Graduation Cupcakes

Graduation cupcakes (chocolate cupcakes w confetti frosting & chocolate hat toppers)

It's GRADUATION season!

Lately I can’t get on Facebook or Instagram without seeing endless graduation ceremonies, or on Pinterest without seeing ideas/pins of graduation EVERYTHING! With the accompanying graduation parties and receptions, these Graduation Cupcakes are an easy, delicious, and occasion-appropriate treat to serve at any graduation event!

My sister and I made these for her high school graduation a few years ago, but the recipe needed a refresh and a re-do now that I've learned a bit more about video and photography. 😉

Why make these Graduation Cupcakes? 

  • While graduation cakes are fun, nothing beats cupcakes for ease of serving! No one has to cut or transfer them to plates. 
  • Both the cupcake batter and the frosting come together in one bowl each - you'll just need one additional small bowl to color a bit of frosting for the graduation cap 'tassels.' Or mix it in the piping bag; I don't tell you what to do. 😉 
  • Learn from my mistakes here! ;) Use a light or bright-colored frosting color to really set off the chocolate hat toppers!  My first go at these cupcakes...my sister and I were making cupcakes for her graduation and we used chocolate frosting. It was delicious, but it really didn't lend itself to showcasing the toppers. Obviously you're free to use it if you'd rather! Just know the toppers won't 'pop' on top they way they do on more brightly colored or confetti frosting.
  • See below - the cupcakes, frosting, and toppers can all be prepped ahead if graduation season is getting busy for you! 
  • Summary? A cute, easy-to-serve, delicious graduation dessert perfect for your graduate! 

"How can I adapt this recipe to my graduate?" 

I 100% recommend changing the colors to match the school colors of the graduate! 
  • You can change the color of the 'tassel' on top of the graduation cap decoration - or even color the frosting!
  • You could also use a vanilla cupcake and add food coloring to the cake batter.
  • I didn't personally love the look, but I've seen other graduation cupcakes that used M&M's as a "button" on top of the graduation cap.
  • Color-coordinated cupcake liners  would also be an option! Just be aware unless you use a foil liner your liner will tend to take on the color of the batter baked inside it.
  • As an aside, I also recommend displaying them with the tassel on the 'graduated' side after the ceremony! 

"How should I store these cupcakes?"

  • If you make and frost them ahead of time, the cupcakes and the frosting should be stored in the fridge. Remove from the fridge a few hours ahead of serving however; they taste better at room temperature. 
  • If you prep the toppers ahead, store them at room temperature! Chocolate can have a bit of a tendency to develop a whitish coating on the outside in the fridge. (There's a science-ey reason for this that I can't fit into a brief description in this post. Google 'why does chocolate turn white' if you're curious.) Anyway, they're better to store at room temperature to prevent that. They can be prepped ahead, just don't store them in the fridge.
  • If there are any leftovers following the graduation celebration, store them in the fridge and try to finish them in 2-3 days.  

Recipe below - happy baking, and congratulations to your graduate! 

(Disclosure: As an Amazon associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, and my posts often contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you!) 

Don't forget to pin this recipe for later!

Graduation cupcakes (new) pinterest pin
Graduation cupcakes (chocolate cupcakes w confetti frosting & chocolate hat toppers)

Graduation Cupcakes

Grab some chocolate squares and Rolos or Reeses candy, and bake and decorate these congratulatory Graduation Cupcakes!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cupcakes
Calories 310 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour (350g)
  • 2 ¼ cups granulated sugar (450g)
  • 1 ¼ cup cocoa powder (100g)
  • 1 tsp baking soda (5g)
  • ¾ tsp salt (4g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks/250g; softened)
  • 4 large eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1 ½ cups buttermilk (350mL)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

Decorations

Instructions
 

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Preheat an oven to 350℉ (180℃). Line cupcake pans with liners.
  • Mix together dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt) in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle (or hand mixer or whisk) until well combined. Add in bits of softened butter, mixing until no lumps of butter are visible and the mixture looks crumbly.
  • Whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and mix until no dry ingredients are visible. Scrape down the bowl and beat for another 20 seconds.
  • Fill each liner ⅔ full (using a large cookie scoop to transfer the batter makes this a quick and easy process).
  • Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting. Set in the fridge or freezer to accelerate the cooling process if desired. (Waiting until the cupcakes are cool ensures your frosting won't melt!)

Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

  • Beat together softened cream cheese and butter; slowly add in 5 cups of powdered sugar until frosting reaches a pipeable consistency. Remove about ½ cup of frosting into another bowl to color and use for piping the cupcake tassels.
  • Continue beating, adding the rest of the powdered sugar alternating with whitener and flavoring (+ 1-2 T of milk if needed) until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. Add salt and beat until well combined.

Decorating

  • When your cupcakes have cooled completely, decorate with frosting - I piped circles onto silicone mats and then pressed the cupcakes into them for flat tops, but this is optional.
  • Color your reserved frosting the color of your choice – I went with blue for the graduate's school colors for the cupcakes in the photos.
  • Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe a small line from the center of each chocolate square toward the edge with a few lines at the end to resemble a tassel.
  • Use a small dab of frosting to adhere a Rolo caramel or Reese’s cup to the bottom of each chocolate square. Transfer graduation hat toppers to the tops of your cupcakes! High-five your graduate - and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcakeCalories: 310kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 2.4gFat: 19g
Keyword Chocolate Graduation Cupcakes, Graduation Cupcakes, Graduation Hat Cupcakes
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Mentioned in post -
Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting 

Did you make these Graduation Cupcakes? 

Send me an email and let me know how it went – or make my day and find me on Pinterest or on Instagram and tag @IntensiveCakeUnit in your photo!

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