Every year on April 22, millions of people around the world celebrate Earth Day, a time to reflect on how our everyday choices impact the planet. For baking educators and family and consumer science (FCS) teachers, Earth Day offers a perfect opportunity to connect baking with sustainability, conservation, and mindful living.

Baking may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about environmental stewardship—but the truth is, what we bake, how we bake it, and the choices we make along the way can all add up to make a difference. Here are a few ways you can bring Earth Day into your baking classroom:

Reduce Food Waste with Smart Baking

Teach students how to turn ingredients that might otherwise be thrown away into something delicious! Reducing food waste isn’t just practical—it’s a mindset that encourages students to see value in every ingredient.

–Banana bread is a classic way to use overripe bananas.

–Bread pudding or French toast bakes are great uses for stale bread.

–Carrot tops can be blended into quick bread or muffin recipes.

–Fruit scraps can be simmered into homemade syrups or fillings.

Choose Local and Seasonal Ingredients

Celebrate the flavors of spring by baking with what’s growing locally. Visit a farmers’ market or invite a local grower to speak to your class about what’s in season. Baking with local produce reduces the environmental impact of transportation and supports the local economy. Try these earth-friendly bakes!

Rhubarb muffins

Carrot cupcakes

Berry crisps or cobblers with early strawberries

Herb biscuits using classroom-grown herbs

Practice Eco-Friendly Baking Habits

Encourage students to adopt sustainable habits in the kitchen by incorporating eco-friendly baking practices into their routine. This can include using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients to reduce carbon footprints, minimizing food waste by properly measuring ingredients and repurposing leftovers, and selecting reusable baking tools instead of single-use items. Students can also learn to conserve energy by using the oven efficiently—baking multiple items at once or turning it off a few minutes early to let residual heat finish the job.

–Use cloth towels instead of paper towels

–Opt for reusable baking tools like silicone mats and muffin liners

–Store ingredients in reusable containers

–Wash and reuse jars for spice blends or baking mixes

–Save energy by batch baking or turning off the oven a few minutes early and letting the residual heat finish the job

Compost What You Can

Eggshells, apple peels, coffee grounds, and many fruit and veggie scraps from baking can be composted instead of thrown away. If your school has a garden or composting program, get your class involved! It’s a great hands-on lesson in nutrient cycles and environmental responsibility.

Explore Plant-Based Baking

Earth Day is a great time to introduce plant-based recipes. Whether it’s using flax eggs, non-dairy milk, or plant-based butter, these swaps can spark conversations about how our food choices affect the environment. You might consider using mashed banana or applesauce for eggs, coconut oil or vegan butter in place of dairy butter, almond, or oat or soy milk in place of cow’s milk. Even trying just one plant-based baking recipe can open students’ eyes to new techniques and flavors.

Let’s celebrate Earth Day with purpose! Whether you bake a simple muffin or plan a full sustainability-themed baking unit, every moment spent connecting baking to Earth Day is a step toward helping students become more mindful consumers and global citizens. Encourage students to reflect on what they’ve learned. What eco-friendly baking habit can they commit to this year? What ingredients can they start sourcing locally?

We’d love to hear how you’re bringing sustainability into your baking classroom! Share your Earth Day baking tips, recipes, and classroom activities with us on Facebook or tag us @HomeBakingAssociation.