Whether it’s from high school, kindergarten, or college, graduation is a milestone worth celebrating. You can do that with gifts, parties, and lots of great food. On this list, you’ll find traditional, good-for-every-occasion desserts, such as peanut butter pie, banana pudding, and brownies. However, like the grad cap cookies mentioned above, you’ll also find some meant explicitly for graduation celebrations. Whichever route you decide to take, the graduate in your life is sure to appreciate the effort (and enjoy the results).
1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are a classic favorite, but these are better than most. The extra egg yolk in the recipe makes the chocolate incredibly gooey and yummy, and the wealth of brown sugar gives them a super soft texture. These are truly some of the best chocolate chip cookies you’ll ever eat.
2. Grad Cap Cookies
These little grad cap cookies are fun, unique, and perfect for any graduation. Plus, you won’t have to do any cooking. Just follow the instructions to assemble the cutest graduation caps you’ve ever seen!
3. Brownie Pops
Brownies are an easy, tasty dessert, that’s perfect for every occasion. Sometimes, though, you just want something different. Brownie pops put a new spin on an old favorite. You’ll start with brownie mix, just as you always would. However, instead of making them in a pan and cutting them into squares, you’ll roll them into balls, dip them in chocolate, and decorate them with festive sprinkles.
4. Cheesecake Brownie
If you want to stick to “normal” brownies but still want something a little more unique, make cheesecake brownies instead. Add a scrumptious cream cheese filling to a dense, fudgy brownie base and swirl them together for one gorgeous, ultra-decadent dessert.
5. Mini-Cheesecake Bites
Whether you go with strawberry, blueberry, pumpkin, mixed berries, or Oreo, these dainty cheesecake bites are fantastic. Each one is ideally sized for one soft, tasty bite of creamy, cheesy goodness.
6. Cheesecake
Save this rich, slightly tart cheesecake with the perfect spongy texture for the days when mini cheesecake bites just won’t do the trick. It takes a little time and work to pull it together, but whether you eat it plain or topped with delicious berries or whipped cream, this cheesecake is worth it.
7. Funfetti Rice Krispie Pops
These are simply Rice Krispies treats; only they’re dialed up to 11! Put them on popsicle sticks and dip them in melted white chocolate. Before the chocolate dries, cover them with sprinkles, edible glitter, or whatever decoration you want to use. Pro Tip: If you look on Etsy, you can usually find customizable sprinkles for your graduate’s school colors. You could also make a custom sprinkle mixture. However, the ones on Etsy often have tiny graduation hats in the mix, as well.
8. Strawberries and Cream Mini-Parfaits
I love mini-desserts because they’re such an elegant, sophisticated dessert option. There’s just something about each guest getting his or her own glass filled with a lovely strawberry and cream dessert that just makes a party feel more high-class. I also love them because it only takes about 20 minutes to make half a dozen.
9. Chocolate Cake
This chocolate cake is a must-try for all serious chocolate lovers. It features two soft, moist chocolate layers, separated by rich, decadent chocolate icing. Then you’ll cover the top of the cake with more totally indulgent, extra-sweet chocolate frosting. It looks terrific and is a chocolate lover’s dream. There’s no denying that it’s incredibly rich, though, so cut small slices.
10. Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods
All you’ll need for these tantalizing treats are 40 pretzel rods, some melted chocolate, and a batch of melted caramel. Then you’ll dip each rod first in the caramel and then in the chocolate. Before the chocolate dries, add glitter, sprinkles, or other lightweight decorations. The juxtaposition of the crunchy, salty pretzels and the soft, sweet toppings is heavenly.
11. Tuxedo Strawberries
Despite how nice and professional these tuxedo-wearing strawberries look, they’re quite simple to make. You can make two dozen or more in less than 30 minutes. They look sweet and adorable, and they taste amazing. (They’re chocolate-covered strawberries, after all, and we know how yummy those are.)
12. Cinnamon Rolls
These copycat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls are a sticky, gooey mess, and after a single sugar- and cinnamon-filled bite, no one will care about the mess. These rolls have a slight crispiness on the outside but are warm and soft, especially at the center. They’re also covered in a lovely glaze of cream cheese, salt, sugar, butter, and vanilla. They may not be Cinnabons, but they’re the next best thing.
13. Ding Dong Cake
Picture this: A fluffy, creamy vanilla filling sandwiched between two layers of moist, mouthwateringly good fudgy layers and topped with chocolate ganache. Nope. You’re not picturing a Hostess Cream Cake; you’re imagining something much bigger – a totally decadent Ding Dong cake. It may take over an hour to make, but it’ll be an hour well spent.
14. Mini-Donuts
Bisquick is one of those miracle ingredients you can use for just about anything, including these sugary, deep-fried mini-donuts. You’ll only need seven commonplace ingredients and about 25 minutes to make two dozen of them.
15. Banana Pudding
If you’ve ever spent time in the south, chances are you’ve enjoyed a tasty bowl of banana pudding. There are two types, usually called “cold banana pudding” and “hot banana pudding.” This recipe is for hot banana pudding, and it’s superb. The “pudding” and bananas are creamy and milky. The Nilla Wafers are crunchy, and the meringue topping is as delicate and airy as clouds.
16. Peanut Butter Pie
If you’re a fan of peanut butter and also love desserts that look as good as they taste, you’ll love this recipe for peanut butter pie. It only requires six ingredients and takes about 20 minutes to whip up. There’s no cooking involved, but it does need to sit in the freezer for 2 and a half hours before you serve it. It has a silky, creamy texture and a rich peanut butter flavor. Put simply, it’s one that everybody loves.
17. Macaroons
These homemade macaroons require only five ingredients and less than 30 minutes to make. They’re fabulously chewy, and you’ll love the robust and nutty flavor of toasted coconut.
18. Funfetti Surprise Cupcakes
Cupcakes are always a fun, tasty treat, but these are extra exciting, thanks to the “Funfetti surprise” that pours out of them when you get to the middle. They’re a little messy, especially if the person eating them doesn’t know they’re full of multi-colored, edible confetti. But then again, that’s half the fun.
19. Chocolate Donuts
These baked chocolate donuts are incredible. They’re moist and surprisingly fluffy and light for donuts. They aren’t greasy and heavy on your stomach like fried donuts. The chocolate is rich and full-flavored, and each bite almost dissolves on your tongue. If possible, try to serve them warm and gooey. You won’t believe how good they can be.
20. Dessert Kabobs
Dessert kabobs are the perfect after-dinner treat for the person who can never choose between all the delicious sweets on the table. You can play with the recipe and add whatever you like, but this recipe uses strawberries, marshmallows, Rice Krispies treats, brownie bites, and cream puffs. The kabobs also have a chocolate sauce drizzle, which is nice, but if you really want to go all out, set up a chocolate fountain instead. You could also turn these into a “make your own dessert” bar, where guests assemble them with their own favorite sweets and top them with chocolate, caramel, sprinkles, etc.
21. Millionaire’s Shortbread
These three-layer squares of joy may look intimidating, but they’re pretty simple to make, requiring fewer than 10 ingredients and only 30 minutes of prep work. Take it layer by layer. For the shortbread layer, you’ll need butter, flour, and sugar. Simply mix and bake them. While the shortbread cools, make the caramel from maple syrup, butter, and condensed milk. That’s your second layer. The final layer is whatever kind of chocolate you like best. There’s nothing much to it, and the phenomenal taste and the fun texture (crumbly at the bottom, smooth on top) are well worth the effort.
22. Nutella Crunch Dessert Shooters
Let’s hope the only shooters and shot glasses your graduate sees at his or her party are these silky, flavor-filled Oreo and Nutella dessert shooters. All you’ll need to make them are the shot glasses (plastic ones are fine), Oreos, Nutella, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and Cool Whip. They take only 30 minutes to whip up and require no actual cooking.
23. Caramel Popcorn
You can make this sweet, crunchy caramel popcorn in 15 minutes or less in your microwave! There’s nothing simpler than this straightforward recipe. Bonus: Throw in some caramel-covered peanuts if you want to make a homemade version of Cracker Jacks.
24. Chocolate Apples
If you’re looking for a graduation treat your graduate can take with them when they leave, these chocolate-covered apples are ideal, and they’re so easy to make. You can use any apples, really, but you’ll get the best taste from Granny Smith apples. Their tartness pairs perfectly with the richness of the chocolate.
25. Strawberry Shortcake
Looking for a way to put a new spin on an old favorite? Use Bisquick to make individual shortcakes (biscuits!), then fill them with whipped cream and sugared strawberries. If you’re worried about making shortcakes from biscuits, don’t be. They’re buttery, flaky, and insanely good.
26. Death By Chocolate
These may look similar to the dessert shooters, but they’re much richer and much more chocolatey. The layers for this one include a fudge brownie, chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and chocolate-covered English toffee. Now, you probably understand the name a bit better.
27. Whoopie Pies
These fluffy chocolate cookies surround an even fluffier filling made from shortening, sugar, flour, and eggs. If they don’t make you scream, “Whoopie!,” I’m not sure anything could.
28. Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cone Fruit Cups
If you’re looking for something fun, quick to make, and at least halfway healthy, try these waffle cone fruit cups. First of all, they look fantastic. Secondly, they taste even better. Finally, it takes 15 minutes to make a dozen, and there’s no cooking involved. Simply dip the waffle cones in a mixture of melted chocolate and butterscotch. Let them dry, then add strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and whatever other fruit you like. Drizzle the fruit with more of the chocolate/butterscotch mixture and serve them with a smile.
29. Sugar Cookie Mini-Fruit Pizzas
I’m a sucker for anything that looks as good as it tastes, and these sugar cookie fruit pizzas look absolutely stunning, more like works of art than desserts. Start by baking large sugar cookies. You can buy them if you prefer, but make sure you get them without icing. You’ll make your own with cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. You could also use chocolate icing or Nutella. After you ice each cookie, carefully arrange your fruit slices. If you’re not artistic, don’t worry; these aren’t hard to make. To make the flower shapes shown here, simply arrange your strawberry slices in a circular pattern. Stick a kiwi slice in the middle, a raspberry on top of that, and blueberries around the side. If you are a creative/artistic person, don’t limit yourself to this single design. Make whatever gorgeous art you want. And hey, if you mess one or two up, that just means there’s more for you.
30. Chocolate Covered Oreos
Although these aren’t nearly as healthy as the waffle cone fruit cups, they’re just as easy to make and require no cooking. Dip each Oreo into melted white, milk, or dark chocolate. Before the chocolate dries, add sprinkles, glitter, or any of your other favorite decorations. You could also drizzle them in the opposite color of chocolate if you prefer. If you want to get really creative, use white chocolate, and add food coloring to match your graduate’s school colors. Then, top them off with school-colored sprinkles. Click on a star to rate it!
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