Graduation Cap Cookies
Celebrate your graduation or that of a loved one with these delightful Graduation Cap Cookies! These fun and festive treats blend the rich flavors of chocolate, peanut butter, and fruit into a whimsical dessert that’s sure to impress. Perfect for parties or as a personal reward, these cookies capture the spirit of achievement with their creative design and delicious taste. Get ready to indulge in a sweet treat that’s as memorable as your graduation day!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
4
Ingredients
Ingredients
Miniature peanut butter cups
2 (unwrapped)
Chocolate-covered graham cracker cookies
2 (unpackaged)
Peanut butter
1 teaspoon (smooth)
Fruit roll-up
1 (sliced into pieces)
Instructions
1
Begin by inverting one miniature peanut butter cup on a clean surface.
2
Add a generous dollop of smooth peanut butter on top of the inverted peanut butter cup.
3
Carefully place a chocolate-covered graham cracker cookie atop the peanut butter dollop to form the 'mortarboard' top of your graduation cap.
4
To create the tassel, take a piece of fruit roll-up and roll it tightly into a small cylinder.
5
Use kitchen scissors to snip fringe on one end of the rolled fruit leather to mimic a tassel.
6
Moisten the opposite end of the rolled fruit leather with a tiny bit of water to make it sticky.
7
Attach the moistened end of the fruit roll-up to the top of the graham cracker, ensuring it hangs down to resemble a tassel.
8
Repeat the process to create a second graduation cap cookie for a total of two delicious treats.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Graduation Cap Cookies?
Graduation Cap Cookies are whimsical, no-bake treats designed to look like academic mortarboards using peanut butter cups and chocolate cookies.
What ingredients are needed for these cookies?
You will need miniature peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered graham cracker cookies, smooth peanut butter, and fruit roll-ups.
How many cookies does this recipe make?
As written, this recipe provides instructions to create two individual graduation cap cookies.
Is baking required for this recipe?
No, this is a no-bake recipe that focuses on assembly rather than cooking.
What acts as the glue to hold the cap together?
A dollop of smooth peanut butter is used as an edible adhesive to attach the cookie to the candy base.
How do you make the tassel?
The tassel is made by rolling a piece of fruit roll-up into a cylinder and snipping fringe on one end with kitchen scissors.
Can I use something other than fruit roll-ups for the tassel?
Yes, you can substitute with pull-apart licorice, sour candy strips, or even piped frosting.
How do you attach the tassel to the cookie?
Moisten one end of the fruit leather with a tiny bit of water to make it sticky and press it onto the top of the cookie.
What kind of cookie works best for the mortarboard?
Chocolate-covered graham cracker cookies are ideal because they provide a flat, square-like surface.
Should the peanut butter cups be unwrapped?
Yes, the miniature peanut butter cups should be unwrapped before you begin assembly.
Can I use large peanut butter cups instead of miniature ones?
You can, but you would need larger cookies to keep the proportions looking like a graduation cap.
What if I have a peanut allergy?
You can substitute the peanut butter cups with chocolate caramels and use sunflower butter or frosting as the adhesive.
Can these be made in advance?
Yes, they can be made a day in advance, but store them in a cool place so the chocolate doesn't melt.
How should these cookies be stored?
Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to prevent the fruit roll-up from getting too sticky.
Can I add a button to the top of the cap?
Yes, adding a small M&M or a chocolate chip to the center where the tassel attaches adds a nice decorative touch.
Are these suitable for children to make?
Absolutely, this is a fun and easy assembly project that is very kid-friendly.
What is the 'mortarboard' part of the cookie?
The mortarboard is the flat top of the graduation cap, represented here by the chocolate-covered graham cracker.
Can I use different colors for the tassel?
Yes, you can use different flavored or colored fruit roll-ups to match specific school colors.
Do I need special tools for this recipe?
Only kitchen scissors are needed to snip the fringe for the tassels.
How do you keep the cookies from sliding off the base?
Using a generous dollop of peanut butter and allowing them to set in a cool environment helps keep them stable.
Is smooth or crunchy peanut butter better?
Smooth peanut butter is recommended as it provides a more even surface for the cookie to rest on.
Can I use white chocolate cookies instead?
Yes, white chocolate-covered crackers can be used to create white graduation caps.
How long does it take to assemble?
It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to assemble a small batch of these treats.
Can I use frosting instead of peanut butter?
Yes, chocolate frosting works as a great alternative adhesive.
What category of food is this?
This recipe falls under the dessert and snack categories, specifically for celebrations.
Can these be frozen?
It is not recommended to freeze them as the texture of the fruit roll-up and the cookie might change upon thawing.
Are these cookies vegetarian?
Based on the standard ingredients listed, these cookies are vegetarian-friendly.
Can I make a large batch for a party?
Yes, this recipe is very easy to scale up by simply increasing the quantities of the four main ingredients.
Why do you invert the peanut butter cup?
The cup is inverted so the wider base provides a stable platform for the cookie to sit on.
Does the fruit roll-up need to be wet?
Only a tiny bit of water is needed on one end to help it stick to the chocolate surface of the cookie.