As the final school bell rings and summer begins to bloom, there’s no better time to pause and extend a heartfelt thank you to the remarkable teachers who’ve guided, supported, and inspired our children all year long. And as the school year draws to a close, we believe in marking the moment with a gesture that is both meaningful and memorable.
At Shookhill, we love to celebrate life’s little details, and that includes giving thanks in simple, thoughtful ways. Whether your child is finishing up kindergarten or graduating from high school, showing gratitude to the educators who helped them along the way is a gesture worth making.
This Year’s Favorite DIY Teacher Gift: Caramel Apples with a Twist
One of our favorite ways to say thank you this year? A sweet, simple, and satisfying homemade caramel apple gift. It’s just the right mix of handmade and heartfelt—with a little touch of indulgence. We paired fresh, crisp apples with our own homemade caramel, tucked in a small gift card, and finished it all off with a custom thank you tag.
It’s a gift that feels personal and seasonal—and it doesn’t take much time to assemble, which makes it perfect for multiple teachers or school staff.
What you’ll need:
- 2 apples (we like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for a tart-sweet balance)
- Homemade caramel (our recipe or your favorite store-bought variety)
- Small jars or containers for the caramel (we used pint jars from Amazon)
- Gift card (coffee shop, bookstore, or Target are always appreciated)
- Custom thank you tag (we offer a wide variety of printables to cover most occasions)
- Cellophane bag, ribbon, and a gift tag to tie it all together
Package the apple and caramel together with care, tuck in a gift card and one of our tags, and voilà—your end-of-year teacher gift is complete!
This season of gratitude reminds us how much teachers do—often quietly, behind the scenes—to shape our children’s lives. Whether you go big or small, your acknowledgment makes a difference. Let’s close out the school year with a beautiful gesture, a little sunshine, and a lot of heart.
And if you’re looking for more thoughtful gift ideas or printable thank you tags, we’ve got you covered. Wishing you and your family a restful and joyful start to summer!
Caramel Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Add the sugar and water to a 3-quart saucepan; swirl the pot so the sugar is a flat, even layer.
- Heat the sugar & water over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves, turns clear, and starts to bubble. (It will be cloudy at first, but will turn into a clear, bubbling liquid.) This takes about 3-4 minutes.
- (At this point, do not stir again - simply allow the mixture to bubble, swirl the saucepan occasionally, and scrape down the sides of the pan with a heat-proof rubber spatula, as needed, to prevent crystallization.)
- Sugar will form clumps, but continue swirling and cooking until the mixture thickens and turns a medium amber color (think honey-colored about 8 minutes).
- Carefully add the butter and whisk until completely melted. (The caramel will bubble up rapidly, so be careful and continue to whisk.)
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly pour in the cream, whisking continuously until all of the cream has been incorporated.
- Whisk in the vanilla and salt.
- Set aside to cool slightly.
- Pour into a lidded glass jar (we like pint-size mason jars from Amazon). Caramel will thicken as it cools.
