Decorate Personalized Graduation Cookies

Graduation season is here, and there’s no sweeter way to celebrate than with a set of custom cookies! In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to decorate personalized graduation cookies featuring a classic diploma and graduation cap design, complete with a ribbon banner to add the graduate’s name. It’s a thoughtful, edible gift that’s perfect for graduation parties, dessert tables, or as a personalized treat for clients and loved ones. We’ll walk you through each step using royal icing, making it easy to recreate this design in your own kitchen.

Graduation Cap Diploma Banner Cookie Cutter

For the upcoming graduation, a popular option in our shop is this Graduation Cap Diploma Banner cookie cutter.

Template for the Graduation Cap Diploma Banner Cookies

To help with the decorating process, I made a PDF template of all the designs of this year's graduation cookie collection, including these cookie designs.

Click the link below for the downloadable template PDF file.

• 2024 Graduation Cookie Templates

This file is rather large in data size. Just a warning, it might take a moment before the file opens in your browser.

If you have a Kopykake or Pico projector, just print it out (or pull it up on your mobile device) and you are good to go. For those without a projector, follow the suggested steps below by tracing the design onto the cookie with an edible food marker.

The Cookie Decorating Process

Decorating cookies always starts with a good royal icing recipe. This is my tried and true royal icing recipe that I always use.

For these graduation cookies, you will probably want to match your cookies with the school colors of your event. However, if you're wondering what colors I used, I listed them below:

• Black royal icing (I used Americolor Super Black.)
• Red icing (I used Americolor Super Red.)
• White icing (I used Americolor Bright White.)

Step 1

Begin by filling in the tail end of the ribbon banner with red icing. Also, fill the top of the diploma and the empty background spaces with a thin layer of white icing, as shown. Let this icing set for about 20 minutes.

Next, add the tassel's tail, the black lower section of the grad cap, and the white body of the diploma.

Step 2

Fill in the main ribbon band and the bow section of the diploma with red icing. Also, fill in the top section of the grad cap with black icing. Let this icing set again for 20 minutes.

After the icing had time to set, add the bow wings of the diploma bow. Also add the knot of the tassel.

Step 3

After the base layer of icing had time to setup and dry, it's time to add the names to the banner. To do this, I used my cookie projector and piping-consistency white icing.

Step 4

For the final details, add the center of the diploma bow and outline the ribbon banner for definition.

Graduation Cookie Decorating Video Tutorial

The steps above are summarized in this time-lapsed video I put together below.

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And there you have it—a sweet and simple way to create personalized graduation cookies that are sure to impress! Whether you're making a special gift or adding to your seasonal menu, this design adds a custom touch that clients and loved ones will appreciate. If you enjoyed this tutorial, be sure to check out our shop for more graduation cookie cutters to expand your collection and inspire your next cookie project!