Description
Graduation Cap Chocolate Cupcakes are festive, fudgy, and fun — perfect for celebrating graduates of all ages! These rich vegan chocolate cupcakes are topped with a clever candy graduation cap made from chocolate squares, mini peanut butter cups (or vegan alternative), and licorice tassels. A sweet and memorable way to say “congrats!” Keywords: graduation cupcakes, vegan chocolate cupcakes, graduation dessert, edible graduation caps, party cupcake recipe.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup organic cane sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plant-based milk (almond, soy, or oat)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Frosting:
- 1/2 cup vegan butter
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons plant milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Graduation Cap Toppers:
- Mini vegan peanut butter cups or chocolate truffles (for base)
- Vegan chocolate squares (like Enjoy Life or Hu Kitchen)
- Thin strips of fruit leather or licorice (for tassels)
- Vegan mini chocolate chips or icing (for “button”)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tray with 12 liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine plant milk, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly among liners. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- For the frosting, beat vegan butter until creamy. Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar in batches, then mix in vanilla and milk until smooth and fluffy.
- Frost cooled cupcakes generously.
- Assemble caps: flip peanut butter cups upside down and attach chocolate square on top with a dab of frosting. Add a mini chocolate chip or icing dot to the center and attach a tassel made from fruit leather.
- Place one graduation cap topper on each frosted cupcake.
Notes
- You can prep the chocolate caps a day in advance and store them in the fridge.
- Use gluten-free flour to make the cupcakes GF.
- Get creative with tassel colors to match school colors!
Nutrition
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
