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Elegant Gold and Black Graduation Cupcake Tower

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A classy and festive cupcake tower featuring moist vanilla cupcakes with rich black cocoa and shimmering gold buttercream frosting, perfect for graduation celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for gold frosting)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted (for gold frosting)
  • 2–3 tbsp (30-45ml) heavy cream (for gold frosting)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (for gold frosting)
  • 1 tsp edible gold dust (optional, for shimmer)
  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened (for black frosting)
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted (for black frosting)
  • 2–3 tbsp (30-45ml) heavy cream (for black frosting)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (for black frosting)
  • Black gel food coloring, a few drops
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • Graduation-themed cupcake toppers (caps, diplomas, numbers)
  • Gold sprinkles or edible pearls
  • Black and gold ribbon for the tower base (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line muffin pans with cupcake liners (about 24 for full tower).
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
  6. Fill cupcake liners about two-thirds full with batter. Bake 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Rotate pans halfway through baking.
  7. Cool cupcakes in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
  8. For gold frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar alternating with heavy cream. Add vanilla and edible gold dust. Mix until smooth and fluffy. Adjust cream for consistency.
  9. For black frosting: Repeat buttercream process with butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla. Blend in cocoa powder and black gel food coloring until deep black color is achieved.
  10. Pipe gold and black frosting alternately onto cupcakes using a round tip for gold and star tip for black. Decorate with edible pearls and graduation-themed toppers.
  11. Assemble cupcakes on tiered stand, securing with frosting if needed.

Notes

Cool cupcakes completely before frosting to prevent melting. Add cocoa powder to black frosting to deepen color. Use edible gold dust sparingly for shimmer. Bake cupcakes a day ahead for best results. Use separate piping bags for each frosting color to avoid smudging. Stabilize tower tiers with dowels or straws if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: graduation cupcakes, cupcake tower, gold frosting, black frosting, celebration dessert, vanilla cupcakes, buttercream frosting, party dessert

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/elegant-gold-and-black-graduation-cupcake-tower-easy-step-by-step-guide-for-celebrations/