Baking the Cake:

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy (3-4 minutes).
4. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Combine and Alternate: Gradually add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined after each addition.
6. Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Cool: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap in plastic wrap if storing for later use.

Making the Frosting:

1. Cream the Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, mixing slowly until incorporated.
3. Flavor and Texture: Stir in the vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. Beat on high speed for 2–3 minutes until the frosting is fluffy. Add more heavy cream if needed to achieve a spreadable consistency.

Assembling and Decorating:

1. Layer the Cake: Place one cake layer on a serving platter. Spread a generous amount of frosting over the cake. Place the second cake layer on top and press gently to adhere.
2. Crumb Coat: Apply a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake to seal in crumbs. Chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
3. Final Frosting Layer: Spread the remaining frosting evenly over the cake using an offset spatula for smooth edges.
4. Decorate: Roll out fondant and create graduation-themed decorations such as caps, scrolls, and numbers for the graduation year. Dust with edible gold for a touch of elegance. Pipe congratulatory messages like “Class of 2024” using colored buttercream.