Our Best Back-to-School Snacks

Updated August 30, 2017
Credit: Oxmoor House

When the kids come home after school, they usually want something to snack on to hold them over until dinner. The best snacks are quick, satisfying, and easy to assemble. You can make a few snacks ahead of time to have ready for the afternoon, and for stashing in lunch boxes, or go for snacks that are simple enough to whip up on demand. An added benefit to preparing your own snacks at home is that you control the sugar quantities that go nto each treat. And if your child has any food allergies or a food intolerance, you can better cater to your child's needs with DIY snacks. 

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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.

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Peanut Butter-Banana Breakfast Pops

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Peanut Butter-Banana Breakfast Pops Recipe

These cereal-filled peanut butter and banana yogurt pops are a delicious way to get the kids (or yourself) excited for a nutritious breakfast. The best part? Your little kitchen helpers can assist you in prepping these protein-packed frozen treats, which well make them all the more eager to enjoy them. Tangy, with just the right balance of salty and sweet, these breakfast popsicles are sure to be a hit with the whole family, especially during warmer weather months. Feel free to substitute your fam’s favorite breakfast cereal for the cheerios, and swap the plain Greek yogurt for vanilla Greek yogurt to cut back a bit on the tang.  

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Homemade Toaster Pastries

Homemade Toaster Pastries Recipe

Kids will love to help assemble these DIY toaster pastries, complete with icing and sprinkles!

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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. 

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Peach-Strawberry Fruit Leather

Credit: Oxmoor House

Peach-Strawberry Fruit Leather Recipe

This kid-friendly fruit snack recipe requires just 4 ingredients. 

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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.

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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.

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Salted Chocolate Matzo Toffee

Credit: Greg Dupree Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Salted Chocolate Matzo Toffee Recipe

You can make this sweet snack year-round using saltine crackers for a crispy, salty base.

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Chewy Peanut Bars

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Karin Olsen

Chewy Peanut Bars Recipe

We weren't exactly excited to test our old microwave column recipes again, but these chocolate-peanut blondies truly surprised us.

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No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars Recipe

These bars are a perfectly portable snack you can prep on Sunday and enjoy throughout the week. Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge. The bars will continue to firm up as they chill.

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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.

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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.

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Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Credit: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Robyn Glaser

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels Recipe

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels are a  salty, sweet pick-up dessert that's just as ideal for a snack as it is for a party.

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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.

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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.

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All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

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

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

If chocolate chip cookies are your favorite cookies, whip up a batch of these all-time favorite chocolate chip cookies. They're the best of the best.

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Crispy Parmesan Chickpeas

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Crispy Parmesan Chickpeas Recipe

Dry your chickpeas as thoroughly as possible before cooking to ensure a satisfyingly crisp result. If you're planning to pack these flavor-coated, fiber-filled poppers as a to-go snack, be sure to allow them to cool completely on a flat surface first.

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars Recipe

They’re everything you love about a classic PB&J sandwich, but in cookie form (i.e. way better). These peanut butter and jelly bars feature a chewy peanut butter cookie layer, topped with a sweet-tart jammy layer, and finished off with a crunchy peanut butter streusel. While they would make for a perfect lunchbox treat to send with your kiddos (particularly if you’re not already packing them a PB&J sandwich), these nostalgic, deliciously balanced cookie bars are also a huge hit with the grown-up crowd. Pack them up for your next tailgate or potluck, and ready yourself for rave reviews. We went with grape jam for our bars, but feel free to use your favorite flavor instead.

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Popcorn with Brown Butter and Parmesan

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Popcorn with Brown Butter and Parmesan Recipe

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Trail Mix Chocolate Bark

Credit: Andrew McCaul; Styling: Suzette Kaminski

Trail Mix Chocolate Bark Recipe

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Quick Caramel Apples

Credit: Francesco Lagnese

Quick Caramel Apples Recipe

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Parmesan Twists

Credit: Michele Michael

Parmesan Twists Recipe

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Chocolate-Cranberry Crunch

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chocolate-Cranberry Crunch Recipe

This trail mix makes a large quantity, but it can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week. It's delicious as a topping for low-fat yogurt or ice cream.

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