Graduation Cupcake Ideas

Don't you love to look at all the wonderfully decorated cupcakes out there? Some of them are so professional-looking that I never thought I could do anything like that, so my cupcakes were always so plain jane.

I searched and searched for ways to give my cupcakes a little more snap in the "visual" department. And what did my eager fingers find? Oodles and Oodles of baking cups, toppers and sticks to decorate with. Add some sprinkles, M & M's and we've decorated a cupcake! And oh, all the ideas out there!

This was great for me because I'd be all thumbs in the fancy decorating department. =( LOL

What helped me the most was to study that beautiful decorated cupcake & figure out how I could make it myself. So here are some tips & ideas for decorating graduation cupcakes, the easy way!

Having two of these helps me whip out a huge batch of cupcakes all at once at the drop of a cupcake...er, hat. The handles are over-sized so they're easy to grab with my big oven mitts. They're also easy to clean!

What you'll need:

Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
Graham Crackers OR
Ghirardelli Chocolate Bars
Fruit Roll-Ups
M & M's or mini M & M's

After baking and frosting your cupcakes, press the Mini Reese's Cups into the frosting of your cupcakes.

Take some graham cracker squares and dip them in melted chocolate and "glue" them to the top of the peanut butter cups with a little bit of frosting. You could also use Ghirardelli chocolate squares if you don't want to use graham crackers.

Make the "tassels" from licorice strips (like Twizzlers) or from fruit leather like Fruit Roll Ups. If you just WANT to use fondant, just cut and roll some thin strips. You can "glue" these onto the top of the graduation hat with a dot of frosting.

Top it off with an M & M or jelly bean in the center of the hat and wallahhh! Graduation Cap Cupcakes.

Now from there, you can use your imagination! Either dip the graham cracker squares into white chocolate candy that you can color with food coloring, or use colored M & M's. This way, you can show school spirit!

Flip your baked cupcakes upside down and "glue" on a chocolate covered graham cracker or cookie with a dab of frosting.

Add an M & M or Skittle and a candy "tassle" (try using fruit leather to make the tassle) and there you have it ~ another graduation cupcake idea!

Five tiers high, this dessert stand would be the center of attention at your graduation party! Holds 38 cupcakes. Silver-finish allows for use after use, with easy washing up. If you like to entertain, this stand would be a very handy piece to own.

Roll up a small piece of parchment or regular paper to resemble a diploma. Tie a ribbon around the middle with a short piece of ribbon OR fruit leather (like Fruit Roll-Ups). Press the "diploma" into the frosting on your cupcake and there you are! Graduation Mini Diploma Cupcakes!

Tip: Take the opportunity to write short messages, brief quotes or funny sayings on the paper. Keep it short! This will add a bit of extra interest for everyone!

Tip: You could also use tulle ribbon to make the mini diplomas. Or even white fondant! =)