14 Delicious Back to School Cookie Recipes You’ll Love

Back to school cookies are the kind of treat that make the return to routine feel just a little more exciting. Whether your kids are thrilled to be back in the classroom or dragging their feet every morning, a sweet, homemade cookie is a simple way to brighten the day. You can tuck them into lunchboxes as a surprise, have a batch ready for that post-school snack, or even send a few along to share with teachers and classmates. Either way, it’s a fun and easy way to add a little extra cheer to the start of a new school year.

The best part? There are so many directions you can take with these cookies. If you want to sneak in something a little more wholesome, oatmeal or whole wheat cookies are always a hit too. And if you’re baking together as a family, decorating cookies with school-themed designs is a fun activity that doubles as a memory-maker.

So if you’re looking for a sweet way to celebrate those first days back, back to school cookies are the answer. They’re easy, customizable, and guaranteed to bring smiles no matter what’s in the homework folder.

Pencil-Shaped Sugar Cookies

Pencil-shaped sugar cookies are a fun and tasty treat for back-to-school season. These cookies not only look adorable but also bring a smile to anyone’s face. Perfect for classroom parties or a sweet snack at home, they are sure to be a hit!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Yellow, pink, and gray icing for decoration

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
2. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
3. Roll the dough into pencil shapes and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until golden.
4. Let the cookies cool, then decorate with yellow icing for the body, pink for the eraser, and gray for the tip.

Ruler-Shaped Shortbread Cookies

These ruler-shaped shortbread cookies are a fun treat for back-to-school season. They are easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying during study breaks. With their bright yellow icing and black details, they look just like real rulers!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Yellow food coloring
• Black icing for decoration

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add vanilla extract and salt, then gradually mix in the flour until a dough forms. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Cut the dough into ruler shapes and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool completely before decorating with yellow icing and black icing details.

Apple-Shaped Frosted Cookies

These apple-shaped frosted cookies are perfect for welcoming back to school! With their bright colors and fun shapes, they bring a smile to any lunchbox. Plus, they’re super easy to make and decorate with your favorite icing!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Royal icing in red, green, and yellow
• Green fondant leaves (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined. Roll out the dough and cut into apple shapes.
4. Place cookies on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely.
5. Decorate with royal icing in your favorite apple colors and add fondant leaves if desired. Enjoy!

Letter-Shaped Alphabet Cookies

These letter-shaped cookies are a fun way to celebrate back to school! Kids will love spelling their names or favorite words with these colorful treats. Plus, they make a great addition to any classroom snack time!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups royal icing (for decorating)
• Food coloring (various colors)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
4. Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use letter-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies.
5. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely.
6. Decorate with royal icing and food coloring as desired. Let the icing dry before serving.

Number-Shaped Math Cookies

These fun number-shaped cookies make learning math a treat! Kids will love munching on these colorful delights while practicing their numbers. Bake a batch and watch their faces light up!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• Royal icing for decoration
• Food coloring
• Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined. Chill the dough for about 30 minutes.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out number shapes using cookie cutters. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Let cool completely before decorating with royal icing and sprinkles.

Notebook Paper Sugar Cookies

These notebook paper sugar cookies are a fun treat for back-to-school season! They look just like the classic school supplies we all know and love. Perfect for kids and adults alike, these cookies will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups royal icing (for decorating)
• Food coloring (red and blue)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and both extracts.
3. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until combined. Roll out the dough and cut into rectangular shapes.
4. Place cookies on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Let them cool completely.
5. Decorate with royal icing to resemble notebook paper, using red and blue food coloring for lines. Allow icing to set before serving.

School Bus-Shaped Cookies

School bus-shaped cookies are a fun treat for kids heading back to school. These bright yellow delights will surely bring smiles to snack time. Plus, they’re easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Yellow and black icing for decoration

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into school bus shapes. Place on a baking sheet.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool before decorating with yellow and black icing.

Globe-Shaped Cookies

These globe-shaped cookies are a fun way to celebrate back-to-school season! With bright colors and a playful design, they are sure to bring smiles to kids and adults alike. Perfect for classroom treats or family gatherings, these cookies make learning about the world a little sweeter!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup blue icing
• 1/4 cup green icing
• 1/4 cup white icing

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla, mixing well.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined. Roll the dough into balls and place them on the baking sheets.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden. Let them cool completely.
5. Once cooled, decorate with blue icing for oceans, green icing for continents, and white icing for clouds. Enjoy your globe-shaped cookies!

Backpack-Shaped Cookies

Backpack-shaped cookies are a fun way to celebrate the start of a new school year. These cute treats can be decorated in bright colors, making them perfect for kids and adults alike. Grab your baking supplies and let’s get started!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring (various colors)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts.
3. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll the dough into balls and flatten them slightly. Shape them into backpack forms.
4. Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let them cool on wire racks.
5. For decoration, mix powdered sugar with milk and food coloring to create icing. Decorate the cookies to look like backpacks!

Chalkboard-Themed Cookies

Chalkboard-themed cookies are a fun and creative way to celebrate the back-to-school season. These cookies look like mini chalkboards, complete with playful messages and designs. They’re perfect for classroom treats or a sweet surprise for your favorite student!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder (for black icing)
• 2 cups powdered sugar (for icing)
• 1-2 tablespoons milk (for icing)
• Black food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until combined.
4. Roll out the dough and cut into chalkboard shapes. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
5. Let the cookies cool completely. For icing, mix powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and milk until smooth. Add black food coloring if desired.
6. Decorate the cookies with the icing to resemble chalkboards, adding fun messages or designs!

Scissors-Shaped Cookies

These scissors-shaped cookies are a fun way to celebrate the back-to-school season! They are perfect for classroom treats or a sweet surprise for your little ones. With a simple recipe, you can whip up a batch that looks as good as it tastes!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Red and black food coloring

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
3. Roll the dough into balls and flatten them slightly. Use a scissors cookie cutter to shape them. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Let cool on wire racks.
5. For decoration, mix confectioners’ sugar with milk to create icing. Divide and color with food coloring. Decorate cooled cookies as desired.

Glue Bottle Cookies

These glue bottle cookies are a fun way to celebrate back-to-school season! They look just like the real thing and are sure to bring smiles to kids and adults alike. Perfect for classroom treats or a fun baking project at home!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Food coloring (blue and orange)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
3. Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet. Flatten slightly to form cookie shapes.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Let cool completely.
5. For the icing, mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Divide into two bowls and color one blue and the other orange. Decorate the cookies to look like glue bottles!

Lunchbox-Shaped Cookies

Lunchbox-shaped cookies are a fun way to add some sweetness to your child’s school day. These adorable treats can be decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles, making them a hit in any lunchbox. Plus, they’re easy to make and perfect for sharing!

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Royal icing for decoration
• Colored sprinkles

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out cookie shapes using a lunchbox-shaped cookie cutter.
6. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
7. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating with royal icing and sprinkles.