# What You'll Need:
→ Cake
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 4 large eggs
07 - 1 cup whole milk
08 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Buttercream Frosting
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 4 cups powdered sugar
11 - 2–3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
14 - 2 pounds white fondant
15 - Food coloring gel in desired colors (blue, red, green, or team colors)
16 - Edible black food marker or black fondant
17 - Cornstarch for rolling fondant
# How to Make It:
01 - Set oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x13-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly mixed.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs individually, mixing after each addition.
04 - Mix in vanilla extract. Alternate additions of flour mixture and milk, starting and finishing with flour. Blend just until the batter is smooth.
05 - Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the surface. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Allow to cool completely in the pan.
06 - Beat softened butter until smooth. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and milk, mixing until the frosting is light and spreadable.
07 - After cooling, remove cake from the pan. Using a serrated knife, trim cake into a jersey silhouette with curved shoulders and indented sides for armholes.
08 - Spread a thin layer of buttercream frosting over the entire cake to seal crumbs. Chill for 30 minutes.
09 - Color fondant with food gel. Roll fondant on a lightly cornstarch-dusted surface to 1/8 inch thickness.
10 - Drape rolled fondant over the chilled cake. Smooth across the surface, trim excess fondant cleanly.
11 - Use colored fondant or edible marker to accentuate jersey features such as collar, name, numbers, stripes, and graduation year.
12 - Place decorated cake onto a serving board for display.
