# 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 (blue, red, green, or preferred team colors)
16 - Edible black food marker or black fondant
17 - Cornstarch, for rolling fondant
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x13-inch cake pan with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
04 - Mix in vanilla extract. Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk, beginning and ending with the dry mixture. Blend just until incorporated.
05 - Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan.
06 - Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and milk, whipping until the mixture becomes fluffy and spreadable.
07 - Once the cake is cool, carefully remove it from the pan. With a serrated knife, carve the cake into a jersey shape—a rectangle with curved shoulders and side indentations for armholes.
08 - Cover the carved cake with a thin layer of buttercream to lock in crumbs. Chill for 30 minutes.
09 - Tint fondant with desired team colors using food coloring gel. Roll fondant on a cornstarch-dusted surface to 1/8 inch thickness.
10 - Drape the rolled fondant over the chilled cake, smooth the surface, and trim off excess fondant.
11 - Use additional colored fondant or edible markers to add collar, numbers, name, stripes, and graduation year to the jersey.
12 - Place the finished cake on a serving board for presentation.
