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How to Make Candy Graduation Cap Pops

Posted by  ·  May 3, 2012  ·  Last Updated: May 18, 2017

If you are looking for a festive graduation treat that needs no baking, these super simple candy graduation cap pops are perfect for your next graduation celebration! They only need a few supplies and go together quickly but will be an edible decoration at your party.  Display the graduation hats on a cake pop stand or they can also be pushed into floral foam.

candy graduation cap tutorial

Candy Graduation Cap Pop Supplies

Mini m&ms
Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
Milk Chocolate Candy Coating
Candy Writer in your choice of color
square chocolate candy mold
4 inch sucker sticks

candy graduation cap supplies

Make Candy Graduation Caps

Slowly melt candy coating at 15 second intervals in the microwave, stirring after each 15 seconds. About 40 candy disks will fill the mold. Fill mold with candy coating and tap mold to release bubbles. Place mold in freezer for 5-10 minutes until chocolate is completely cooled. Chocolate squares should fall easily out of the mold.

square chocolate mold

Dip  sucker stick into candy coating and stick into the peanut butter cup. Allow to harden.

Melt candy writers according to package directions. Starting in the center of the chocolate square draw a line to the edge making a tassel. Place a mini m&m in the center on top.

candy mortarboard

Attach the chocolate square to the peanut butter cup with a dab of melted candy coating. Allow candy coating to set and you have the perfect candy graduation cap!

candy graduation cap

If you need a graduation card you might like these free printable cards for grads.  The best part is they are a gift and card all in one.  Roll up a bill or two and make a cute little money diploma and attach to the card. Here are two Graduation Cards with inspirational quotes for you to download.

graduation cards

From Graduation Cap cookies to a DIY lighted marquee sign you can celebrate your graduate in style!

38 COMMENTS
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Comments

  1. Debbie
    Thursday, May 28th, 2015
    How about using Hershey candy bar in the big size for the squares?the big bars are thicker!!!!
    Reply
  2. tara m
    Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
    One idea for displaying the graduation cap candy pops is to cover a Styrofoam square with tissue paper of your school's colors then the sticks would easily go in and stand up.
    Reply
  3. jan altomare
    Wednesday, May 21st, 2014
    to replace the reese cups, you may try the rolo's. the proportions may not be right but could work
    Reply
    • Cindy
      Thursday, May 18th, 2017
      Jan I agree with you I think a rolo would be a great substitute.
  4. Heather
    Friday, July 19th, 2013
    Very cute! The M&M and the tassel really make it memorable. Great job! : )
    Reply
  5. Leslie
    Thursday, May 9th, 2013
    What a FABULOUS idea! I am definitely saving this one. This would be perfect to link-up to my new series - "Create It Thursday." It's live now! http://www.lambertslately.com/2013/05/create-it-thursday-1.html
    Reply
  6. Sandra
    Sunday, May 5th, 2013
    This is such a neat idea, we are making them for my daughter's graduation party in June.
    Reply
  7. Sandy
    Thursday, April 18th, 2013
    I would love to make these for my son's preschool graduation ceremony in a couple of weeks. BUT we aren't allowed to bring anything with peanuts because some kids are allergic..Any ideas of what else you could use besides the peanut butter cups? Love the idea and thanks for sharing!
    Reply
    • Wendy
      Friday, March 22nd, 2019
      Use hershey's kisses in place of the reese's. They work great!
  8. liz
    Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013
    super cute! Do you recall what size the square molds were?
    Reply
    • Cindy
      Thursday, May 18th, 2017
      Liz the mold is about 1 inch square. You can purchase from Sweet Baking Supply (My shop).
  9. Rachel
    Sunday, September 23rd, 2012
    I made these a few years ago. I used Ghiradelli chocolate squares for my tops. Also, I would recommend freezing your Reese's Cups for a little while. The chocolate is less likely to stick to the wrapper that way. You can also use Airheads Extremes Sour belts. They are striped and just cut apart the colors I wanted and used the melted chocolate to attach them. That way I didn't have to mix up different colors of frosting.

    Anyway you make them, they are cute! The party I made them for loved them!
    Reply
    • Cindy
      Thursday, May 18th, 2017
      That is a great idea Rachel to freeze the Reese's Cups to easily remove the wrappers!
  10. Shannon
    Wednesday, August 29th, 2012
    I'm a senior this year, and i looooooove to bake sweets! im so excited to make these for my party and probably my friends:)
    Reply
  11. Cheryl
    Saturday, July 7th, 2012
    These are so cute. I used Herseys candy bars. Use two squares per hat and turn upside down worked great.
    Reply
  12. Marti
    Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
    I went back and reread the directions and found the source for the square molds. I ordered on Sat and they arrived today (TU) When you consider Sun and Memorial Day in between, I'd say the Sweets has very good service.
    Reply
  13. Marti
    Saturday, May 26th, 2012
    Wilton evidently doesn't make the square candy molds. Who does? Where can I find them?
    Reply
  14. Robin
    Saturday, May 26th, 2012
    Ahhhh! Candy molds for the squares! I bought all the things to make these for my daughter's graduation party, but bought the Ghirardelli squares to use as the top. Well, they were WAY too big in relation to the Reese's Cups, so I scrapped the whole idea. Next time I will know to try the square molds
    Reply
  15. Marissa
    Monday, May 21st, 2012
    This is an amazing idea. I graduated from college last weekend. I am having my party at the end of June and I will be making these... I am also making them for my mom. She works in a special education classroom and their graduating party is June 8.

    Just wondering though... Is there another kind of chocolate that can be used instead of the mold?
    Reply
  16. Angie
    Tuesday, May 15th, 2012
    Approximately how many candy sticks does this make???
    Reply
    • cindylouh
      Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
      I think one pound of the candy coating would make about 2 dozen squares.
  17. Traci
    Sunday, May 13th, 2012
    I made these for my oldest sons grad party, but used "Keebler" fudge grahams instead of the candy molds. Only used writers for the tassle and top. Simply heated a cookie sheet in the oven to melt the chocalate on the peanut butter to put the cookie on.
    Reply
  18. Belle
    Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
    I've made these without the stick, but yours are sooo much cuter! I'd love for you to add it on my link party at: http://printabelle.com/?p=3188 Thanks!
    Reply
  19. Becky
    Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
    for an easy way to serve, just skip the sucker stick and just set onto a tray. If you are keen on keeping the stick, just use styrofoam blocks or the foam that live plants are arranged with, just cover with foil first.
    Reply
  20. Maria
    Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
    These are ADORABLE!!!!!! What a great idea!!!!
    Reply
  21. Joyce
    Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
    This is a wonderful idea. Perfect for graduation centerpieces!
    Reply
  22. charisa
    Monday, May 7th, 2012
    Genius! These are so much fun!
    Reply
  23. Debra Kapellakis
    Saturday, May 5th, 2012
    Cute as cute can be!
    Reply
  24. Ronda
    Friday, May 4th, 2012
    thought it might be a cute idea to make a graduation cap out of styrofoam peices, paint according to the school colors and then poke the suckers into ...would make a nice display
    Reply
  25. [email protected]
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    SUCH a great idea!! Just shared on my page!! Have a great weekend! :)
    Reply
  26. Megan
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    These are super cute! And I have an idea for anyone who doesn't want to use the chocolate discs. It might be a bit more expensive, but Ghirardelli chocolates already come in little squares, which you could turn upside down to make the smooth top of the mortarboard. If you are making this for a children's graduation, the child would probably enjoy unwrapping the candies :)
    Reply
  27. Catherine
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    I love this. I am now on the look out for something to replace the mini peanut buttercups with as there is a peanut allergy in this house.
    Reply
  28. brenda
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    As a non-baker, I LOVE this idea! Thank you!! Like Melissa, I would also like to hear ideas on how to hold them before serving. Thoughts?
    Reply
  29. Hollie
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    I will definitely be making these for my son's graduation, thanks for the step by step directions
    Reply
  30. Hilda Carmona
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    OMG so cute!!!! Definitely doing these for all 3 of my cousins' graduation party!! Thanks!
    Reply
  31. Melissa
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    So cute! These would be perfect for my son's PreK graduation! What would you use to hold them to serve?
    Reply
  32. Sarah
    Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
    This is so cute and so easy!! Wish I had someone graduating to make it for. Thanks for sharing your awesome idea!!
    Reply