50 Easy Snacks to Make In Bulk

Updated April 12, 2019
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Make these big-batch snacks now―you'll thank us when the hunger hits later. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 50

Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Stylist: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin

Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Candied Walnuts Recipe

Yet another way to enjoy pumpkin spice this season. Gift these to friends as a festive treat, or enjoy them yourself with an autumnal beer. Make sure to use pure maple syrup, as pancake syrup will taste artificial and will likely overwhelm the spiced flavor. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 50

S'mores Trail Mix

Credit: Thomas J. Story

S'mores Trail Mix Recipe

The name says it all--now you can enjoy the flavors of the classic campfire treat when you're on the go. The recipe comes from our book Camp Sunset: A Modern Camper's Guide to the Great Outdoors (Oxmoor House, 2016; $25).

3 of 50

No-Bake Granola Bars

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

No-Bake Granola Bars Recipe

Granola bars are probably a pantry staple in your kitchen for quick snacks and filling lunchboxes, but you’ve probably never made a batch from scratch. Start with this easy no-bake recipe made with rice cereal, oats, almond butter, maple syrup, and a touch of cinnamon.

Advertisement

4 of 50

Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars

Credit: Victor Protasio

Blueberry-Lemon Crunch Bars Recipe

Consider yourself warned: A crunch may look like a bar cookie, but you’ll need a fork to eat it. Similar to a crisp with baked fruit and a crumbly topping, a crunch sandwiches a layer of jammy fruit between two buttery layers. While other fruit desserts are on the syrupy side, this fruit is cooked down into a flavor-packed, thick preserve. The bottom layer should be firm enough not to crumble when a piece is cut from the pan, so adding toasted pecans to the mix improves the taste as well as the texture. The top layer can duplicate the bottom, or it can be a simple streusel topping made with flour, sugar, and butter.

5 of 50

Cashew-Apricot Bars

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Cashew-Apricot Bars Recipe

Ditch the sugar-laden store-bought bars and make your own at home. They're so much tastier, and way better for you.

6 of 50

Pb-Pretzel-Apple Bars

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Pb-Pretzel-Apple Bars Recipe

Sweet, salty, fruity, and crunchy, these bars truly pack a little bit of everything! Whip up a batch for your next picnic or hike, and stay fueled all day.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 50

Duck Fat Granola 

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Robin Bashinsky

Duck Fat Granola  Recipe

This savory oat and almond granola offers a beautifully salty, delicately sweet, and powerfully aromatic flavor profile, delivered by way of toasty crunch. Though easy to prepare, it makes an impressive and intensely delicious finishing touch for salads, soups, and more (essentially any savory dish you’d be inclined to top with toasted nuts or breadcrumbs. We especially love it sprinkled over this easy and elegant Beet and Labneh Salad.

8 of 50

Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix

Credit: Grant Cornett; Styling: Alistair Turnbull

Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix Recipe

Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix satisfies a sweet and salty craving while giving you an energy boost throughout the day.

9 of 50

Seasoned Saltine Crackers

Credit: Greg Dupree

Seasoned Saltine Crackers Recipe

This recipe goes with: Smoked Salmon Rillettes

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 50

Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix Recipe

Full of salty nuts, pretzels, and cereal and doused with a butter- and Worcestershire-based glaze, the classic snack mix racks up sodium quickly (and who honestly stops at the barely 1/2 cup serving suggestion?). Our Asian-inspired mix saves 160mg sodium per serving with plenty of crunch and bold, salty flavor in a more generous 3/4 cup portion.

11 of 50

Salted Candied Almonds

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Salted Candied Almonds Recipe

These salty and sweet almond treats are easy to make ahead. 

12 of 50

Brown Sugar-Spiced Nut Mix

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks

Brown Sugar-Spiced Nut Mix Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Cheryl Slocum, Senior Food Editor

A bowl of nuts in their shells was a coffee table staple for Thanksgiving snacks when Cheryl was young. "Operating the nutcracker was a real draw for us little kids," she says, "but our tastes have evolved to this sweet-hot crispy mix."

Achieve a bronzelike patina on these candied nuts by keeping a close watch near the end of their roasting time. Too long and they'll overdarken and take on a bitter flavor.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 50

Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats Recipe

Skip your boring breakfast and opt for these decadent chocolate-on-chocolate cookies that boast full satisfaction and a dose of whole-grain goodness. Rich, decadent, and ultra-crispy, these healthy, bite-size snacks are the perfect start to the day. And they're ready to eat in a fraction of the time needed to prepare typical sweet treats.

14 of 50

Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Wafers

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Wafers Recipe

Dried cranberries give a slightly sweet flavor to crispy, buttery Cranberry-Pecan Cheese Wafers.

15 of 50

Cranberry Oat Bars

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Cranberry Oat Bars Recipe

Kids will love to snack on these oat bars filled with a sweet cranberry mixture. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 50

Apple-Oat Energy Balls

Credit: Sara Tane

Apple-Oat Energy Balls Recipe

Back-to-school has got nothing on these tasty, filling snacks. If you don't have almond butter (or have a picky eater in the house), feel free to swap out for peanut butter or your nut butter of choice.

17 of 50

Crispy Potato Chips

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Crispy Potato Chips Recipe

Satisfy your potato chip craving with this super salty and super easy snack. It's better than the bagged stuff―we promise.

18 of 50

Togarashi-Spiced Snack Mix

Credit: Greg Dupree

Togarashi-Spiced Snack Mix Recipe

This flavor-packed snack mix serves eight people and comes together in less than 2 hours.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 50

Crisp and Spicy Snack Mix

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Crisp and Spicy Snack Mix Recipe

Take this to snack on before dinner. And if there's any left, toss it on a salad.

20 of 50

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

When it comes to making cookies from scratch, these crispy-chewy chocolate chip cookies represent the best of the best. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions make this a recipe you'll come back to again and again. Whip up a batch of these all-time favorite cookies and they won't last long. Pro tip: Bake 10 minutes for a softer cookie or up to 14 minutes for a crispier cookie.

After you've made these craveworthy cookies, don't forget to try our fun variations. All sorts of goodies—from crushed white-chocolate pretzels to toffee candy—can be added to the batter to create other signature cookies.

21 of 50

Cereal and Milk Bars

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Cereal and Milk Bars Recipe

These crowd-pleasers deliver flavors that take you straight back to childhood bliss.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 50

Marshmallow Popcorn Treats with Dark Chocolate Drizzle

Credit: Jason Varney; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Marshmallow Popcorn Treats with Dark Chocolate Drizzle Recipe

Reminiscent of classic popcorn balls, these salty-sweet treats make for awesome low-fat, lunch box-friendly snacking. Make a batch with the kids this weekend to enjoy throughout the week.

23 of 50

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Bars

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Bars Recipe

These homemade bars combine peanut butter and chocolate to make a tasty after-school treat. 

24 of 50

Coconut-Pecan Caramel Popcorn

Credit: Photographer: Gina DeSimone; Prop Stylist: Kashara Johnson; Food Stylist: Briana Riddock

Coconut-Pecan Caramel Popcorn Recipe

With the addition coconut flakes and pecans, this is the amped-up version of your traditional caramel popcorn is all kinds of addictive. Once you make a batch, chances are it will disappear before the day is out—so consider doubling the recipe. The combination of caramel and pecans delivers delicious praline vibes, while the coconut’s subtle chew adds a hint of tropical joy. The recipe calls to make the caramel sauce from scratch, but you can substitute with store-bought caramel sauce for ease. Make a large batch and bag this decadent snack up to give as gifts or as party favors at your next holiday gatherings.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 50

Pistachio-Apple Bars with Chia Seeds

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Pistachio-Apple Bars with Chia Seeds Recipe

These homemade bars combine fruit and nut flavors to make a tasty snack. 

26 of 50

Spicy, Barely Sweet Supercrunch Granola

Credit: Greg DuPree

Spicy, Barely Sweet Supercrunch Granola Recipe

Our supremely crunchy, irresistible granola almost feels more like party mix (but still contains all those great whole grains). It stores well at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week. Aside from eating out of hand, you can also try this on your morning bowl of yogurt, an ice cream parfait, or a hearty salad (think of it as a replacement for croutons). For folks with gluten allergies or sensitivities, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.

27 of 50

Cheesy Pita Chips

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Cheesy Pita Chips Recipe

These cheesy pita chip recipe is a reader favorite―and for good reason. It doesn't get much easier than this, folks.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 50

Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips Recipe

Pringles, who? Fans of the classic Sour Cream & Onion flavor will love our copycat recipe.

29 of 50

Everything Rugelach with Ricotta and Dill

Credit: Sara Tane

Everything Rugelach with Ricotta and Dill Recipe

Everybody's favorite Jewish cookie gets a savory makeover in this salty, crunchy treat. Perfect for an appetizer or breakfast bread, this everything rugelach is the perfect marriage between flaky dough and classic everything bagel toppings. Eat them on their own, or smear on a thin layer of cream cheese and top with fresh lox and capers for a non-traditional snack. With just four ingredients in the dough, this pastry is super simple and requires little effort or grunt work, as the food processor does all the mixing for you.

30 of 50

Maple-Pecan Popcorn

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Maple-Pecan Popcorn Recipe

This fall recipe is perfect for snacking on all year long. Savory, sweet, and super simple.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 50

Rosemary Popcorn

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Rosemary Popcorn Recipe

Make a batch of this delicious popcorn for your next movie night and you’ll start a new tradition.

32 of 50

Cheddar Cheese Snack Crackers

Credit: Oxmoor House

Cheddar Cheese Snack Crackers Recipe

Skip the store-bought version and create your own cheesy snack crackers for afternoon snacking. 

33 of 50

Maple-Sumac Roasted Walnuts

Credit: Justin Walker

Maple-Sumac Roasted Walnuts Recipe

Here's a perfectly simple and delicious snack. A little sumac adds a bright piney-citrusy note. Look for it at specialty spice stores. A tablespoon of lemon rind can sub for sumac, if you prefer.

Advertisement