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    Home » Recipes » Graduation

    Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap

    Published: Apr 29, '14 · Modified: May 15, '21 · By: Beth · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Why serve a cake at your graduation party when you can serve this impressive Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap instead?

    It's simple to make by adding melted chocolate to a traditional cereal treat recipe and forming it into a mortarboard.

    Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap | HungryHappenings.com

    This graduation dessert is super easy to make yet looks so impressive.

    The grad cap is made of Cocoa Krispie Treats mixed with chocolate.

    When I first made this dessert, it looked really great, but I realized that the square on the mortarboard needed some stability. It was too soft and it bent once it was exposed to heat.

    I brought it to a restaurant to celebrate my niece's graduation from college and it began to melt slightly in the heat as I carried it into the restaurant. So, I made it again and fixed that issue.

    Why serve cake at your graduation party when you can have this impressive Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap instead? It's simple to make by adding melted chocolate to a traditional cereal treat recipe and forming it into a mortar board. 

    You can see the difference in the picture above.

    I made the Cocoa Krispies treat in an 8-inch square pan then spread a thin layer of Ghirardelli Melting Wafers (which is compound chocolate similar to candy melts) over it to add support.

    The compound chocolate (which contains palm kernel oil, not cocoa butter) firms up quickly and adds structure to the top of the grad cap.

    Chocolate Rice Krispies Treat Graduation Cap

    You'll notice in the ingredients list that I mixed melted chocolate chips into the cereal treats then used the compound chocolate to spread over top.

    I wanted the chocolate rice krispie treats to remain soft and pure chocolate chips (made with cocoa butter) allowed for that.

    It was really easy to cut into and had a decadently rich chocolate flavor.

    Graduation food recipe

    Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap (mortarboard)

    Ingredients:

    butter
    mini marshmallows
    chocolate chips
    Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies cereal
    Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers (or Candy Melts)
    Twizzlers Pull and Peel
    Tootsie Roll Midgee

    Supplies Needed:

    large mixing bowl
    3 cup round bowl
    8x8 inch baking pan
    non-stick tin foil

    Instructions:

    Head on over to my new website, HowToMakeRiceKrispies.com to see some new Rice Krispie Treat recipes that could work for this grad cap!

    You can also check out how we taste-tested 20 versions of the Rice Krispie Treat recipe to come up with the absolute BEST Rice Krispie Treat Recipe. This recipe would be a perfect substitution, just make sure to use the Cocoa Krispies instead of the original.

    Cocoa Krispies Treat Recipes

    Make Cocoa Krispies Treats

    1. Heat butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl on high heat for 30 seconds.
    2. Stir then heat for 20 seconds.
    3. If the marshmallows are not melted, heat for 15-second increments, stirring after each until melted.
    4. Stir in the Cocoa Krispies.

    Line pans with non-stick tin foil

    Line bowl and pan.

    • Line a 3-cup bowl and an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick tin foil.

    Chocolate Rice Krispies Treat Recipe

    Fill bowl.

    • Fill the tin foil-lined bowl with cocoa krispies.
    • Press to compress the cereal in the bowl.
    • Let sit at room temperature to cool.

    Chocolate Rice Krispies Treats

    Fill square pan then pour candy melts over top.

    1. Press the remaining cocoa krispies treat mixture into an even layer in the square pan.
    2. Heat the Ghirardelli Melting Wafers in the microwave on high power for 25 seconds, then stir, heat again for 20 seconds, and stir.
    3. If not completely melted, heat for 10-second increments stirring after each.
    4. Pour the melted candy coating over the cereal treat bar, reserving a tablespoon for the next step.
    5. Place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes until the candy coating sets.
    6. Removed from the freezer and remove from pan and peel off foil.

     

    Graduation Cap Rice Krispies Treats

    • Un-mold the cocoa krispies treats from the bowl, peel off the foil, set on a serving dish.
    • Spread some melted candy coating on top and attach the square cereal treat with the candy-coated side down.

    Graduation Rice Krispies Treats

    • Peel apart one Twizzlers Pull 'n Peel and attach the pieces to the center of the square treat using a dab of melted candy coating.
    • Flatten a Tootsie Roll into a circle and press it in the center of the square treat covering the ends of the Twizzlers.

    Cover loosely with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to a week.

    If you have to make this for an outdoor graduation party, I would just use a thin cake board under the square piece to keep it in place, otherwise, it will bend.

    You could also use white modeling chocolate or fondant to create the tassels. See the Grad Cap Chocolate Boxes tutorial for instructions.

    Products used to create this project that are available on Amazon.com (commission earned for sales)

    Printable Recipe

    Cocoa Krispies Grad Cap (mortarboard)
    Print
    Cocoa Krispies Treat Graduation Cap (mortarboard)
    Prep Time
    30 mins
    Cook Time
    2 mins
     

    Create a mortarboard (grad cap) out of chocolate Cocoa Krispies treats.

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate, cocoa krispies, graduation, graduation cap, rice krispie treats
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 325 kcal
    Author: Beth
    Ingredients
    • ¼ cup ½ stick butter
    • 10.5 ounces Jet Puffed mini marshmallows
    • 6 ounces Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips 1 cup
    • 6 cups Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies cereal
    • 6 ounces 1 cup Ghirardelli Dark Melting Wafers (or Candy Melts)
    • 1 Twizzlers Pull and Peel
    • 1 Tootsie Roll Midgee
    Instructions
    1. Heat butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl on high heat for 30 seconds.
    2. Stir then heat for 20 seconds.
    3. If the marshmallows are not melted, heat for 15-second increments, stirring after each until melted.
    4. Stir in the Cocoa Krispies.
    5. Line a 3-quart bowl and an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick tin foil.
    6. Fill the tin foil-lined bowl with cocoa krispies.
    7. Press to compress the cereal in the bowl.
    8. Let sit at room temperature to cool.
    9. Press the remaining cocoa krispies treat mixture into an even layer in the square pan.
    10. Heat the Ghirardelli Melting Wafers in the microwave on high power for 25 seconds, then stir, heat again for 20 seconds, and stir.
    11. If not completely melted, heat for 10-second increments stirring after each.
    12. Pour the melted candy coating over the cereal treat bar, reserving a tablespoon for the next step.
    13. Place in the freezer for 10-15 minutes until the candy coating sets.
    14. Removed from the freezer and remove from pan and peel off foil.
    15. Un-mold the cocoa krispies treats from the bowl, peel off the foil, set on a serving dish.
    16. Spread some melted candy coating on top and attach the square cereal treat with the candy-coated side down.
    17. Peel apart one Twizzlers Pull 'n Peel and attach the pieces to the center of the square treat using a dab of melted candy coating.
    18. Flatten a Tootsie Roll into a circle and press it in the center of the square treat covering the ends of the Twizzlers.
    19. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
    20. If you have to make this for an outdoor graduation party, I would just use a thin cake board under the square piece to keep it in place, otherwise, it will bend.
    Recipe Notes

    Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

    More Graduation Party Food

    from Hungry Happenings

     

    3D Candy Filled Graduation Cap Cookies

    Flourless Chocolate Cake Graduation Caps

     

    Chocolate Graduation Cap Boxes

    Graduation Pretzel Pops

    Honey Scented Modeling Chocolate and Fruit Leather Books

     

     Inside Out Chocolate Caramel Apples

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Beth
    Beth
    Hi, I'm Beth Jackson 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
    Latest posts by Beth (see all)
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    More Graduation Party Food

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    About Beth

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    1. emelon93

      April 24, 2015 at 10:58 am

      Hi Beth,

      I would love to make this for my best friend who graduates this summer. Could you please send over a centimetre measurement of the small bowl used to make the round shaped choco crispie as we don't have cup measurements over here in the UK and I want to make sure I buy the right size 🙂 Thank you!

      Reply
    2. emelon93

      April 24, 2015 at 10:56 am

      Hi Beth,

      This looks amazing and I would love to make it for my best friend who graduates this summer. As I live in the UK we don't measure things by cup sizes unfortunately, so could you please send me over the measurement of the bowl you used for the round shaped chocolate crispie in centimetres so I am able to buy the right size over here 🙂 thank you!

      Reply
      • beth

        April 27, 2015 at 1:26 pm

        I am out of town right now and can't measure the bowl, but here is a link to the bowl I used on Amazon.com. http://amzn.to/1QA2ZJE
        From what I remember the bowl is about 7 inches (17.78 cm) across the top.
        I hope this helps.

        Reply
    3. Anonymous

      June 05, 2014 at 8:35 pm

      I first saw the photo of these before I read the recipe. I thought they were individual treats made in muffin cups rather than one large treat. I am going to make them in muffin tins for each student in my daughter's grade 8 class. I think I'll use a square graham cracker dipped in chocolate for the flat piece. Thanks for the great idea.

      Reply
      • beth

        June 05, 2014 at 9:41 pm

        That sounds like a great idea. I'm sure they will turn out great. Have fun and be sure to snap some pictures and send them to me so I can share in my reader's gallery. Thanks!

        Reply
    4. Sarah Vanderkooy

      May 08, 2014 at 6:13 pm

      What a cute idea, love this! I will keep this in mind for the next graduate in my family.

      Reply
    5. Shari Lynne @ www.faithfilledfoodformoms.com

      May 05, 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Love this!! Thanks for sharing..I have a son graduating soon 🙂

      Reply
    6. Melinda

      May 02, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      so cute. love that it's chocolate rice krispies, haven't had them in forever

      Reply
      • beth

        May 02, 2014 at 1:25 pm

        Thanks, Melinda. It was hard not to snack on the Cocoa Krispies cereal as I was making these. They really have a great chocolate flavor.

        Reply
    7. The Partiologist

      May 01, 2014 at 1:40 pm

      The grad cap came out perfect and you know how I love RKT! I've never made them using cocoa Krispies, so with my love of chocolate, this is just what I need!

      Reply
      • beth

        May 01, 2014 at 2:18 pm

        Being a chocoholic myself, I prefer these over plain rice krispies treats.

        Reply
    8. Jennifer Johnson

      April 30, 2014 at 10:22 pm

      Coolest rice Krispie treat cake ever!! How clever.

      Reply
      • beth

        May 01, 2014 at 2:18 pm

        Wow, that's nice to hear. Thanks, Jennifer:)

        Reply
    9. Erlene A

      April 30, 2014 at 10:11 pm

      This is so fun. My son graduates next year and this would make a fun party snack. Pinned.

      Reply
      • beth

        April 30, 2014 at 10:17 pm

        Thanks so much for the pin Erlene. I hope you do enjoy making this for your son next year:)

        Reply
    10. Lisa@hooplapalooza

      April 30, 2014 at 1:15 pm

      thank you so much for making it again-that's extra work that i so appreciate! you're just awesome Beth! i see this in the near future for some friend's upcoming graduations 🙂

      Reply
      • beth

        April 30, 2014 at 10:17 pm

        These were so quick and easy to make that I didn't mind doing it over again, plus no one complained that I had lots of the chocolaty cocoa kripises treat to eat.

        Reply
    11. Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff

      April 29, 2014 at 5:47 pm

      Krispie Treats are a favorite for everyone I know ... chocolate makes everything better! You have very lucky friends 😉

      Reply
      • beth

        April 30, 2014 at 10:16 pm

        I couldn't agree more, chocolate does make everything better:)

        Reply
    12. Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com

      April 29, 2014 at 5:30 pm

      Super cute idea Beth...love this!

      Reply

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    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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