75+ Backpack Friendly School Treats!

Yummy backpack friendly snacks like cookies, bars, snack cakes and more, homemade with love from your kitchen ~ because they deserve it!

As a mom I’ve always operated from the point of view that school is hard. No matter whether yours is an A+ student (or not!) school is taxing, and any child who willingly trudges through that long day deserves high praise…and a treat. Homemade if possible. A carefully wrapped backpack treat is a delicious little thread that connects them back to the comfort and safety of home. Of course you’re going to pack a healthy lunch and snack, but along with those carrot sticks and cups of yogurt, sneak in a little treat, every day!

the science of packing back to school treats

(Fyi any of the school treats featured here can be used for bake sales and care packages. They can also serve as after-school-treats!)

1. Pack sweet treats with lunch, not as a snack: the sweet shouldn’t be the main event.
2. Practice portion control: teach your kids good habits and pack a small treat with their lunch.
3. Avoid soft frosted items (firm glazes are ok): frosting is near impossible to pack, it’s messy to eat, and tends to melt in warm temperatures.
4. Avoid thin or crumbly cookies: go for thick sturdy cookies that won’t crush, and wrap snugly in plastic wrap or foil.
5. Pack straight from the freezer: cookies and bars can be popped straight from the freezer to backpack. They’ll thaw perfectly in a couple of hours.
6. Freezing treats allows you to keep things interesting: wrap bars and cookies in individual portions to freeze. That way you can change things up every day!
7. If you don’t want to send something sweet every day: pick a special ‘treat’ day your kids can look forward to (how about Monday or Friday?)

how to substitute peanuts and tree nuts for allergy restrictions

If your school prohibits peanuts and tree nuts due to allergy concerns, here are some common substitutions you can use in back to school treats. Use a 1:1 ratio in most recipes. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of peanut butter, you can use 1 cup of the chosen seed butter.

1. Sunflower Seed Butter: Sunflower seed butter is a popular alternative to peanut butter or other nut butters. It has a similar creamy texture and nutty flavor, making it a great choice for baking.
2. Soy Nut Butter: Soy nut butter is made from roasted soybeans and can mimic the texture and flavor of peanut butter. It’s a good option for those looking for a nut-free alternative.
3. Other seed Butters (Tahini, Pumpkin Seed Butter, etc.): Various seed butters can be used in place of nut butters. Tahini (made from sesame seeds) and pumpkin seed butter are examples. They may have distinct flavors, so be sure to take that into account.

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Fruity bars for September thru May

Blackberry Pecan Bars

Strawberry Jam Bars

5 from 12 votes

Strawberry jam bars are all about that unbeatable combo of buttery shortbread cookie dough and sweet-tart strawberry jam!

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Apple Crumb Bars

5 from 12 votes

Apple Crumb Bars are an all season treat filled with layers of juicy fruit sandwiched between a light cake base and a buttery crumble topping. They bake up a little bit different every time, depending on the apples you choose.  These apple bars are a joy!

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Sour Cherry Almond Bars

3.76 from 157 votes

Sour Cherry Almond Bars ~ the cherry filling is nice and tart, the almond crumble is chewy and butterscotch-y ~ these are a must make!

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Blood Orange Crumble Bars

4.48 from 19 votes

Blood orange crumble bars feature a sweet blood orange jam filling in a buttery shortbread crumble dough ~ they're fabulous!

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Raspberry Almond Bars

5 from 9 votes

Crazy good raspberry almond bars that have a vibrant raspberry filling, lots of almond flavor, and a unique soft and crunchy texture ~ you can't go wrong with this recipe!

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Blackberry Cobbler Bars

5 from 41 votes

Blackberry Cobbler Bars are a portable, snack-able version of everybody's favorite summer dessert!

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Cardamom Plum Crumble Bars

5 from 10 votes

Cardamom Plum Crumble Bars ~ plums are in their element right now so no time to dither about what to make with them: bake them up to their juiciest potential in this buttery cardamom laced crumble…

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Cider Glazed Apple Pie Bars

4.34 from 9 votes

Spiced Cider Glazed Apple Bars ~ these buttery shortbread crumble bars are stuffed with juicy SweeTango apples and drizzled with an outrageous spiced cider glaze!

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Fresh Cranberry Bars

3.88 from 324 votes

Fresh Cranberry Bars are buttery shortbread crumble bars bursting with fresh tart cranberries and the combination is pure heaven. If you haven't baked with zingy cranberries yet, now is the time to start!

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White Peach Bars

3.90 from 49 votes

White Peach Bars ~ these are thing things summer dreams are made of, with delicate and juicy white peaches baked up in a butter golden shortbread crumble crust!

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cookies that won’t crumble

classic peanut butter cookies

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

3.82 from 153 votes

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies ~ these old fashioned style oatmeal cookies are crisp on the outside, chewy inside, and packed with tart cranberries.  

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Strawberry Shortbread Cookies

4.91 from 91 votes

Strawberry Shortbread Cookies are pretty in pink with a fresh berry flavor. Freeze dried strawberries are the secret!

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Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

4.94 from 215 votes

Buttery shortbread slice and bake cookies studded with plenty of fresh tart cranberries!

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Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

5 from 10 votes

These soft sandwich cookies are a peanut butter lover's dream! A creamy peanut butter filling is sandwiched between plush sugar coated peanut butter cookies ~ how could they be anything but fabulous?

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Chewy Ginger Cookies

3.94 from 269 votes

Chewy Ginger Cookies are the ultimate fall and holiday cookie, full of warm spices and molasses, they’re crisp on the outside and nice and chewy inside.  They’re so easy to make and your whole house will smell amazing.

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Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

3.62 from 52 votes

Sprinkle Sugar Cookies ~ the holidays may be over, but winter carries on…and these easy sprinkled sugar cookies will help light your way right through to spring.  They're perfect for just about any occasion you can throw at them, just customize the colors!

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DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies

4.51 from 305 votes

Double Tree Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe ~ the secret's out, and it's official, Hilton has finally released the authentic recipe for their famous chocolate chip cookies. I tried the recipe and loved it, in fact this is my new favorite chocolate chip cookie.  

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Nutella Sandwich Cookies

4.55 from 22 votes

Nutella Sandwich Cookies ~ these easy cookies have a delicately crisp exterior, and are soft and chewy inside.  A thick layer of Nutella filling seals the deal.  

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Honey Spice Hazelnut Cookies

4.08 from 25 votes

Honey Spice Hazelnut Cookies ~ these nutty, crunchy glazed cookies are a perfect way to ease into fall and holiday cookie baking season!

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Copycat Crumbl Banana Bread Cookies

5 from 11 votes

Copycat Crumbl banana bread cookies are warm and cozy with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting topped with crushed pecans ~ Deeeeeelish!

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Soft Iced Sugar Cookies

4.48 from 19 votes

Soft Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are thick buttery sugar cookies slathered with a creamy frosting and lots of colorful sprinkles.  These big bakery style cookies are perfect for Easter baskets and everyday spring snacking.

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Soft Glazed Gingerbread Cookies

3.72 from 413 votes

Soft Glazed Gingerbread Cookies are stunningly gorgeous, but made quick and easy with cookie stamps.

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better than lunch lady bars & brownies

Lemon Brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

4.93 from 13 votes

Chocolate chip cookie bars are the perfect dessert. This easy one bowl bar cookie recipe bakes up thicker and more decadent than your favorite chocolate chip cookie ~ no chilling or scooping necessary!

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Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

5 from 4 votes

Childhood classics get a grown-up choco-pb upgrade!

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Strawberry Lemon Blondies

4.08 from 4546 votes

Strawberry Lemon Blondies ~ these easy strawberry blondies are moist and dense, (think soft shortbread) with plenty of little jammy pockets thanks to a cup of diced fresh strawberries in the batter.  The hint of lemon revs up the berry flavor and gives these strawberry bars a bright, tangy vibe.

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Nutella S’mores Bars

3.90 from 192 votes

Nutella S'mores Bars ~ everybody's favorite summer treat in an ooey, gooey, decadent, and delicious bar, no campfire needed!

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Butter Pecan Shortbread

3.57 from 353 votes

Butter Pecan Shortbread is a classic buttery shortbread loaded up with crunchy pecans.

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Fudgy One Bowl Brownies

5 from 6 votes

Fabulously Fudgy One Bowl Brownies!  Brownies are the ultimate pantry recipe, moist, chewy, and so good ~ it makes enough to share, too!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies

3.89 from 9 votes

An easy one bowl dessert that's got it all ~ the butterscotch-y chew of a blondie meets fudgy brownie ~ plus peanut butter!

Chocoalate Chip Pumpkin Blondies

3.95 from 69 votes

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies are tender and delicious ~ I guarantee these easy moist pumpkin bars will be your new favorite fall snack!

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snack-able cakes

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Praline Pumpkin Snack Cake

4.25 from 66 votes

This pecan praline pumpkin cake has the perfect tender crumb, a lightly spiced pumpkin flavor, and an out of this world pecan praline frosting — get ready to drool.

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Honeybun Cake

5 from 2 votes

An easy coffeecake that tastes like your favorite honey bun ~ and it starts with a cake mix!

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Powdered Sugar Doughnut Cake

5 from 33 votes

This powdered sugar doughnut cake is an easy little snack cake that takes its cue from everybody's favorite childhood doughnut. The cakey texture, the perfect nutmeg flavor, and the thick layer of powdered sugar ~ it's all there, and it's delish!

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Cranberry Breakfast Cake

4.70 from 243 votes

This simple cranberry cake is baked with fresh cranberries for the sweetest coffee cake of the season!

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Swedish Visiting Cake

4.95 from 17 votes

Swedish Visiting Cake is a simple yet delicious almond coffee cake with a crispy top and a soft, moist center.

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Dorie Greenspan’s Dimply Plum Cake

4.80 from 10 votes

Dorie Greenspan's dimply plum cake is a high summer snack cake that can be made with any variety of plum, pluot, or aprium. It's a simple old fashioned one bowl cake that you're going to love!

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Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

3.64 from 590 votes

A moist and easy fresh strawberry buttermilk cake that can go from breakfast and brunch to dessert.

Gingerbread Crumb Cake

3.90 from 29 votes

My Gingerbread Crumb Cake recipe is a warm spiced coffee cake made super moist and tender with molasses and sour cream.

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Blueberry Buckle

5 from 7 votes

Blueberry Buckle is a classic American dessert with a tender cake studded with juicy blueberries and topped with a crumbly streusel topping!

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Lemon Crunch Cake

4.99 from 65 votes

This lemon crunch cake is an old fashioned style breakfast or snack cake with a pillowy soft texture, bright lemon flavor, and a delightful crunchy top.

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Pumpkin Crumb Cake

4.49 from 29 votes

My favorite Pumpkin Crumb Cake is a classic fall coffee cake enriched with pumpkin and perfectly spiced.  It has become a holiday breakfast tradition in our house!

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Gold Star Quick Breads

One Banana Banana Bread!

Ultimate One Bowl Zucchini Bread

4.97 from 30 votes

The Ultimate One Bowl Zucchini Bread because life is way too short to spend time tracking down the best recipe ~ so no worries, it's right here!

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Buttermilk Peach Bread

5 from 28 votes

Buttermilk peach bread is a simple quick bread loaded with juicy peaches ~ if you're looking for an easy peach recipe and the perfect summer breakfast, you've just found it!

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Date Nut Bread

4.99 from 60 votes

Date nut bread is rich, moist, and delicious. If you love banana bread and zucchini bread, then you need to add this retro quick bread to your recipe collection.

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Strawberry Banana Bread

5 from 6 votes

Strawberry Banana Bread is soft, moist, and delicious ~ it's everything you love about banana bread…with strawberries!

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Apple Cider Doughnut Loaf Cake

4.92 from 68 votes

My apple cider doughnut loaf cake is the fall cake of your dreams. This quick and easy apple bread tastes just like a soft moist cider doughnut!

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Paleo Breakfast Bread

3.44 from 313 votes

My quick and easy Paleo Fruit and Nut Bread is grain free, dairy free, without added sugar.  This quick bread is also amazingly versatile ~ serve it for breakfast or as an energizing healthy snack.  It also happens to be absolutely fabulous toasted!

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Lemon Poppy Seed Zucchini Bread

4.95 from 108 votes

Lemon Poppy Seed Zucchini Bread with crunchy poppy seeds and fresh grated zucchini folded into a moist, lemon scented quick bread.

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Apple Fritter Bread

4.15 from 69 votes

Easy Apple Fritter Bread ~ tart apples are swirled with brown sugar and spices in this classic loaf cake, topped with a sweet crackly glaze. This apple quick bread takes a cue from the down home deep fried apple fritters grandma made. Fall baking doesn’t get any better than this!

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Perfect Pumpkin Bread

5 from 7 votes

My pumpkin bread is a soft moist fall quick bread that bakes up perfectly every time ~ this recipe is foolproof!

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Love muffins

Perfect Lemon Muffins

Orange and Cardamom Muffins

4.72 from 103 votes

Orange and Cardamom Muffins ~ delicately fragrant muffins flavored with bright orange zest and warm, spicy cardamom, this easy muffin recipe is unique and delicious!

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Fresh Cranberry Muffins

4.87 from 146 votes

Fresh Cranberry Muffins are loaded with tangy pops of cranberry ~ the color and flavor of fresh cranberries are unrivaled in the food world, if you ask me. This easy one bowl recipe proves that winter food can definitely be bright and fresh!

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Perfect Blueberry Muffins

5 from 25 votes

Is there anything better than a perfect blueberry muffin? If I could only bake one thing for the rest of my life, it would be a moist, fluffy muffin loaded with bright juicy blueberries. It's a recipe worth perfecting.

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Apple Walnut Bran Muffins

5 from 5 votes

Healthy high fiber apple walnut bran muffins are easy to throw together and make such a satisfying breakfast for back to school season!

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Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

5 from 4 votes

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins are super moist and full of rich, complex flavor. They're our new favorite any-time-of-day treat

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Triple Berry Muffins

4.94 from 61 votes

Triple Berry Muffins are moist, sweet, and bursting with tart berry flavor. Use fresh or frozen berries for these classically delicious breakfast treats.

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Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

5 from 17 votes

Pumpkin doughnut muffins are pillowy little pumpkin spice muffins coated in a crisp cinnamon sugar crust. This pumpkin doughnut remix is the best thing to happen to Fall since the PSL!

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Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Muffins

4.98 from 46 votes

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Muffins are super moist, full of peanut butter flavor, and stuffed with mini chocolate chips ~ these protein packed energy boosters are a family favorite!

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Apple Crisp Muffins

4.85 from 19 votes

Apple Crisp Muffins are filled with juicy chunks of apple and topped with a brown sugar streusel so you can enjoy your favorite fall dessert, for breakfast!

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Packable Bundts

Glazed Old Fashioned Buttermilk Doughnut Bundt Cake

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

5 from 21 votes

A lemon blueberry bundt cake is a moist breakfast or tea time cake that combines tart citrus with bursts of juicy berries. It's one of those cakes that looks as good as it tastes.

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Pumpkin Doughnut Cake

5 from 10 votes

My Pumpkin Doughnut Cake is a lightly spiced pumpkin cake with a crisp sugar doughnut crust that makes it the ULTIMATE fall treat!

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Mary Berry’s Lemon Drizzle Cake

4.59 from 87 votes

Mary Berry's Lemon Drizzle Cake is an easy tea cake with a distinctive  crunchy lemon glaze.  You only need a few basic ingredients and 35 minutes to bake this lovely bundt cake. 

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

4.06 from 36 votes

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread is a must make every fall — this pumpkin bundt cake is moist and tender with just the right amount of spice, and the chocolate chips take it from delicious to dynamite!

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Cardamom Coffee Cake

4.91 from 10 votes

Cardamom Coffee Cake from the 1974 Moosewood Cookbook ~ Mollie Katzen calls this epic bundt the richest cake in the world!

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Perfect Pound Cake

5 from 54 votes

Perfect Buttermilk Pound Cake is that once in a lifetime recipe made with the perfect ratio of butter, sugar, eggs and flour. This easy bundt cake always comes out perfect, and you'll be baking it for years to come.

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Glazed Gingerbread Bundt Cake

4.13 from 96 votes

Glazed Gingerbread Bundt Cake ~ A tender lightly spiced gingerbread cake iced with a thin sugar glaze ~ this delicious cake is guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit.

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Lemon Yogurt Breakfast Cake

3.98 from 349 votes

Lemon Yogurt Breakfast Cake, or Ciambella ~ this is a classic Italian style lemon bundt cake with lots of lemony flavor and a delicate crumb.  Pair it with a good cup of coffee and you've got the start to a great day.

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Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

3.60 from 385 votes

Apple Cider Doughnut Cake is a warm cinnamon apple bundt cake that tastes just like Fall's iconic apple cider doughnuts.  It's basically everything you love about the season, baked up in a pan.

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