Homemade Grad Party Cake: Silky Vanilla

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Combine cake flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. Add cubed butter and mix on low speed until the texture resembles coarse sand.
4. Beat in eggs one by one, then stir in whole milk, vanilla bean paste, and lemon juice. Mix only until smooth.
5. Divide batter evenly between the two pans and bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
6. Cool cakes in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Level the cakes using a serrated knife to remove the domes.
8. Place the first layer on a plate, spread a thick layer of buttercream, and top with the second layer.
9. Apply a thin crumb coat of frosting over the entire cake and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
10. Using the cake trim, stack two small squares of cake, frost with black buttercream, and add a chocolate stick and yellow frosting tassel to create the graduation cap.