Decorating Store-Bought Graduation Cakes

Save up for your graduate's college tuition and cut costs by decorating a plain sheet cake from the grocery store with one of these ideas.

1. Rolled Diploma:

Don't let a tight budget keep you from giving your grad a great cake.

Roll up a piece of white paper as a diploma and tie ribbon around the middle to keep it closed. Set it on top of the cake for a simple graduation theme.

2. Edible Sheet with a Diploma or Photo:

Put your graduate's face or a thematic image like a personalized diploma on your cake by using an edible photo sheet.

These sheets are made with rice or soy paper, which can be printed on using edible ink. Many grocery store bakeries can do this for you or you can order one online at Picture Your Cake.

3. Grads, Caps, and Candle Cake Decor:

The easiest way to go is by purchasing graduation cake decor, candles, or figurines to dress up your cake.

While picking up plates, cups and other supplies at the party store, grab a bobblehead grad for the class clown or graduation cap and diploma candles for classic style for your cake.

4. Embellish with Square Chocolate Cookies and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups:

A box of square chocolate cookies and bag of chocolate peanut butter cups become instant edible grad hats when piled atop each other and topped with a squiggle of yellow icing.

5. Themed Decorations:

Hosting a candy land theme graduation party or making your graduation celebration a luau theme? Incorporate elements from your party theme into your cake.