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Easy Royal Icing Sheet Cake Recipe for Perfect Graduation Celebrations

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A quick and easy sheet cake topped with smooth royal icing, perfect for graduation celebrations and special occasions. Moist, tender, and simple with pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 4 tablespoons pasteurized egg whites (or 3 tablespoons meringue powder + 5 tablespoons water)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch sheet pan and line with parchment paper.
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to blend.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until fluffy and pale.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract briefly.
  5. Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until smooth; avoid overmixing.
  6. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan. Tap pan gently to release air bubbles.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Edges should pull away slightly.
  8. Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare royal icing by beating powdered sugar, egg whites, and lemon juice starting on low speed, then medium-high until stiff peaks form but icing still spreads easily (5-7 minutes). Add vanilla if desired. Adjust consistency with water or powdered sugar as needed.
  10. Spread royal icing evenly over cooled cake using an offset spatula. Add piped decorations if desired after base layer sets for 10-15 minutes.
  11. Let icing dry at room temperature for 1-2 hours before slicing.

Notes

Use room-temperature ingredients for best results. Ensure mixing bowl and beaters are grease-free for royal icing. If icing is too thick, add a few drops of warm water sparingly. Avoid refrigerating iced cake immediately to prevent dulling the finish. For dairy-free or vegan options, substitute butter with plant-based alternatives and use aquafaba for egg whites. Gluten-free flour blends can replace all-purpose flour for gluten-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: royal icing, sheet cake, graduation cake, easy cake recipe, celebration dessert, moist cake, simple ingredients

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/easy-royal-icing-sheet-cake-recipe-for-perfect-graduation-celebrations/