Our Best Back-to-School Snacks
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.
Apple-Oat Energy Balls
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.
1 of 23
Peanut Butter-Banana Breakfast Pops
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 famās favorite breakfast cereal for the cheerios, and swap the plain Greek yogurt for vanilla Greek yogurt to cut back a bit on the tang. Ā
2 of 23
Homemade Toaster Pastries
Homemade Toaster Pastries Recipe
Kids will love to help assemble these DIY toaster pastries, complete with icing and sprinkles!
3 of 23
Cheddar Cheese Snack Crackers
Cheddar Cheese Snack Crackers Recipe
Skip the store-bought version and create your own cheesy snack crackers for afternoon snacking.Ā
4 of 23
Peach-Strawberry Fruit Leather
Peach-Strawberry Fruit Leather Recipe
This kid-friendly fruit snack recipe requires just 4 ingredients.Ā
5 of 23
Double-Chocolate Cereal Treats
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.
6 of 23
Marshmallow Popcorn Treats with Dark Chocolate Drizzle
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.
7 of 23
Salted Chocolate Matzo Toffee
Salted Chocolate Matzo Toffee Recipe
You can make this sweet snack year-round using saltine crackers for a crispy, salty base.
8 of 23
Chewy Peanut Bars
We weren't exactly excited to test our old microwave column recipes again, but these chocolate-peanut blondies truly surprised us.
9 of 23
No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars
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.
10 of 23
Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix
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.
11 of 23
Cereal and Milk Bars
These crowd-pleasers deliver flavors that take you straight back to childhood bliss.
12 of 23
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels Recipe
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dipped Pretzels are aĀ salty, sweet pick-up dessert that's just as ideal for a snack as it is for a party.
13 of 23
Sesame-Soy Nut and Pretzel Mix
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.
14 of 23
Cranberry Oat Bars
Kids will love to snack on these oat bars filled with a sweet cranberry mixture.
15 of 23
All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
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.
16 of 23
Crispy Parmesan Chickpeas
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.
17 of 23
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bars Recipe
Theyāre 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 youāre 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.
18 of 23
Popcorn with Brown Butter and Parmesan
19 of 23
Trail Mix Chocolate Bark
20 of 23
Quick Caramel Apples
21 of 23
Parmesan Twists
22 of 23
Chocolate-Cranberry Crunch
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.