Toss your cap in the air and celebrate with these Graduation Sugar Cookies! These soft, buttery cookies, decked out in vibrant royal icing shaped like caps, diplomas, and stars, are the sweetest way to honor your grad. Ready in about 2 hours, they’re a fun, festive treat that’ll make any commencement party pop.
I’m obsessed with this recipe because it’s a creative, delicious way to cheer on graduates. Perfect for parties, gifts, or just nibbling with pride, these cookies are as joyful as a diploma in hand. Let’s bake this celebration!
Why I Love This Recipe
This recipe is a total winner. It’s straightforward, with a foolproof sugar cookie dough that holds its shape. The royal icing lets you unleash your inner artist with grad-themed designs.
They’re a crowd-pleaser, perfect for kids, grads, and parents alike. Great for graduation parties or as edible favors, they add a personal touch. Plus, they’re fun to decorate with friends or family.
Ingredients for Graduation Sugar Cookies
Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Cookies:
- All-purpose flour: 2¾ cups, for a sturdy, soft base.
- Granulated sugar: 1 cup, for sweetness.
- Butter: 1 cup (2 sticks), softened, for richness.
- Egg: 1 large, for structure.
- Vanilla extract: 2 tsp, for flavor.
- Baking powder: ½ tsp, for a slight lift.
- Salt: ½ tsp, for balance.
For the Royal Icing:
- Powdered sugar: 4 cups, for smooth icing.
- Meringue powder: 3 tbsp, for stability.
- Water: 5-6 tbsp, to adjust consistency.
- Food coloring: Gel, in school colors (e.g., blue, gold, red).
- Sprinkles: Optional, for extra grad flair.
These ingredients create perfect cookies for decorating.
How to Make the Perfect Graduation Sugar Cookies
Let’s bake and decorate:
- Make the Dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing until just combined.
- Chill Dough: Divide dough into 2 discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days) to firm up for rolling.
- Roll and Cut: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters (caps, diplomas, stars, or rounds) to cut shapes. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
- Make Royal Icing: In a clean bowl, beat meringue powder, powdered sugar, and 5 tbsp water on low speed for 7-10 minutes until glossy and stiff. Add more water for flooding consistency (like honey). Divide and tint with gel food coloring for school colors.
- Decorate: Pipe outlines with thicker icing using a small tip (e.g., #2). Flood centers with thinner icing. Add details like tassels, scrolls, or “2025” with contrasting colors. Sprinkle with edible glitter or sprinkles if desired. Let icing set for 1-2 hours.
- Serve or Package: Arrange on a platter or package in cellophane bags for gifting. Enjoy the festive vibes!
It’s like crafting edible diplomas with a sweet twist!
Tips for the Best Graduation Sugar Cookies
To make your cookies perfect:
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading. Cold dough holds shapes better.
- Roll dough evenly for uniform cookies. Use rolling pin guides or sticks for ¼-inch thickness.
- Cool cookies completely before icing to avoid melting or smudging.
- Practice piping on parchment to get the hang of royal icing flow. Start with outlines, then flood.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant icing. Liquid coloring can thin the consistency.
These tips are like a graduation cap—they keep everything in place.
Customizing Your Graduation Sugar Cookies
Make them your own:
- Shape cookies as numbers (e.g., “2025”) or letters for the grad’s initials. Use alphabet cutters.
- Tint icing in the grad’s school colors or add edible gold dust for a fancy touch.
- Swap vanilla for almond or lemon extract in the dough for a flavor twist.
- Add mini chocolate chips or crushed nuts to the dough for texture. About ½ cup works.
- Use sanding sugar or candy pearls for extra sparkle on tassels or borders.
Tweak them like you’re decorating a grad cap!
Nutrition Per Serving
Here’s the approximate nutritional breakdown per serving (based on 24 cookies, with icing):
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Protein: 2 g
- Fat: 8 g (Saturated Fat: 5 g)
- Carbohydrates: 26 g (Dietary Fiber: 0 g, Sugars: 18 g)
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
- Sodium: 90 mg
Note: Nutrition varies based on cookie size, icing amount, or add-ins like sprinkles. For precise values, use a nutrition calculator with your ingredients. These cookies are a sweet treat, best enjoyed in moderation.
Storage Instructions
Keep your cookies fresh:
- Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- Store decorated cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Use parchment between layers if stacking.
- Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months, wrapped tightly in plastic and foil. Thaw at room temp before icing.
- Serve at room temp for the best texture. Perfect for gifting or party prep.
These cookies are great for making ahead.
Serving Suggestions
These cookies are a party hit:
- Display on a tiered stand at graduation parties with cupcakes or brownies.
- Package in cellophane bags with ribbon as party favors or grad gifts. Include a “Congrats Grad!” tag.
- Serve with coffee, tea, or sparkling punch for a festive dessert spread.
- Pair with fruit skewers or cheese platters for a balanced party menu.
They’re ready to celebrate any grad’s big day.
FAQs
Why are they called sugar cookies?
They’re called sugar cookies because sugar is the main ingredient, giving them their sweet flavor and soft, buttery texture.
Are sugar cookies the same as shortbread?
No. Sugar cookies have more sugar, eggs, and often a leavening agent (like baking soda), while shortbread has a higher butter content and no eggs, making it denser and crumblier.
What does it mean when someone is a sugar cookie?
Informally, calling someone a “sugar cookie” can mean they look sweet or perfect but may be fragile or fake underneath. In military slang, it can also refer to getting covered in sand as punishment, especially in Navy SEAL training.
Why are custom sugar cookies so expensive?
Custom sugar cookies are pricey because they require hand-decorating, time, precision, high-quality ingredients, and packaging, often taking hours per batch to complete.
Why This Recipe Works
These Graduation Sugar Cookies are a festive triumph. The dough is buttery and holds shapes perfectly, making it ideal for detailed cutters. Royal icing adds a professional, vibrant finish.
They’re customizable for any grad’s theme, from colors to shapes. Achievable for beginners yet stunning for parties, they’re perfect for celebrating milestones. They’re like edible diplomas—sweet and memorable.
Final Words
These Graduation Sugar Cookies are your key to a sweet celebration. Buttery cookies and colorful icing come together in about 2 hours. Ideal for parties, gifts, or grad treats.
Tweak with school colors or sparkly sprinkles, and serve with punch or as favors. Grab your ingredients, roll that dough, and celebrate. What’s your grad’s theme? Let’s bake these cookies!
