25 Easy Homemade Snack Ideas for Kids

Almost 50 percent of our survey respondents said “not enough time” was their biggest obstacle in making homemade snacks. Get ahead with one of these tasty recipes you can prep in advance. 

Apple-Cinnamon Bites

1. Stir together 3 cups O-shaped multigrain cereal, 1 cup chopped dried apples, and ⅓ cup pepitas. Set aside.

2. Over low heat, combine ½ cup brown rice syrup, 3 Tbs. natural peanut butter, ½ tsp. vanilla, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Cook, whisking, until the mixture is runny (about 1 minute).

3. Pour over the cereal mixture and stir to coat evenly. With wet hands, shape into 24 balls.

4. Let set on parchment paper at room temperature for 1½ hours. 

Peanut-Butter Dip

1. Over medium heat, combine a 13.5-oz. can full-fat coconut milk, ½ cup natural peanut butter, 2 Tbs. lime juice, 1 Tbs. each fish sauce and brown sugar, ½ tsp. grated ginger, and ⅛ tsp. salt.

2. Cook until the mixture is smooth and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

3. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (If the dip over-thickens, microwave it for 45 seconds.) Serve with veggies.

Tip: You can keep cut veggies like celery, carrots, and cucumbers crisp for a few days if you wrap them in damp paper towels and seal them in a zip-top bag.

Banana-Split Popcorn

1. Toss together 8 cups plain popped popcorn, 1 cup banana chips, ½ cup chocolate chips, 6 Tbs. freeze-dried strawberries, ½ cup toasted walnut pieces, and ¼ tsp. salt.

2. Store in a large, airtight container for easy scooping.

Spiked Hummus

1. In a food processor, combine two 13.5-oz. cans chickpeas (drained and rinsed), 2 cloves grated garlic, ⅔ cup olive oil, ½ tsp. salt, 1 Tbs. cool water, and ¼ cup each barbecue sauce, tahini, and fresh lemon juice.

2. Process until smooth. Serve with veggies or pita chips. 

Cheddar Mini Frittatas

1. Heat oven to 375°F and coat a muffin tin with cooking spray. Toss together 2 cups thawed hashbrown potatoes, 3 Tbs. chopped scallions, and 1¼ cups shredded cheddar. Divide among the wells.

2. Whisk together 9 eggs, ⅓ cup half-and-half, ½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper. Divide among the wells and press the potato mixture beneath if needed.

3. Bake until lightly browned around the edges and set, turning halfway through, about 25 minutes.

4. Freeze until ready to eat (to reheat, microwave on high for 1 minute).

Sometimes kids need more than a nibble. These generously portioned snacks are sure to satisfy, whether doubled-up for lunch or served before Saturday soccer practice.

Black Bean and Rice Cakes

1. Mash one 13.5-oz. can drained and rinsed black beans.

2. Stir in ½ cup cooked rice, 2 chopped scallions, ½ tsp. cumin, ¹⁄8 tsp. garlic powder, ¼ tsp. salt, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, and 1 lightly beaten egg until smooth. Shape into 8 small patties.

3. In a medium skillet over medium heat, warm 1 Tbs. olive oil, then add patties and cook in batches until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. 

Teensy Tostadas

1. Mash together 1 cup canned pinto beans, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, a few pinches each of chili powder and salt, and 1 Tbs. cool water.

2. Top tortilla chips with the bean mixture and shredded cheddar. .

3. Bake at 375°F until the cheese melts, about 4 minutes. Scatter with cherry tomatoes and shredded lettuce. 

Cheesy Spinach Egg Rolls

1. Whisk together 3 eggs with a few pinches of salt and pepper. Stir in 2 Tbs. shredded baby spinach and 4 tsp. shredded cheddar.

2. In a nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tsp. butter. Pour in the egg mixture and swirl to cover the bottom.

3. Cook until the egg is set, shaking the pan occasionally to avoid burning, about 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Use a spatula to slide the egg onto a parchment-covered cutting board, then roll up.

5. Let cool for 5 minutes (seam-side down). Slice and serve. 

Greek Zucchini Pizza

1. Puree ½ cup crumbled feta, 2 Tbs. olive oil, 1 tsp. lemon juice, and 1 tsp. oregano in a food processor until smooth.

2. Cut a zucchini into ¾-inch-thick slices. Top each with the cheese mixture.

3. Bake on a parchmentlined sheet at 375°F until tender, about 10 minutes. Top with tomato slices. 

Tip: For a fresh version of this snack, replace the zucchini with 8 cucumber slices and skip the baking step!

Sushi-Stuffed Avocado

1. Stir together 6 Tbs. leftover white rice, 1½ tsp. mayonnaise, a pinch of sugar, a splash of rice vinegar (optional), and 2 Tbs. each finely chopped cucumber and chopped imitation crabmeat.

2. Halve an avocado, remove the pit, and fill each half with the rice mixture. Top with sesame seeds (optional). 

Forgo your usual routine for one of these yummy snacks that require just minutes to make (we promise!). You’ll only need a few items, and it’s likely you’ll already have most of them in your fridge or pantry.

Simple Stuffed Tomatoes

1. Halve cherry tomatoes and quickly scoop out seeds with a small spoon.

2. Fill each with soft herbed cheese (we like Boursin). Top with chopped walnuts (optional!). 

Fancy Toast

Almost as quick as classic butter and jam, these crispy-bread toppers are filling and fun!

• Ricotta, honey, and fresh raspberries

• Pumpkin butter, apple slices, and cinnamon

• Tomato, cheddar, mayo, salt, and pepper

• Nut butter, banana slices, and sesame seeds

Tip: To toast a bunch at once, bake slices at 350°F for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Deli Roll-Ups

Sandwich meat is on a roll! Grab a high-five from your kid with these high-protein bites.

• Hummus, salami, and carrot - Top slices of deli salami with hummus and shredded carrots and roll up.

• Pepperoni pizza - Stir together ¼ cup softened cream cheese and 1 Tbs. finely chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Add a dollop to each of 8 slices sandwich pepperoni. Top with a few black olive slices and a generous teaspoon shredded mozzarella, then roll.

• Ham and Brie - Top slices of deli ham with Brie cheese (cut into matchsticks), dab with mustard, and roll.

Waffle Sticks and Apple Sauce

1. Toast frozen waffles and slice into 1-inch strips.

2. Serve with applesauce for dipping.

Honey Cinnamon Oranges

1. Slice oranges into wedges and drizzle with honey, sliced almonds, and ground cinnamon.

Who says dessert can’t come first? Let the kids break the rules with one of these sweet but not too sugary snacks whenever they have a hankering for something indulgent. 

Mango Blender Sorbet

1. In a blender, combine 3 cups frozen mango chunks, ⅓ cup unsweetened vanilla coconut milk, 1 Tbs. honey (optional), and a splash of vanilla extract.

2. Puree until creamy like sorbet. (If the mango is too hard to blend, add more coconut milk 1 Tbs. at a time.)

3. Freeze until ready to serve. 

Chocolate–Apple Grahams

1. Top chocolate graham crackers with almond butter, apple slices, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. 

Berries-and-Yogurt Cones

1. Fill sugar cones with alternating layers of vanilla yogurt and fresh berries. Serve immediately.

Tip: Want to take the berry cones on-the-go? Try ’em in wafflecone bowls instead!

Apricot Sunshine Bites

1. In a food processor, pulse 1 cup dried apricots and ½ cup pitted dates until coarsely chopped. Add ½ cup unsweetened, shredded coconut, 2 Tbs. flax seeds, 3 Tbs. water, and a pinch of salt, and continue pulsing to blend.

2. Add ⅓ cup unsalted, roasted cashews and ¼ cup unsalted, roasted almonds until the mixture forms a ball.

3. Place ½ cup chopped nuts in a shallow, rimmed dish. With wet hands, roll the mixture into tablespoonsize balls, then roll the balls in the topping. Refrigerate for 45 minutes before serving. 

Banana-and-Seed Pudding

1. Whisk together 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk, ¼ cup honey, 2 Tbs. cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt.

2. Whisk in ½ cup chia seeds. Cover and refrigerate overnight, stirring a few times if possible (stirring makes it creamier but isn’t essential).

3. Serve topped with banana slices and more chia seeds. 

Need something for the classroom snack or a small get-together? Our survey found that 50 percent of you often serve as “snack mom.” Each recipe scales up or down easily, so you can make the perfect amount.

Strawberry Pretzels

1. Spread 4 dozen pretzel squares on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

2. Melt ½ cup white candy melts.

3. Place the melted candy in a ziptop bag and snip off a corner.

4. Drizzle each pretzel with chocolate, then immediately top with freeze-dried strawberries (you’ll need about ½ cup total).

5. Let the candy set. Store in an airtight container.

Tip: The pretzel bites are also good with chocolate chips!

Brown-Sugar Pear Blender Muffins

1. In a blender, combine 2 ripe bananas, 1¼ cups quick oats, ½ cup all-purpose flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar, ¼ tsp. cinnamon, ¾ cup vanilla yogurt, and 2 eggs. Puree until smooth.

2. Dice a large pear and fold in all but ½ cup of it.

3. Pour batter into a greased muffin tin and top with remaining fruit.

4. Bake in a 350°F oven until the muffins are light brown around the edges and a toothpick comes out clean, turning halfway through, about 25 minutes.

5. Let cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Refrigerate until ready to eat. Makes 12.

Frozen Yogurt Pops

1. In a blender, combine 6 bananas, 3 cups plain yogurt, 2 Tbs. honey, and a splash of vanilla extract. Puree until smooth.

2. Pour the mixture into ice-pop molds or paper cups and freeze 45 minutes.

3. Insert craft sticks, then freeze until solid, about 6 hours. Makes 12 to 16 pops.

Tropical Trail Mix

1. Combine 2 cups multigrain cereal, ¼ cup coconut chips, 3 Tbs. chocolate chips, and 6 Tbs. each chopped dried mango and dried pineapple. Toss to blend.

2. Store at room temperature in an airtight container. 

Veggie Pesto Pitas

1. Stir together 8 oz. softened cream cheese and 2 Tbs. pesto.

2. Cover about 16 mini pita rounds with spread and top with 2 Tbs. chopped, mixed fresh veggies like broccoli, corn, and diced bell pepper.

3. Refrigerate until ready to eat.