Back To School (or Teacher Appreciation) Cupcakes

Back To School Cupcakes are a great way to celebrate the start of a new school year! They are super easy to make and totally delightful.

Can you believe that summer is coming to an end and the kids will be going back to school very soon? School will resume in our area in about 3 weeks. Wait, how did the summer go so quickly?!?!

I wanted to make something special for my kids to take to school on the first day of school for their teacher and classmates. But, like many of you, I don’t have a lot of time to make something super fancy or time-consuming.

So instead of sending an apple to school for the teacher, I thought, why not a Back To School Cupcake? 😁 It is not super fancy, but it is exactly what I pictured in my mind.

My children loved these Back to School Cupcakes. I was happy they were a hit, yet I didn’t have to spend hours making them. It’s a win-win in my book!

Here are a few more Back to School Ideas we think you’ll love:

• Top Back-To-School Preparation Tips & Activities
• 15 Back To School Lunch Hacks You Need
• 15 Insanely Perfect Backpacks For Teen Boys

If you want more school snack cupcake recipes, try my Earth Day Cupcakes, Rainbow St. Patrick’s Day Cupcakes, or Halloween Witch Cupcakes.

An Easy Teacher Appreciation Day (or Back To School) Dessert

Not only are these cupcakes perfect for starting a new school year, but

Grab 12 FREE back-to-school coloring sheets! Just click the image to pick up your instant download!👇

Ingredients Needed For Back To School Cupcakes

• Chocolate Cake Mix – plus additional ingredients per directions OR your favorite recipe
• Red Buttercream Frosting – in a piping bag with a large cup tip
• Red Sugar Sprinkles
• Gummy Worms – sour brite crawlers or original
• Pretzel Sticks
• Green Buttercream Frosting – in a piping bag with Wilton 70 tip

How To Make Back To School Cupcakes

Follow these step-by-step instructions to create amazing cupcakes fit for the very best of teachers!

Step 1

Prepare the cake mix and bake cupcakes as per the recipe on the box or use your favorite recipe. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.

Step 2

With the red buttercream frosting in a piping bag, pipe a tall smooth swirl on top of the cupcake to make an apple.

Step 3

Sprinkle the red sugar on top of the red frosting apple.

Step 4

Place a pretzel stick on top of the apple for a stem.

Step 5

With the green buttercream in a piping bag, pipe one or two leaves from the base of the stem (pretzel stick) up.

Step 6

Wrap the gummy worm around the apple any way your choose.

Step 7

Enjoy!

Back To School Cupcakes Recipe Notes and Tips

• Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before piping on the frosting. If the cupcakes are still warm, the icing will slide off.

• When it comes to food color, I can never say enough about how awesome the AmeriColor food color is. It provides such deep, rich colors, and a little goes a long way.

• Keep in mind that the color of the frosting will deepen overnight. So, if it is not quite as dark as you prefer, it is easy to fix before frosting the cupcakes.

• If you do not have a piping bag, a plastic resealable bag will work well by cutting the corner off before putting on the tip.

• For the green leaves, you can use Cake Mate icing. Personally, I do not like the taste of it, but if time is an issue this might be a good alternative for you.

Grab 12 FREE back-to-school coloring sheets! Just click the image to pick up your instant download!👇

Variations Of Back To School Cupcakes To Try

• Apples come in different colors, such as red, green, or yellow, so why not make the apples on your cupcakes different colors too?

• Add a couple of drops of cinnamon flavor to the icing when you add the food coloring for a little extra zip and flavor.

• Core out the center of the cupcakes before you ice them, and add in some mini M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces for a fun surprise.

FAQS

Here are some common questions I see from readers about these Back To School Cupcakes – and their answers. If you don’t see your question below, please leave it in the comments so I can answer it!

Can I freeze the Back To School Cupcakes?

Certainly! They can be frozen for 2 – 3 months if stored in a freezer-safe container or plastic storage bag.

The only suggestion I would have is to not freeze the pretzel sticks. The pretzel will become soft and retain moisture from the freezer, which will prevent it from holding up and could make it soggy.

How long will leftovers stay fresh?

It’s highly likely that you will not have any leftovers because the kids will gobble them right up, but in the event that you do, they can be kept at room temperature for 2 – 3 days if stored in an airtight container or plastic storage bag.

Can I make these Back To School Cupcakes ahead of time?

Yes, you can! Bake the cupcakes a day or two before you need them. Then simply decorate and send them to school. 😁

One suggestion I have is to make the cupcakes ahead of time and put them in the freezer un-iced. Then when you are ready to decorate, you can just pull them out of the freezer, allow them to that completely and decorate.

More Adorable Cupcake Recipes Your Kids Will Love

• Easy DIY Speckled Mermaid Cupcakes
• Jurassic Dinosaur Cupcakes
• Encanto Movie-Themed Cupcakes
• Melted Snowman Cupcakes
• Beach Pull-Apart Cupcake Cake