5 Best Treats to Serve at a Graduation Party

Graduation is a special milestone worthy of a sweet celebration. Are you throwing a graduation party? Show your grad how much you care about them with a plate of their favorite treats. There are plenty of alternatives to cake that are both delicious and easy to share. Whether they love fresh fruit or vegan chocolate, we’ll help you find something sweet to satisfy all guests and create a memorable graduation party.

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1. Mini Chocolate Bars

When you’re searching for a treat that’s easy to share and serve, you can’t go wrong with mini chocolate bars! Tiny treats make the perfect snack for the chocolate lover, and you can even serve them as a party favor. Plant-based oat milk chocolates keep it wholesome, especially in a convenient and snackable square. Pick up a variety pack and give partygoers a choice of flavors.

Some of our favorite bars for serving at a party include oat milk chocolate with bits of vegan toffee and sea salt. It’s always a hit when you give out fudgy caramel- oat milk chocolate. If you’re searching for a different flavor, try vegan dark chocolate or creamy plant-based white chocolate bars. Keep a few extra mini chocolates for after the party. Or grab the same treats in a chocolate gift set. Your grad will enjoy snacking on them as they prepare for their next adventure.

2. Decorated Cupcakes

Graduation cupcakes are just as exciting as a decorated cake, but their smaller size is totally share-worthy. You’ll delight your guests and create an opportunity for fun selfies with cupcakes that look just as amazing as they taste. There are so many ways to dress delicious chocolate cupcakes, including treats adorned with creamy vanilla frosting and fondant graduation caps. You can even create mini caps with chocolate bar squares or ganache-filled confections.

Add sprinkles with their school colors or put an edible diploma on top of the cupcake made with rolled fondant or white chocolate. Another idea is to match the theme of the party with elegant decorations or vivid colors. Make your cupcake frosting a glimmering shade of gold or silver. Then, top the treat with a chocolate truffle coated in edible metallic paint. If you’re searching for a unique cupcake recipe that speaks to the graduate’s favorite flavors, try a recipe for red velvet cupcakes or cute desserts made with inspiring flavor combinations like cherry and almond with vanilla.

3. Cookies 

If your grad loves a warm batch of cookies, you’re in luck! Cookies are so easy to bake and share that the hardest part is deciding on the perfect ingredients and flavor. A classic chocolate chip cookie recipe should please every partygoer, but you can also make a cookie sampler to delight the honored guest and their friends. Some of our favorite recipes for a celebration include peanut butter cookies and treats featuring chunks of dark chocolate. Oatmeal cookies are a cozy treat anytime, but you could also make shortbread or biscotti.

White chocolate macadamia nut cookies or snickerdoodles make for a fun surprise. There’s also the option of baking a unique cookie. Salted caramel cookies pair well with flavors of milk or dark chocolate, but we also recommend ginger cookies or cookies with mint and chocolate. Be on the lookout for recipes featuring delicious ingredients like miso or tahini.

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4. Fruit Kabobs

For the graduate that prefers the taste of fresh fruit over a toothsome dessert, fruit kabobs make the perfect treat. Serve them on a platter or buffet table so partygoers can snack on them as they please. All you need are wooden skewers and slices of the grad’s favorite fruit. Strawberries and bananas serve well on a stick, but you can also add kiwi or mandarin oranges.

Stack grapes with watermelon or cantaloupe. Blackberries are perfect for fruit kabobs, and you can probably also fit a few raspberries or blueberries. Navel orange slices and pineapple chunks add to a rainbow of colors next to delicious honeydew or dragon fruit. Make it more decadent when you drizzle melted chocolate on top. Or add a little sweetness with the help of marshmallows. Pretzel sticks can replace wooden kabobs in a pinch, and your guests may find that they like how they taste with fruit and chocolate.

5. Brownies

Brownies offer that rich, fudgy flavor you can’t get anywhere else. A plate of brownies cut into squares will be the hit of any party, especially when you make them with quality unsweetened cocoa powder and delicious bittersweet chocolate. Chocolate brownie recipes usually call for ingredients like eggs and unsalted butter. If your grad prefers, you can opt for a plant-based or vegan brownie recipe instead.

To make vegan brownies, we use a recipe featuring aquafaba and vegan butter. These elements will help to bind the brownies together and create a rich flavor. Add organic cane sugar and plant-based dark chocolate. Dutch process cocoa powder helps to build a chocolatey taste, while sea salt and pure vanilla extract add depth of flavor. If your graduate likes the flavors of coffee and dark chocolate, you can add a teaspoon of espresso powder.

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Celebrating Your Grad with Delicious Desserts and Treats

Every graduate is unique, which is part of what makes graduation parties so special. You’ll create a celebration just for them when you make desserts they love. The treats don’t need to be complicated or take a long time to be delicious and share worthy. All you need is an idea of what your graduate loves to eat and an excellent recipe with quality ingredients.