Easy Graduation Cookies Fondant (Printable)

Sweet sugar cookies decorated with fondant mortarboards, ideal for celebrating graduation parties and gifting.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Cookies

01 - 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Fondant Mortarboard

08 - 8 oz black fondant
09 - 1 oz yellow fondant
10 - Cornstarch for dusting and rolling

→ Icing

11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
13 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in egg and vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated.
06 - Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to 0.25-inch thickness. Cut into 2.5-inch round or square shapes.
07 - Place cookies on prepared baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
08 - Roll black fondant to 0.125-inch thickness and cut 24 small squares measuring approximately 1.25 inches each for mortarboard tops. Roll 24 small cylinders measuring approximately 0.5 inches long for mortarboard bases.
09 - Roll yellow fondant into thin ropes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Shape as desired for decorative tassels.
10 - Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until achieving smooth consistency.
11 - For each cooled cookie, apply icing to attach fondant square in center. Place fondant cylinder underneath as base. Attach yellow tassel to one corner using icing.
12 - Allow decorations to set for 20 to 30 minutes before serving or packaging.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • These cookies look fancy enough to impress at graduation parties but honestly take less time than most people think.
  • The fondant hats are forgiving—if your mortarboard isn't perfectly precise, it still reads as cute and celebratory.
  • You can batch-bake the cookies and decorate them days ahead, making them perfect for gifting or serving at events.
02 -
  • Don't bake the cookies until the edges are dark—they'll taste bitter and the fondant will slide off warm cookies, so you need them completely cool before decorating.
  • Fondant can be temperamental in humidity; if it gets sticky, dust it generously with cornstarch and keep it covered with plastic wrap between steps.
03 -
  • Cream your butter and sugar longer than feels necessary—that extra minute creates cookies with a tender crumb instead of a dense texture.
  • Use a small offset spatula or thin knife to apply icing to cookies; it gives you control and keeps your fingers out of the decorating.
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