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    Home » Party Food » Graduation

    Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes

    Modified: Oct 24, '23 · Published: May 20, '13 · By: Beth Klosterboer · Commission earned on paid or sponsored links.

    These Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes are a great way to say congratulations to your child! Fill this treat with candy, cash, or anything you think they'll like.

    chocolate graduation cap boxes.

    Do you prefer to give homemade or store-bought gifts? If you are like me, even if you give a purchased gift, a gift card, or cash, you like to add a little something that's handmade just to make the gift that much more special and memorable.

    High school and college graduates can be difficult to buy, so for some of the graduates I know, I will present them with these Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes. Each edible grad cap will not only be filled with bite-size graduation chocolates but will also hide a small envelope filled with cash.

    What kid wouldn't love finding money amidst candy? O.K. there may be a few that won't appreciate it, but I know the recipients of my gifts well enough to anticipate their positive reaction. Now I just need to decide how much money to stash inside.

    chocolate grad cap box on a red cake stand.

    These chocolate boxes can also be used as a centerpiece on your dessert table, giving you a very visually appealing way to serve small treats, like mints, nuts, candies, or chocolates.

    You can create larger boxes if you'd like to use them to serve something like homemade cookies or chocolate-dipped pretzels.

    I plan to make one that will hold several pounds of handmade chocolates for a client who will host over 100 guests at her graduation party.

    chocolate grad cap opened showing white graduation chocolates inside the round box.

    Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes

    Ingredients

    12 ounces melted and tempered pure semi-sweet chocolate
    OR melted dark confectionery coating/candy melts
    dark modeling chocolate, recipe here
    white modeling chocolate, recipe here

    Supplies

    8 inch X 8 inch square non-stick baking pan
    4 ½ inch round cookie cutter
    clay extruder (clean and used for food only)
    fine tip paint brush (clean and used for food only)

    Instructions

    BEFORE YOU BEGIN: I've shared tutorials for several chocolate boxes, so I didn't get incredibly detailed here. Check out my Chocolate Penguin Box tutorial for very specific instructions on rolling out the modeling chocolate to create the sides of the box.

    If you want to create a large box, you can pour your chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking pan, allow it to set slightly, then cut a large square and circle to the size you desire.

    pouring melted chocolate into a non-stick square pan.

    Pour 10 ounces of melted and tempered semi-sweet chocolate or melted dark cocoa confectionery coating/candy melts into your 8" X 8" square baking pan (I poured chocolate out of my tempering machine, which is always filled with semi-sweet chocolate.)

    Once filled, tap the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles and flatten the chocolate in an even layer.

    Refrigerate tempered chocolate or freeze confectionery coating until set.

    spreading melted chocolate into a round cookie cutter.

    Pour 2 ounces of chocolate into your 4 ½-inch round cookie cutter.

    Spread it out in an even layer then tap to remove air bubbles.

    Chill until set.

    unmolding a dark chocolate square and wrapping a modeling chocolate strip around the chocolate circle.

    Remove hardened chocolate from the baking pan and cookie cutter.

    Turn the pan upside down and allow the square of chocolate to gently fall out. Pull away the sides of the round cookie cutter and allow the chocolate to fall out.

    Roll out dark modeling chocolate, cut it into a 2-inch by 15-inch strip. Create the sides of the box, cutting off any excess modeling chocolate.

    For specific instructions and step-by-step images of creating the sides of a chocolate box, see my Chocolate Penguin Box tutorial.

    Making tassels for the chocolate grad cup out of white modeling chocolate by pressing it through a clay extruder fitted with a multi hole disc.

    Use a clay extruder to create the tassels out of white or colored modeling chocolate. For detailed instructions see my Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Cap tutorial. Use white modeling chocolate to create a small disc that is large enough to cover the end of the tassels.

    Attach the tassels, disc, and sides of the box to the chocolate pieces with melted chocolate, using a fine-tip paintbrush.

    chocolate box lid set askew showing the graduation chocolates inside the round chocolate box.

    Fill your Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes with candies, nuts, gifts, or bite-size graduation chocolates. I made some white chocolate diplomas and books for in my boxes. If you've never used candy molds to create chocolates, I've also included a tutorial with the Chocolate Penguin Box blog post.

    I used food coloring markers to add some color to the white chocolate pieces in the box.

    As I'm writing this, I realize that I need to go buy some boxes to package these in and think small cake boxes will do the trick, so I'm off to the cake decorating store to get what I need.

    Storage

    Store your chocolate box at room temperature for up to one month.

    Related Recipes

    Graduation Pretzel Pops

    3D Candy Filled Graduation Cap Cookies

    Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps

    SaveSave

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth Klosterboer
    Beth Klosterboer
    Hi, I'm Beth Klosterboer, a professional chocolatier & baker, cookbook author, and event planner. I love sharing recipes for happy occasions here on Hungry Happenings. I also create easy fudge recipes to share at HowToMakeEasyFudge.com, rice krispie treat recipes at HowToMakeCerealTreats.com, and easy cookie recipes at HowToMakeEasyCookies.com
    Beth Klosterboer
    Latest posts by Beth Klosterboer (see all)
    • Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
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    Comments

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    1. Samyukta Sattaru says

      February 09, 2014 at 10:23 am

      best way to congratulate someone.....

      Reply
    2. hoang says

      September 19, 2013 at 9:20 pm

      u know, I'm google a graduation gift for my gf and this is a perfect result I found. But ... 🙁 > wish u're my neighborhood.

      Reply
    3. Anonymous says

      May 27, 2013 at 6:59 pm

      I'm sorry I haven't written in a while. This is great and I have a grand-daughter I can make this for if it doesn't get real hot here in Calif. lol
      I also have a grandson I can make it for next year. If it's to hot, I will give them a pound of chocolate and your picture of the cap. Any way this is a great gift for Teens, candy and money. You still have it. Thank you for more great recipes. Trish Butler

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer says

        May 27, 2013 at 7:30 pm

        Glad to hear from you. I've presented these boxes to three graduates so far and they have all loved them. My niece even posted a picture of it on facebook. That was cool!

        Hope things are better for you and your family.

        Reply
    4. Eva S says

      May 23, 2013 at 9:45 pm

      Hi Beth!! I love your graduation caps!!! really brilliant!! its amazing your creativity...thank you for sharing!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer says

        May 23, 2013 at 9:50 pm

        Thank you Eva!

        Reply
    5. The Bearfoot Baker says

      May 22, 2013 at 11:26 am

      Your chocolate creations are amazing!! I LOVE this!!

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer says

        May 22, 2013 at 11:34 am

        Thanks, they are definitely my favorite things to make.

        Reply
    6. Rose @ RoseBakes.com says

      May 22, 2013 at 2:29 am

      I love this!! Great job!

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer says

        May 22, 2013 at 2:56 am

        Thanks, Rose.

        Reply
    7. The Partiologist says

      May 22, 2013 at 12:53 am

      I love working with modeling chocolate - I always seem to run out....I don't know why! What a surprise this grad cap would be - chocolate filled with more chocolate! YUM!

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer says

        May 22, 2013 at 2:56 am

        I do too. I keep various colors of modeling chocolate on hand at all times, so I can just pinch off what I need for a project. I make big batches of white and add colors and always have dark modeling chocolate too.

        Reply
    8. Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says

      May 20, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      Another great graduation idea! I love boxes ... please fill mine with money 😉

      Reply
      • Beth Jackson Klosterboer says

        May 22, 2013 at 2:54 am

        How much would you like?

        Reply
    Beth Jackson Klosterboer

    Welcome to Hungry Happenings!

    I'm Beth. I've been a professional chocolatier & baker for over 30 years, have written 5 cookbooks, and love creating fun food for holidays and special occasions.

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