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Perfect Graduation Cookie Cake Recipe with Buttercream Diploma and Stars

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A festive and delicious cookie cake topped with a smooth buttercream diploma and stars, perfect for graduation celebrations. This recipe is quick, easy, and uses simple pantry ingredients to create a soft, chewy cookie base with creamy frosting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ¾ cups (345 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup (165 grams) packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups (270 grams) chocolate chips or chunks (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
  • For the Buttercream:
  • 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Black gel icing for diploma lettering

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
  6. Fold in the chocolate chips gently with a spatula.
  7. Spread the cookie dough evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. The cookie should be soft, not dry.
  9. Cool the cookie cake completely on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before decorating.
  10. To make the buttercream, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with milk or cream, and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
  11. Divide the frosting if using multiple colors. Use piping bags fitted with small round and star tips to pipe the diploma and stars. Use black gel icing for diploma lettering.
  12. Let the decorated cookie cake set at room temperature for about 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Use softened butter for both cookie dough and buttercream for best results. Avoid overmixing the dough to keep the cookie soft. Cool the cookie completely before frosting to prevent melting. If buttercream is too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time. Practice piping on parchment paper if new to decorating. For gluten-free or dairy-free versions, substitute flour and dairy ingredients accordingly but expect slight texture changes.

Nutrition

Keywords: cookie cake, graduation dessert, buttercream frosting, celebration cake, easy cookie cake, chocolate chip cookie cake

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/perfect-graduation-cookie-cake-recipe-with-buttercream-diploma-and-stars-easy-step-by-step-guide/