DIY Grad Cap Cake Push-Ups

Cupcakes, cake balls, cake pops – the opportunities to create out-of-the-box confectionery treats for parties has grown amazingly diverse and fun in the past few years. The big trend nowadays is to serve your sweets a la push pop style in what party-goers are now calling cake push-ups.

These individual dessert pairings might look intimidating, but don’t be fooled – they’re super, super simple to make. A cross between a parfait and a cake, what makes these desserts stand out most are the cute containers they come assembled in.

For a recent high school graduation party we hosted, our cake push-ups were adorned with the easy grad cap candy trick we learned a few years back. Combining a bit of old with lots of new, this dessert idea is a guaranteed hit at any grad party.

Supplies

For Cake Push-Ups

1 chocolate sheet cake
1 large container vanilla Duncan Hines frosting
8 mini chocolate peanut butter cups
8 squares of chocolate
Candy string
8 “Congrats Grad” Personalized M&Ms
8 cake push-up containers

For Display

4 bags personalized gold M&Ms
1 bag rice cereal (or rice will work)
2 Small Galvanized Tins

Directions

Step 1: Bake your sheet cake – or purchase a plain one from your local bakery. Allow it to cool completely.

Step 2: While the cake is cooling make your grad cap toppers. Apply a dab of frosting to the mini peanut butter cup’s bottom (the smaller surface) and rest a square of chocolate on top. Let set. Next, place a dab of frosting on the top of the square at its center, then attach a piece of string candy and cover that with a personalized M&M. Place your grad cap candy toppers in the refrigerator for an hour or so to set.

Step 3: Next, punch out circles from your sheet cake using the push-up pop container. This will ensure you get the right size for your layers of cake. We used 2 layers for our push-ups but you may be able to squeeze in three.

Once you've got your cake punched out, fill a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with your frosting.

Step 4: Assemble your cake push-ups: start by placing a layer of cake at the bottom, then layer with frosting, then another layer of cake and a hefty topping of frosting.

You can stand your cake push-ups in Styrofoam while they set.

Repeat this process for your 8 push-ups. Then, place in the fridge to set - about 1/2 an hour.

Step 5: While that sets, assemble your displays. Fill your galvanized tins 3/4 of the way with rice cereal. Then, top with your personalized M&Ms.

Remove your cake push-ups and candy grad caps from the fridge. Top each push-up with a cap and securely place into your rice cereal/M&M filled tins.

This post was sponsored and inspired by MyM&Ms.com, but the great ideas come from the creative minds of our contributors, not the advertiser.