Easy Snacks to Make at Home
I am always looking for new ideas to use ingredients we tend to keep in the house, and these easy homemade snacks for kids are some of our favorite fast snack ideas. Each takes just minutes to make, contains a mix of food groups to help keep everyone full until the next meal or snack, and can be adjusted for allergies, intolerances, or the ingredients you have on hand. My goal here is to offer a mix of ideas since I know our families are all so different, so use any as inspiration and make all the adjustments you need! These snacks to make at home can be used as toddler snacks to take on the go, packed as preschool snacks, served as after school snacks, or used as easy bedtime snacks.
Favorite CopyCat Kids Snacks
For fun, to start, here are my top ten copycat kids snacks—so easy homemade versions of common store bought snacks. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox.
Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins Strawberry Yogurt Yogurt Drinks Strawberry Fruit Snacks Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt Fruit and Nut Bars Yogurt Melts Uncrustables Animal Crackers Cheese Crackers All Fruit Ice Pops
Yogurt Dip
Using a simple mixture of yogurt, almond butter (or peanut butter or sunflower seed butter), and honey or maple syrup makes a delicious yogurt dip for fruit or crackers. (You can even spread it onto muffins.) I like this as a way to use up a little bit of yogurt and ad flavor and nutrients to plain yogurt.
Banana Sushi
Spread nut butter or seed butter (like almond, cashew, peanut, or sunflower seed) onto a tortilla, add a banana to one end and roll up. Go slowly and try to make sure the tortilla is wrapped tightly around the banana. Then, slice with a serrated knife and serve. You can trade in Nutella or cream cheese for the nut or seed butter, too, if you prefer. Find more wraps for kids for additional easy ideas like this one.
Cottage Cheese and Fruit
Cottage cheese is full of protein for kids and is a calcium food for kids. It is also a great source of fats for kids, too. It’s also an easy way to offer a satisfying food—especially when paired with fruit. I like to use whole-milk cottage cheese (which is usually 4% or 5%) and pair with diced peach, mango, or pineapple. Here I’m using diced canned peaches as an easy option.
Hard-Cooked Eggs and Crackers
Make a quick batch of hard-cooked eggs and pair with whole grain crackers for an easy snack. Add a sprinkle of salt or Everything Bagel seasoning to add flavor if desired. You could also add some mashed avocado to the crackers or even some cheese. Some kids may prefer all egg whites or all yolks, so know that is totally normal.
Sandwich Cubes
My kids are always leaving bits of sandwich behind, so years ago I started cutting their leftovers into cubes and storing them in containers for snack time. They’re a fun shape and a great snack. (Find more sandwich ideas for kids to take this idea and run with it.)
Cheese and Cracker Stackers
Stacking foods is fun, and you can use all sorts of foods for this idea. We like slices of cucumbers, cheese, and whole grain crackers to stack as little sandwiches. You could add some sliced turkey or hard-cooked egg, too, if you like. Add mustard, hummus, or guacamole for more flavor. (My post on Snacks for Kids has a list of my favorite crackers.)
Graham Crackers with Berries
We go through phases with graham crackers and I often have leftovers lingering in the pantry. This idea involves spreading nut butter (or cream cheese) onto graham crackers and sprinkling with diced berries. We love strawberries here, but most any fruit would work—mango, bananas, raisins, apples, and more. You could also do this idea on toast if you prefer.
Oatmeal Bar with Fruit
Pick one homemade snack to make at home on the weekend and offer it up as a convenient snack throughout the week. These Oatmeal Bars, which have carrots and blueberries, are easy and have a nice mix of nutrients. We like to pair them with fruit or a cup of milk.
Fruit Sticks
I have yet to figure out why this is true, but making Fruit Sticks makes kids so happy. This is a great way to use up leftover fruit or to serve fruit in a way that’s both easy and fun. Look for lollipop sticks near the cupcake supplies in a grocery store or big-box store.
Strawberry Smoothie
Blend up a refreshing mix of frozen strawberries, yogurt, a splash of milk or orange juice, and hemp seeds (if desired) to make this delicious smoothie for kids. Serve it in a cup with a straw or a reusable pouch—and enjoy some yourself, too. Find the full Strawberry Smoothie recipe.
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