Skip the store and make your own ice cream cake! It's got everything: frozen whipped cream, chocolate and caramel, ice cream in multiple flavors, and Maraschino cherries for topping.

Tassels were officially flipped—and that's what inspired these bite-sized treats. Bonus points if you can find candy decorations that match your graduate's school colors.

Whether they were the star quarterback or a cheerleader on the sidelines, this dessert was made for a student with a love of the game. Mix and match the color of sour gummy candies (the itty-bitty players!) to their jerseys and those of their rival team.

A giant, skillet-sized cookie always hits at a party—and it's so easily customizable: Decorate with sprinkles in their school's colors and pipe a congratulatory message in frosting.

SHOP SKILLETS

Sure, Dunkaroos might be a '90s thing—but the '90s are back! This dessert doubles as a cute party favor. After all, who wouldn't love dunking animal cutout cookies into sprinkled frosting?

Mall hangouts in high school just weren't the same without an Orange Julius, right? You'd be surprised how easy it is to recreate this iconic drink. All you need is frozen orange juice concentrate, vanilla ice cream, milk, ice, sugar, and a spoonful of vanilla extract.

Inspired by beloved Fig Newtons, these homemade treats are a nod to when you'd send them off to school with a lunchbox. Those days might be behind you, but fig bars are still a sweet surprise.

Remember when your kids opened their own lemonade stand? Boy, how far they've come! These cupcakes will remind them of those humble beginnings and where that ambition can take them today.

Just picture this rich and fudgy Bundt cake making its debut at the party. Gold and silver are a classic choice, but it's even better covered in sprinkles that match the school colors.

SHOP BUNDT PANS

Fair warning: This dessert is best served for graduating college seniors, of course. But if the crowd is right, it's the perfect summer send-off. Tropical flavors of pineapple and coconut with a dash of rum all bring back memories of spring break.

Four ingredients: that's all you need for this otherwise impressive-looking layered ice cream cake. It'll withstand the heat outside, just be sure to freeze it until firm before serving.

This retro dessert works whether they graduated with the class of 2025 or 1925! So it's a nice idea for high school reunions, too. Fizzy soda in the batter is what makes this chocolate dessert so light and soft.

It's one last summer before the real world, so you might as well indulge in all those campfire treats! These dessert bars are layered with gooey marshmallow, melted chocolate, and toasted graham crackers.

Cookies n' cream lovers of all ages will love this no-bake pie! A deep-dish pie plate allows for more of that fluffy whipped filling, so use one here.

SHOP PIE PANS

Is your graduate Team Chocolate or Team Brownie? Either way, these homemade bars satisfy both cravings as they're part fudgy brownie, part chewy chocolate chip cookie.

If your student is graduating from college, their alma mater makes great inspiration for dessert. For example: These peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate would be perfect if you root for the Ohio State Buckeyes!

Bake sales might be a thing of the past now, but nothing pleases a crowd more than a platter of cookies. This batch is sweet, salty, and crosshatched on the top for crispness in every bite.

If your graduate was reaching into the freezer for these Klondike treats growing up (and was consequently devastated by their discontinuation back in 2022), give them the surprise of their life with this homemade version! Just as fudgy and nutty as you'd remember them.

Everyone loves an ice cream sundae, but nobody likes the idea of scooping out ice cream for individual sundaes. Enter: this brilliant idea! Present a tray pre-assembled and piled with the toppings, and let people serve themselves.

Get the Sheet Pan Ice Cream Sundae recipe.

SHOP SHEET PANS