Celebrate your loved one with these Graduation Cupcakes. Make these cupcakes with their school colors for a fun graduation topper cupcake.
These Graduation Cupcakes are a great way to celebrate your loved one’s graduation. They are the perfect cupcake recipe for high school graduation, preschool and college graduation. Make sure you check out more Graduation Desserts.
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
If you are planning a Graduation party and do not want to spend bakery prices, make your own graduation cupcakes. The ingredients are simple as it starts with a cake mix.
Impress your guest with these Homemade Graduation Cupcakes. Nothing says congratulations better than a cupcake! They taste great and look great for Graduation Day.
We love making cupcakes and also make Cherry Limeade Cupcakes.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- Mini Peanut Butter Cups. Make sure to unwrap these.
- Red M&Ms. You can also use red hots.
- Peel-apart String Licorice. Separate and cut into 3 inch pieces.
Buttercream Frosting
- Unsalted Butter. Soften this at room temperature so the frosting will be smooth.
- Powdered Sugar. Sift the confectioners’ sugar to remove any lumps.
- Clear Vanilla Extract. You will need clear vanilla extract so the frosting will be white.
The entire ingredient list can be found at the bottom of the page.
Additions and Substitutions
- Melted Chocolate – Drizzle the tops of the cupcakes with melted chocolate.
- Mini Cupcakes – Make these cupcakes in a mini cupcake pan. Place a small amount of cake batter into cupcake liners.
- Homemade Cupcakes – Make cupcakes from scratch by combining flour mixture with other ingredients to make a delicious homemade cupcake.
- Change the Topping – We used M&M but you can use other types of candy. The licorice can also be substituted with a fruit roll up.
- Sprinkles – You can easily add sprinkles to the tops of the frosting. We like using colors from the school they are graduating from.
How to Make Graduation Cap Cupcakes
Step 1. Make the cupcakes based on the package instructions in a medium bowl. Then allow to cool completely once out of the oven on a wire rack before decorating.
Step 2. While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting in a large bowl. Cream together the butter and powdered sugar until combined and smooth. Then add in the milk and vanilla extract. Mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Step 3. Frost Cupcakes – Pipe the vanilla buttercream frosting onto each of the cool cupcakes.
Step 4. Place miniature peanut butter cups upside down on top of each frosted cupcake.
Step 5. Use the brown decorating gel to act as “glue” to attach a chocolate square on top of each peanut butter cup.
Step 6. Add M&M and Licorice – Then pinch the end of the string licorice to flatten it out and use the gel to place it to the center of the chocolate square for the tassel. Place a red M&M on top of the end of the licorice.
Pro Tips
- Chocolate Square – I used Ghirardelli Chocolate Square but any squares will work great.
- Frosting – You can use pre-made frosting to save more time on this recipe if you prefer.
- Cupcake – Feel free to use any type of cake mix. You can even use store bought cupcakes.
- Room Temperature – Before frosting cupcakes, make sure they are at room temperature.
FAQs
Yes, you can easily make these cupcakes ahead of time. Save time and money and make these a day ahead of time.
Store the leftover cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Store in a container that is deep enough, so it does not mess up the topping.
The rule of thumb when hosting a graduation party is one and half cupcakes per guest. If you are serving mini cupcakes, plan on about 2 to 3 mini cupcakes per guest.
More Easy Cupcake Recipes
- Pink Champagne Cupcakes
- Green Velvet Cupcakes
- Easy Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
- Piñata Cupcakes
- Key Lime Cupcakes
- S’mores Cupcakes recipe
Make these festive Graduation Cupcakes for a fun treat. Then please leave a comment and star recipe rating.
Graduation Cupcakes
Ingredients
FOR THE CUPCAKES:
- 1 pkg White Cake Mix
- *Ingredients to prepare the cupcakes based on the package instructions
- 24 Mini Peanut Butter Cups unwrapped
- 24 Chocolate Square Candies
- 24 Red M&Ms
- Peel-apart String Licorice separated and cut into 3 inch pieces
- Brown Decorating Gel
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
- 3/4 cup Unsalted Butter softened
- 2 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tbsp Milk
- 1 tsp Clear Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcakes based on the package instructions and allow them to cool completely before decorating the cupcakes.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. Cream together the butter and powdered sugar until combined and smooth. Then add in the milk and vanilla extract and mix for 1-2 minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Pipe the frosting onto each of the cupcakes.
- Place a mini peanut butter cup upside down on top of each frosted cupcake. Use the brown decorating gel to act as “glue” to attach a chocolate square on top of each peanut butter cup.
- Then pinch the end of the string licorice to flatten it out and use the gel to place it to the center of the chocolate square and place a red M&M on top of the end of the licorice.
- Let the decorating gel completely and then the cupcakes are ready to serve and enjoy!
