6 Back to School Cookies for Kids (Without Refined Sugar)

Going back to school always has its challenges for both kids and parents. But sometimes a cookie is all it takes to brighten everyone’s mood. And when you have back to school cookies for kids that don’t contain any refined sugar, you don’t even have to pay for it later 🙂

Like all of the recipes on this website, the 6 cookie recipes in this post are all completely free from refined sugars and alternative sweeteners. Sweetened only with dates, raw honey or maple syrup, each recipe has been kid-tested and kid-approved for taste.

I love to make these cookies as a treat for my elementary-age daughter to enjoy when she gets home from school. Or, they also make excellent healthy lunchbox cookies to satisfy that little sweet tooth after lunch.

It’s hard to control all the processed foods and refined sugars our kids are offered when they aren’t at home. But we can control what we stock in our own fridge and what we bake for them.

I thoroughly enjoy being able to say “yes” to a treat without feeling like I’m adding to the highly processed sweets my kids already get when they are away from home. And these 6 back to school cookies for kids are the perfect way to do that!

1. Chocolate Chip Cookies Sweetened With Dates

These chocolate chip cookies have been a huge hit in my own family and in my neighborhood since I first developed the recipe. That classic, chewy texture and that nostalgic chocolate-studded cookie dough flavor are irresistible to kids and adults alike.

The fact that they are sweetened only with date paste only enhances the appeal of these incredibly satisfying cookies. No guilt plus complete sweet tooth satisfaction? Yes please!

And, by the way, if you have never used date paste to sweeten baked goods, allow me to assure you that the finished product does not taste anything like dates. When date paste is mixed into a recipe with other flavors, all you are left with is the natural sweetness of the fruit.

As a matter of fact, my picky 8-year-old daughter does not like the taste of dates, but she thoroughly enjoys the treats I make with date paste. So do not fear sweetening with date paste.

To get a free ebook with this popular chocolate chip cookie recipe in it, sign up for my non-spammy email newsletter at the bottom of this page.

2. Animal Crackers – Only 3 Ingredients Required!

These animal crackers are my viral Pinterest recipe. Buttery and crisp, this delicious snack-treat is obsessively good. Kids love to devour them and adults love how easy they are to make (adults may have also been known to devour them 😀 ).

These are, by far, the most craved back to school cookies for kids on the website. These would be great as lunchbox cookies or even as a snack paired with some peanut butter for protein.

And those adorable animal shapes? Super cheap on Amazon right here 🙂 And trust me, you’ll use them over and over once your kids get a taste of these homemade animal crackers.

You can also get the free ebook version of this recipe right here.

3. Jam Thumbprint Cookies With Homemade Jam

If you have a jam-lover in your family, these back to school cookies for kids are exactly what you need. With a chewy, lemony base and a homemade strawberry jam filling, these jam thumbprints are great lunchbox cookies for kids who don’t like or tolerate chocolate.

As a matter of fact, that is what prompted me to make this jam thumbprint cookie recipe. My 8-year-old is a chocola-holic, but she struggles with sleep disturbances and acid reflux when she has too much of it too often.

So I set out to create a cookie she would love that did not contain and chocolate, and this is the one she loved!

Quick note: if you don’t want to make your own jam, you can always buy some healthy, refined-sugar-free jam 🙂

Get the ebook version of this recipe right here.

4. Famous Cocoa Cookies – A Super Easy Recipe

If your kids are chocolate-lovers like mine (and they can tolerate having some chocolate), these cocoa cookies sweetened with dates are simple to make and so satisfying to eat.

These are another classic NSK cookie that became a hit with everyone who tried them the very first time I made them. There is just something about their light texture and balanced chocolatey sweetness that make them the perfect back to school cookies for kids.

If you want to make these as an after-school treat for your kids, they can also be upgraded to cookie sandwiches if you slather them with some homemade honey-sweetened whipped cream.

This is another recipe you can grab in my mini refined-sugar-free cookie ebook here.

5. Cut-Out Sugar Cookies Without the Sugar Rush

I love these cut out sugar cookies for so many reasons, but using them as back to school cookies for kids is a great way to send your kids to school with a personalized treat 😀 You could use school supplies cookie cutters like these to match the cookie to the occasion or spell out your child’s name with mini alphabet cookie cutters.

The best part, of course, is the fact that these “sugar cookies” don’t actually contain any refined sugar – just maple syrup.

You can also frost these cookies without using an entire bag of powdered sugar by following my honey-sweetened buttercream frosting recipe.

6. Graham Crackers That Are Better Than Store-Bought

I dare you to pack some of these homemade graham crackers as lunchbox cookies for your kids and see if they even realize they aren’t ‘store-bought.

With a recipe that’s super simple to follow and no chill-time required, you can easily whip up a batch of naturally sweetened graham crackers on the weekend and have them all week as back to school cookies for kids.

Great for dunking in milk, slathering with frosting or making into s’mores, these crackers can also readily become an extra special after school snack treat.

Time to Bake!

Now that you have 6 kid-approved, refined-sugar-free recipes for some absolutely delicious cookies, it’s time to get in the kitchen and start baking!

There’s nothing quite like the sweet comfort of knowing you are making your child’s day a little bit happier with a treat even when you aren’t present with them.

If you try any of these recipes, let me know in the comments which one is your kids’ favorite 🙂