Recommended foods for a high school cultural festival: from Instagrammable items to easy, casual bites.
When it comes to running a food stall at a school festival, it’s easy to agonize over what kind of food will draw a crowd.
In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of great food ideas perfect for high school festivals! We’ve picked out not only classic festival favorites, but also options that require minimal prep and eye-catching treats that will shine on Instagram—menus that we especially want high schoolers to try.
Enjoy the school festival to the fullest, including the fun of making everything together with your friends!
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- Roundup of classic and popular festival foods, plus trending menu items
- Summary of unusual foods we’d like to offer at the school festival’s food stall
- A catalog of recommended festival booths for school culture festivals, with ideas that will shine on social media.
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- [For High School Students] A roundup of recommended attractions for the school festival
- Attraction Ideas for School Festivals That Only High Schoolers Can Pull Off?
- Games that rival street festivals and variety shows!? Crowd-pleasers for school cultural festivals
- Instagram-worthy ideas for a high school cultural festival: photo spots everyone will love
- [Cultural Festival / School Festival Theme] Carefully Selected High-Impact Recommended Phrases!
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Recommended foods for a high school cultural festival: from photogenic items to easy bites (71–80)
Mitarashi dango
When it comes to mitarashi dango, it’s arguably one of the most popular wagashi among high school students.
That said, because it’s so easy to buy, many people may have never made it themselves.
For the dumpling portion, you use shiratamako (glutinous rice flour).
You can knead it with water, but in this video they make it by adding silken tofu instead of water.
Using tofu is said to keep the dango from hardening even after being stored in the refrigerator.
Boil the dumplings in hot water, skewer them, and sear them in a frying pan to add some char.
After that, just coat them with the sauce and they’re ready to eat.
A simple soy sauce-only glaze also makes for a delicious, more grown-up flavor.
candied apple
When it comes to festivals, candied apples are a must! They’re cute and Instagrammable, so they’re perfect for a school festival sweet, too.
The video features a recipe from a specialty candied apple shop, so definitely use it as a reference.
Another plus is that you only need simple ingredients like apples and corn syrup.
You can make it feel even more like a real candied apple shop by adding classic flavors like cinnamon, yogurt, or chocolate.
People don’t often make candied apples themselves, and the process is fun, so be sure to discuss it with your classmates for the school festival!
fried bread
Speaking of deep-fried bread from school lunches, it’s a nostalgic flavor, but there aren’t many shops that sell it.
The method is actually simple: just deep-fry store-bought rolls or koppe-pan and coat them with a sweet topping, so it’s easy to make without failing and highly recommended.
The typical coating is kinako (roasted soybean flour) mixed with powdered sugar, but it’s also fun to try variations like cocoa with powdered sugar or cinnamon with powdered sugar.
Because it’s rich and indulgent, it’s probably a hugely popular menu item for hungry high school students.
Recommended foods for a high school culture festival: from photogenic items to quick and easy bites (81–90)
cotton candy
Cotton candy brings back childhood memories and is also a popular photo-worthy treat.
Many people surely looked forward to having their parents buy it at festival stalls and night markets when they were kids.
It’s big and fluffy, but the moment you put it in your mouth it melts away—so even if you wonder whether you can finish something so large, it’s gone before you know it.
Winding it onto a wooden skewer takes some practice, so everyone needs to rehearse before the stall opens.
Recently, cotton candy made with colorful sugar crystals has become popular, and it’s sure to be a hit as a photogenic snack.
milk ice
When it comes to frozen treats you can make without a shaved ice machine, milk ice is the go-to.
It’s a cool dessert that helps you unwind after the excitement of a school festival.
It’s super easy to make, so even those who aren’t confident in the kitchen can try it! Put sugar and milk in a bowl, heat it in the microwave, and mix.
Next, add more milk, pour it into a zip-top bag, and freeze until solid—that’s it! It takes about 10 hours, so be sure to freeze it in advance.
Finally, top it with syrup or condensed milk to finish it off as a gorgeous, Instagram-worthy treat!
nerikiri (a type of Japanese wagashi sweets made from white bean paste and glutinous rice flour)
Do you know nerikiri? Nerikiri is a palm-sized Japanese confection made with white bean paste as its base, known for its colorful appearance.
Because of that, people who haven’t tried it may find it quite enticing.
Normally, preparing it requires cooking, but alternatives include finishing it by heating in a microwave or sourcing ready-made frozen pieces to thaw and serve.
It can be served on its own, and it also pairs nicely with tea.
firm custard pudding
When it comes to pudding, the fluffy, jiggly, soft type is currently the mainstream, but the firm custard pudding you’d find at retro Showa-era coffee shops has been gaining attention again in recent years! Served in a coupe cup, it has a charmingly nostalgic look.
Top it with whipped cream and a cherry for an even more authentic touch.
It’s also very photogenic, so it’s sure to create buzz on social media! And of course, be particular about the flavor—keep refining the recipe through plenty of trial and error.
In conclusion
We introduced recommended foods for a high school cultural festival.
In addition to the classics, we focused on festive options perfect for the occasion and quick bites that are easy to eat.
Did you find something you’d like to make together with everyone? We hope this article helps you create wonderful memories.