Got a grad in your life? Graduation calls for celebrating sweet success with delicious fanfare. As they toss their caps to the sky, bring out these stunning, easy-to-make-ahead desserts that will steal the show. And you don’t need a PhD to collect accolades for your culinary skills.

For show-stopping, celebration desserts when you’re short on time, visit www.VeryBestBaking.com.

Chocolate Chip Trifle
(Makes 12 servings)

1 package (18 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
2 cups skim milk
2 packages (3.4 ounces each) vanilla or chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
2 containers (12 ounces each) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 1/2 quarts sliced fresh strawberries or raspberries

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

CUT cookie dough in half lengthwise and then in half again lengthwise, for a total of 4 pieces. Cut cookie dough into 2 1/2-inch logs, ending with 16. Place on ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 11 to 13 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

BEAT milk and pudding mix in large bowl until blended. Fold whipped topping into mixture. Crumble 6 cookies. Sprinkle 3/4 of crumbled cookies on bottom of a deep 10-inch glass serving dish. Top with 1/3 of pudding mixture. Place strawberries over pudding. Stand remaining 10 cookies, face side out, along the inside of dish. Place remaining pudding mixture over strawberries. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Cover; refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and additional fruit, if desired.

Nutrition Information per serving: 450 calories; 200 calories from fat; 22 g total fat; 16 g saturated fat; 20 mg cholesterol; 460 mg sodium; 61 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 47 g sugars; 4 g protein

Swirled Black Forest Cake
(Makes 12 servings)

1 package (18.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix (such as German chocolate, devil’s food or chocolate fudge)
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 2/3 cups (10-ounce package) Nestlé Toll House Swirled Real Semi- Sweet & White Chocolate Morsels, divided
1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling, divided

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Line two 9-inch-round cake pans with foil extending over sides. Grease and flour foil.

PREPARE cake mix with water, oil and eggs according to package directions. Stir in 2/3 cup morsels. Pour evenly into prepared cake pans.

BAKE cakes for 24 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Carefully sprinkle remaining 1 cup morsels over tops of cakes while still hot out of the oven. Cool cakes completely in pans on wire racks.

TO ASSEMBLE, remove cakes carefully from pans by lifting foil. Peel off foil and place one layer morsels-side-up on cake platter. Top with 1 cup whipped topping and 1 cup cherry pie filling. Top with second layer. Serve each slice topped with remaining 2 cups whipped topping and 1 1/3 cups pie filling. Refrigerate leftover cake.

Nutrition Information per serving: 510 calories; 240 calories from fat; 27 g total fat; 11 g saturated fat; 65 mg cholesterol; 340 mg sodium; 63 g carbohydrate; <1 g fiber; 34 g sugars; 6 g protein