Graduation Cap Cookies

Graduation cap cookies are the sweetest way to say, “Congrats, grad!” More candy than cookie recipe, these delightful edible hats consist of peanut butter cups and mint squares with little candy-coated chocolates on the tip-top. Voilà—a mini mortarboard! And, of course, there’s the tassel: moving it from right to left means your loved one is officially moving on up, whether it’s from the first grade, high school or college. These adorable little sweets are perfect for party platters or on buffet tables at the next graduation party.

Ingredients for Graduation Cap Cookies

• Miniature peanut butter cups: These small cups are the ideal chocolate and peanut butter blend and make the perfect base for the other candy. The little ridges on the outer rim resemble a mortarboard’s skull-cap portion.
• Decorating frosting: You need frosting to glue the square mint to the round peanut butter cup and to make the tassel.
• After Eight mint chocolate thins: Thin squares of mint fondant wrapped in dark chocolate were originally an after-dinner mint to be eaten “after eight,” and they make the perfect size for the top of the mortarboard hat. These delightful English candies can be hard to find, but don’t worry, you can use plenty of chocolate treats instead. Try Ghirardelli squares or chocolate-covered graham crackers if the mints are challenging to secure.
• Milk chocolate M&M’s or semisweet chocolate chips: Use one of these as the button on top of the board to hold the tassel on the cap. I like the more colorful option of M&M’s (and the opportunity to snack on the rest of the bag), but chocolate chips are a terrific option.

Directions

Step 1: Make the hat

Remove the paper liners from the peanut butter cups, and place the mini cups upside down on waxed paper. Place a small amount of frosting on each peanut butter cup and center a mint on each.

Step 2: Craft a tassel

Using the frosting, make a loop for each cap’s tassel. Place an M&M on top of each loop.

Editor’s Tip: A pastry bag with a very small tip works best. If you don’t have one, cut the very tip off the corner of a storage bag, fill it with frosting and use that instead for the tassel on each cookie graduation cap.

SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME

Recipe Variations

• Switch out the base: Rolos are smaller but can still do the trick. If you are thinking about making larger mortarboards, a fudge-dipped Oreo could be your foundation. Get inspired in the candy aisle—there is no wrong choice!
• Find your favorite chocolate square: If mint isn’t your cup of tea, try a chocolate-covered shortbread cookie. You can also make a Hershey milk chocolate bar the proper shape or slice your preferred dark chocolate bar into a square.
• Consider flavor pairings: Ghirardelli squares come in all sorts of flavors, and thinking about what flavors go well together could take your cookie graduation cap treat to the next level. How about a raspberry-filled square with the peanut butter cup, making a candy PB&J? Or, topping a Rolo with a salted caramel square? I love using dark chocolate Reese’s cups with deep, dark chocolate candy bars on top for a not-as-sweet alternative.
• Show some school pride: Use food coloring in the icing to create your school’s colors. You can also keep it classy with chocolate frosting, or black or white frosting. If you are making a frosting recipe, be sure it dries down hard like homemade royal icing.
• Make them into cakes: Put these graduation cap cookies on top of a cupcake, and you have graduation cupcakes!

How to Store Graduation Cap Cookies

Store your cookies in an airtight container, unlayered. There is no need to refrigerate them! A word to the wise though: Do not leave these tasty little morsels in a hot car in June; they will melt faster than you can say, “Happy graduation!”

How long do graduation cap cookies last?

Cookie graduation caps can last up to a week if stored in a well-sealed container.

Can you freeze graduation cap cookies?

Sure thing! These super cute confections are easy to throw in the freezer and will last up to three months in a sealed container. When you do take them out of the deep freeze, they don’t need to be heated or thawed very long. They’re pretty tasty slightly chilled.

Graduation Cap Cookie Tips

SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME

How else can you make the tassel on these graduation cap cookies?

Frosting isn’t the only option for making the tassel. Look for skinny licorice ropes, or cut tiny strips from sour candy tape or Fruit by the Foot. If you feel like expressing your inner sculptor, you can try fashioning a tassel out of fondant.

What are some other graduation party food ideas?

When planning a graduation party, you want to make it as hassle-free as possible. Think make-ahead graduation party food and graduation desserts. With chips and dips, sliders or homemade ice cream sandwiches, your party will go down in history as a moment to remember.