The Back to school just got a whole lot sweeter with these Back to School Royal Icing Cookies! From pencils and chalkboards to apples and notebooks, these buttery sugar cookies are a fun and colorful way to celebrate a fresh academic start.
Whether you’re a parent looking to surprise your child, a teacher wanting to treat your classroom, or simply a baking enthusiast, these cookies offer endless decorating possibilities. Not only are they easy to make and incredibly cute, but they also serve as edible keepsakes for one of the most memorable times of the year.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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3 cups all-purpose flour
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1 tsp baking powder
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1/2 tsp salt
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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1 cup granulated sugar
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1 large egg
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1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
For Royal Icing:
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4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
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3 tbsp meringue powder
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5–6 tbsp water
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Gel food coloring (red, yellow, blue, green, black, white, etc.)
Directions:
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In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
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In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
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Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat until combined.
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Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms.
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Divide the dough into two portions, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into school-themed shapes (pencils, apples, notebooks).
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Bake for 9–11 minutes or until edges are just starting to brown. Cool completely on wire racks.
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For the royal icing, mix powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water in a stand mixer until stiff peaks form (about 7–10 minutes).
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Divide icing into bowls and color with gel food coloring. Use piping bags and different tips to decorate cookies. Let icing dry for several hours or overnight.
Prep Time: 25 minutes | Chill Time: 1 hour | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Kcal: 180 kcal | Servings: 24 cookies
Back to School Royal Icing Cookies: Fun, Creative, and Easy Baking Ideas
As summer winds down and the back-to-school season approaches, families often find themselves scrambling to prepare for the school year. From shopping for school supplies to planning lunchboxes, there’s no shortage of things to get done. But one way to make the transition from summer to school a little sweeter (literally!) is by baking fun and creative treats, like Back to School Royal Icing Cookies. These cookies are not only delicious, but they’re also the perfect way to get kids involved in the kitchen and celebrate the start of the school year in a memorable way. Whether you’re a parent looking for a fun family activity, a teacher seeking a classroom treat, or just someone who loves the idea of incorporating school-themed bakes into your back-to-school celebrations, royal icing cookies can be the perfect addition to the season.
The Joy of Baking with Kids
One of the best things about baking royal icing cookies with kids is that it’s an activity everyone can enjoy. In fact, these cookies can be a great opportunity to spend quality time together while teaching kids valuable skills like measuring, mixing, and decorating. The process itself is simple and forgiving, making it ideal for all ages. Little ones can help with rolling out the dough, while older kids can get creative with the piping bags, creating colorful and intricate designs.
Baking is not only a fun way to bond but also a chance for children to learn important life skills. They get to practice patience as they wait for the cookies to bake and cool, as well as learn about the process of following a recipe and working through different steps to create a finished product. And, of course, there’s the added bonus of eating the cookies afterward!
Decorating Ideas for Back-to-School Cookies
What really sets royal icing cookies apart from other baked goods is the endless decorating possibilities. The royal icing provides a smooth, glossy finish that can be piped into intricate designs or used to flood the entire cookie, creating a beautiful canvas for creativity. This is where the fun really begins!
For back-to-school themed cookies, the options are limitless. You can use cutters shaped like pencils, apples, books, or even chalkboards. Once the cookies are baked and cooled, it’s time to bring them to life with royal icing. Kids can decorate cookies with colorful designs representing different school-related items like:
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Pencils and Crayons: Using bright yellows, reds, and greens, kids can decorate cookies to look like their favorite school supplies.
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Chalkboards: Black or dark gray royal icing can mimic a chalkboard, where messages like “Welcome Back!” or “Good Luck!” can be written using white or colored icing.
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Books and Notebooks: You can make stacked books out of cookies, piping details like titles or small designs on the “covers.”
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Apples for the Teacher: The classic apple design can be used to create a cookie that’s both sweet and symbolic of the back-to-school season.
For older children or even adults who enjoy more intricate designs, consider piping school-related icons, like math equations, the alphabet, or even school mascots. The beauty of royal icing cookies is that there’s no “right” way to decorate them it’s all about letting your imagination run wild.
Tips for Perfect Royal Icing Cookies
If you’ve never worked with royal icing before, there are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every time:
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Get the Consistency Right: Royal icing can be made in different consistencies depending on what you plan to do. For piping fine details, you’ll want a stiff consistency. For flooding the cookie and filling in large spaces, you’ll want a thinner, more liquid consistency. To test, hold your spatula up after mixing — if the icing slowly falls and melts back into the bowl without leaving a distinct line, it’s at the right consistency.
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Be Patient with Drying Time: Royal icing needs time to dry and harden fully, so be sure to allow ample time for your decorated cookies to set. This could take anywhere from several hours to overnight, depending on the thickness of the icing.
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Use Gel Food Coloring: While liquid food coloring can sometimes water down the icing, gel food coloring is much more concentrated, allowing you to achieve vibrant colors without altering the texture of your royal icing.
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Invest in Good Piping Tools: While you don’t need to go overboard with fancy tools, having a set of piping bags, couplers, and different piping tips can help you achieve more detailed and neat designs. Make sure to have a fine-tip option for lettering or small details and a wider tip for flooding the cookies.
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Practice Piping Techniques: If you’re new to piping, practice on a piece of parchment paper before starting on your cookies. This will help you get a feel for the piping bag and the pressure needed for different designs.
Using Royal Icing Cookies for Back-to-School Celebrations
Royal icing cookies aren’t just a fun family activity they’re also a fantastic way to celebrate various back-to-school events. Teachers can bake them as a sweet treat for their students, parents can include them in school lunchboxes, or they can be used to mark milestones like the first day of school or the first week of school.
Here are some ideas for incorporating royal icing cookies into your back-to-school celebrations:
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Classroom Treats: Teachers can use these decorated cookies as a special treat for students. They can be handed out as rewards for good behavior or given to students on the first day of school as a fun welcome.
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Lunchbox Surprises: Pack these colorful, fun cookies in your child’s lunchbox to add a little extra excitement to their school day. Not only will they enjoy the treat, but they’ll also be excited to share their delicious school-themed cookies with friends.
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Teacher Gifts: If you’re looking for a unique and personal gift for your child’s teacher, consider making a batch of royal icing cookies in the shape of apples, books, or the teacher’s favorite subject. This thoughtful gesture is sure to be appreciated.
Conclusion:
Back to school doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. By incorporating fun and simple activities like baking royal icing cookies, families and teachers can make the transition from summer to school an enjoyable and creative experience. Not only are these cookies a delicious treat, but they’re also an excellent way to bond, express creativity, and celebrate the start of a new school year. From the colorful decorations to the endless possibilities for themes, royal icing cookies bring a touch of joy and sweetness to back-to-school season, making it an experience everyone can look forward to.