers, name, stripes, and graduation year.
12 - Transfer decorated cake onto a serving board and present at the graduation event.
