Back To School Baking

So we're still gearing up for school over here, and I'm still trying to figure out why finding everything on their school supply list was like trying to find my way through a maze...blind folded.

I've never even seen some of the supplies on that list - back in my day, we showed up with a pencil pouch and a matching Trapper Keeper and we were good to go.

Trapper Keepers, they just made ya feel cool.

(I'm pretty sure I had one with unicorns on it)

Annnnyway.

For the past few years the girls and I have done some back to school baking - festive little treats to get you in the back-to-school mood. You know, if that mood existed and was more exciting than doing cannon balls off the diving boards :).

They love cooking with me, and it always ends up being a good time together. They picked 2 treats, 1 school related and one not so related. The first was Chalkboard Cupcakes, and they turned out super cute. Here's Ella's...

Pretty cute, huh?

Here are the ingredients and directions for those:

-Yellow, green, and white frosting

-Cupcakes

-Red Skittles or M&M's

-Small plastic bag

-Chocolate-covered graham crackers

-White Good & Plenty candy (we used Tic Tacs)

Directions:

-Cover the cupcakes with yellow frosting and allow them to sit for an hour before decorating. Dab each red Skittle or M&M with a bit of green frosting for the apple's leaf, then set them aside.

-Put a tablespoon or two of white frosting into a small plastic bag for piping. Cut a very small hole in a corner of the bag, twist the top of the bag closed, and secure it with a rubber band or twist tie. Piping the frosting gently out of the hole, write messages on the chocolate-covered graham crackers. Leave space at the bottom of the cookie, where it'll be stuck into the cupcake.

-Cut a groove in the cupcake's frosting with a knife, then fit a blackboard into the groove. Add one Skittle or M&M apple and a piece of Good & Plenty chalk, as shown.

Really easy, and the girls loved them.

We also made these Frozen Bananas dipped in chocolate...

Ingredients:

Bananas

1/2 cup of Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup of Chocolate Frosting

Toothpicks

Sprinkles

Directions:

- Cut bananas into sections, place toothpick in the center, place on wax paper, then freeze for 20-30min.

- Melt chocolate chips and frosting in a bowl.

- Dip frozen bananas in mixture, then roll in sprinkles. Place in freezer. That's it!

So that's something we've been up to this week, trying to make the back to school season a little more fun and a little more appealing - I mean, my girls are excited, but they looovvvee the pool. It's always rough to hang our suits up for the winter :).

We're not the only ones who think baking makes back to school more fun, are we :)??

Disclosure - Compensation was provided by Country Crock via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Country Crock.