Butter & Baggage logo
menu icon
subscribe
search icon

Dessert First! 35 Easy Graduation Treats for the Class of 2025

Published: by

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

Graduation season is here, and that means it’s time to celebrate with something sweet and simple. From bite-sized treats to no-bake favorites, these easy graduation treats are the perfect way to keep the party fun without the fuss. Whether it’s for a backyard bash or a quick surprise after the ceremony, these goodies make it all feel extra special. Let’s be honest—dessert is half the reason we show up anyway.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars With Oatmeal

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars With Oatmeal. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


 

Peanut Butter Bars with Oatmeal feature mini Reese’s cups baked right inside along with peanut butter chips for an extra burst in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars With Oatmeal

Mini Pecan Pie Tarts With A Cream Cheese Crust

Pecan tarts on a display rack.
Mini Pecan Pie Tarts With A Cream Cheese Crust. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

This SIMPLE recipe for mini pecan pie tarts uses cream cheese in the crust for an extra flaky pastry paired with the gooey-ist, richest, filling.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pecan Pie Tarts With A Cream Cheese Crust

Strawberry Jelly Cake With Cream Cheese Icing

Strawberry Poke Cake in a baking pan.
Strawberry Jelly Cake With Cream Cheese Icing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Loaded with fresh strawberry sauce and a cream cheese whipped topping, this updated recipe will be your new go-to sheet cakes.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Jelly Cake With Cream Cheese Icing

No-Bake Homemade Cereal Bars With Chex Cereal

A platter of homemade chex cereal bars.
No-Bake Homemade Cereal Bars With Chex Cereal. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Peanut butter Chex cereal bars are chock full of peanut butter and chocolate. Irresistible treats for any occasion. No-bake and ready in minutes!
Get the Recipe: No-Bake Homemade Cereal Bars With Chex Cereal

Best Fudgy Brownie

A platter of fudgy brownies.
Best Fudgy Brownie Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Fudgy Brownie Recipe is my go-to brownie recipe with a fudgy center and crackly top. A no-fail easy recipe where you’ll get PERFECT brownies every time with only one bowl!
Get the Recipe: Best Fudgy Brownie

Fresh Strawberry Bundt Cake Recipe

A strawberry bundt cake on a platter, sliced.
Fresh Strawberry Bundt Cake Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A freshly baked strawberry bundt cake is an impressive dessert that is perfect for any occasion and easy to throw together.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Bundt Cake Recipe

Easy Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake)

A stack of chocolate peanut butter bars.
Easy Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

With just five ingredients, these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars couldn’t be easier. Creamy peanut butter covered in chocolate, a great treat for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Easy Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake)

Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping

A square of cake with a bite taken out.
Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Try this buttermilk cake that is moist and topped with a delicious brown sugar praline topping for a simple and easy recipe.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Cake With Praline Topping

Layered Snickerdoodle Bars With Cinnamon Sugar

A batch of snickerdoodle bars on parchment paper.
Layered Snickerdoodle Bars With Cinnamon Sugar. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Snickerdoodle bars are the perfect combination of soft, chewy snickerdoodle cookies and creamy filling, with a cinnamon sugar topping.
Get the Recipe: Layered Snickerdoodle Bars With Cinnamon Sugar

Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

A platter of brownies with pretzels around them
Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

What could be better than a fudgy brownie with creamy peanut butter frosting, try topping it with salty pretzels! Decadent peanut butter pretzel brownies will be your new favorite.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies

Fresh Cherry Coffee Cake With Raspberries

A baking pan of fruit filled coffee cake with icing.
Fresh Cherry Coffee Cake With Raspberries. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Make your graduation party exceptional by serving a cherry coffee cake with fresh fruit instead of streusel.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Cherry Coffee Cake With Raspberries

Raspberry White Chocolate Bars

Six Dessert Bars are shown on parchment paper. These blondies have a golden-brown base with swirls of vibrant red raspberry sauce and visible chunks of white chocolate throughout.
Raspberry White Chocolate Bars. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Raspberry White Chocolate Bars are a blondie with white chocolate mixed in and topped raspberries. Almond meal and browned butter make these magical.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry White Chocolate Bars

Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

A frosted hummingbird cake next to a knife.
Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Cream cheese-frosted hummingbird cake is a simple and incredibly moist cake that uses pineapple and bananas for a tropical twist.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

Shortbread Toffee Bars With Chocolate

Shortbread Toffee Bars With Chocolate. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Buttery shortbread is topped with a gooey sweet layer and then covered with chocolate and toffee bits for an amazing dessert bar.
Get the Recipe: Shortbread Toffee Bars With Chocolate

Layered Snickerdoodle Bars With Cinnamon Sugar

Two snickerdoodle blondies on a plate with a bite taken out.
Layered Snickerdoodle Bars With Cinnamon Sugar. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Snickerdoodle bars are the perfect combination of soft, chewy snickerdoodle cookies and creamy filling, with a cinnamon sugar topping.
Get the Recipe: Layered Snickerdoodle Bars With Cinnamon Sugar

Hello Dolly Bars (Aka 7 Layer Bars): Easy, Gooey & Irresistible

hello dolly bars on a dark background.
Hello Dolly Bars (Aka 7 Layer Bars): Easy, Gooey & Irresistible. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

These gooey Hello Dolly Bars (aka 7 Layer Bars) are easy to make with chocolate, coconut, and pecans, all baked on a buttery graham cracker crust.
Get the Recipe: Hello Dolly Bars (Aka 7 Layer Bars): Easy, Gooey & Irresistible

One-Bowl Fudgy White Chocolate Brownies

Two thick, square pieces of white chocolate blondies are stacked on a dark slate plate, with a few white chocolate chips scattered nearby. The blondies have a golden, slightly cracked top.
One-Bowl Fudgy White Chocolate Brownies. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

These White Chocolate Brownies are fudgy, sweet, and packed with white chocolate chips. One bowl, no mess, and a perfect dessert for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: One-Bowl Fudgy White Chocolate Brownies

Two stacked dessert bars with a dense chocolate brownie base and a thick layer of chocolate chip cookie dough on top, perfect for back to school desserts, with scattered chocolate chips in the background.
Brownies With Edible Cookie Dough Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Brownies with cookie dough frosting are like getting two desserts in one. Enjoy a rich fudgy brownie topped with a cookie dough frosting!
Get the Recipe: Brownies With Edible Cookie Dough Frosting

Moist Texas Sheet Cake With Pecans

A tray of chocolate brownies, perfect for holiday cakes and cupcakes spreads, topped with chopped nuts and drizzled with chocolate, with one brownie being lifted out with a metal spatula.
Moist Texas Sheet Cake With Pecans. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Texas Sheet Cake with cocoa, bittersweet chocolate, and pecans. A simple Southern recipe that’s big on flavor and texture.
Get the Recipe: Moist Texas Sheet Cake With Pecans

Tasty Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

A pan of chocolate rice krispie squares on parchment paper.
Tasty Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars are a little slice of heaven thanks to yummy melted chocolate and creamy peanut butter.
Get the Recipe: Tasty Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Fudgy Coconut Brownies

Fudgy Coconut Brownies. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Fudgy brownies with a sweet coconut filling, featuring chocolate, cream cheese, and coconut for a tropical twist on a classic dessert.
Get the Recipe: Fudgy Coconut Brownies

Moravian Sugar Cake From Scratch

Squares of cinnamon sugar coffee cake, a delightful addition to any homemade cakes collection, are arranged on a wooden board, with a light blue cloth and a white mug with a spoon beside them. The cake appears light, fluffy, and golden-brown.
Moravian Sugar Cake From Scratch. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Moravian Sugar Cake is made with soft yeast dough and topped with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, for a sweet, caramelized treat.
Get the Recipe: Moravian Sugar Cake From Scratch

Chess Bars With Pecans (Chess Squares)

Several golden-brown blondies are arranged on a black plate. The squares have a slightly cracked surface and a chewy texture, making them an irresistible choice for Super Bowl desserts.
Chess Bars With Pecans (Chess Squares). Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

These Chess Bars combine brown sugar, butter, eggs, and pecans for a chewy, irresistible treat.
Get the Recipe: Chess Bars With Pecans (Chess Squares)

Hummingbird Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Tray of sliced sheet cake topped with creamy white frosting and sprinkled with chopped pecans, with a serving spatula partially under one piece and a knife resting beside the tray.
Hummingbird Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Hummingbird Sheet Cake has ripe bananas, pineapple, and cinnamon for that tropical taste. And you top it all off with a rich cream cheese frosting and crunchy pecans.
Get the Recipe: Hummingbird Sheet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

My Take On Paula Deen’s Gooey Butter Cake

My Take On Paula Deen’s Gooey Butter Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Inspired by Paula Deen iconic recipe, this Gooey Butter Cake has a tender crumb, super-soft filling, and rich butter flavor that lives up to its name.
Get the Recipe: My Take On Paula Deen’s Gooey Butter Cake

Extra Tangy Lemon Bars With A Shortbread Crust

Extra Tangy Lemon Bars With A Shortbread Crust. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Sweet and tangy lemon bars with a buttery crust and creamy filling. A perfect balance of flavors with a touch of cream of tartar.
Get the Recipe: Extra Tangy Lemon Bars With A Shortbread Crust

Chewy Caramel Cookie Bars (One Bowl). Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

These Caramel Bars with pecans and a sweet caramel topping are an easy, irresistible treat that’s sure to hit the spot.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Caramel Cookie Bars (One Bowl)

Moist Apple Sheet Cake Recipe With Caramel Frosting

Moist Apple Sheet Cake Recipe With Caramel Frosting. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This recipe is made with spiced apples and rich homemade caramel frosting, like a caramel apple but you can eat it with a fork!
Get the Recipe: Moist Apple Sheet Cake Recipe With Caramel Frosting

Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

A metal plate holds a piece of chocolate sheet cake topped with chopped nuts, served alongside two scoops of vanilla ice cream also sprinkled with nuts—a perfect back to school dessert. In the background, there's a baking tray with more chocolate cake and two bottles of Coca-Cola.
Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This cola cake is made with the iconic soda, mini marshmallows, and unsweetened cocoa powder for extra rich chocolate flavor.
Get the Recipe: Sweetly Southern Coca-Cola Cake With Marshmallows

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Rich and delicious, St. Louis Butter Cake is a classic sheet cake packed with buttery flavor and a gooey filling.
Get the Recipe: St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Bars

Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Bars. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Raspberry Oatmeal Bars use a chocolate brownie base, a fruity raspberry preserve filling, and a crumbly oat topping to create a decadent, fruity treat.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Raspberry Brownie Bars

Cream Cheese Filled Coffee Cake With Almond Streusel

A sliced cake next to coffee cups.
Cream Cheese Filled Coffee Cake With Almond Streusel. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Always moist, this cream cheese coffee cake is oozing with a dreamy layer of cream cheese, and topped with lemony sugared sliced almonds.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Filled Coffee Cake With Almond Streusel

Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Creamy cheesecake bars with a baked on strawberry topping are just the thing for your next party or gathering.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Tangy And Sweet Lemon Squares Recipe

Tangy And Sweet Lemon Squares Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Discover a refreshing twist on the classic lemon squares recipe by adding a sweet cranberry layer. A light, refreshing dessert!
Get the Recipe: Tangy And Sweet Lemon Squares Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Sheet Cake

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Sheet Cake. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Cake has lots of whipped cream for good measure! This is a dessert you need try if you love sheet cakes.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Sheet Cake

Explore Recipes

«
»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *