6 Easy Snack Ideas the Whole Family Will Love

Anyone who’s ever had a toddler (or been one) knows that getting from meal to meal without a hangry meltdown can be a difficult task. Everyone needs snack ideas at the ready.

If you keep your cupboards stocked with nuts, granola bars, dried fruit and crackers, we salute you. When those won’t cut it, aren’t available or just seem too pre-made or too carbon footprint–heavy, simple pantry ingredients can save the day. Here are ideas that the whole family will love, from creative toast combinations that go beyond peanut butter and jelly to simple peanut butter cookies that can be dipped in melted chocolate for a decadent yet easy snack.

EASY SNACK IDEAS THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL LOVE

1. BEYOND-BASIC TOAST

Yes, you can slather a piece of toast with peanut butter and jelly and call it a great snack. (No argument from us!) But, as contributing recipe developer Lauren Tyrell says, kids like to take control of their food, and adults are likely to enjoy changing things up, too. Give toasty options such as:

• Cream cheese, salami and banana peppers
• Olive tapenade, cheddar and avocado
• Almond butter, mashed banana, and sweetened shredded coconut
• Mashed avocado, smoked salmon and lemon juice
• Ricotta, raspberries, olive oil and mint

2. CREATIVE TRAIL MIX

Upgrade from boxes of raisins and peanuts with DIY trail mixes that can be scooped into containers for easy eating on the fly. Choose ingredients at the store with kids or set out the shelf-stable ingredients you have on hand. Try combinations of the following ingredients, and don’t be afraid to go beyond the basic GORP (granola, oats, raisins and peanuts):

• CHOCOLATE-Y THINGS: white, butterscotch, milk, and dark chocolate chips, chunks of dark chocolate, chocolate-covered raisins and chocolate-coated candies
• NUTS AND SEEDS: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios, roasted hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
• DRIED FRUIT: apricots, golden raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried currants, chopped dates, banana chips, apple chips and mulberries
• CRUNCHY FUN ITEMS: granola, cereal and pretzels

3. CINNAMON SUGAR-FRENCH TOAST STICKS

There’ll be no convincing necessary when you offer your pack a pile of Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks, which transform the weekend brunch staple into a dippable snack. After soaking inch-thick slices of bread in a standard custard and cooking them in a skillet on the stovetop, toss them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. The result is reminiscent of a churro or a beignet and is sure to go fast.

4. LOADED DATE BITES

If ants on a log is a no-go for your family, why not try ants on a date, instead? Load dates up with peanut butter (or another nut or seed butter), golden raisins, shredded coconut or a piece of chocolate.

5. APPLE SLICE "COOKIES"

If you want to serve something sweet-ish that kids can customize themselves, try apple slice “cookies.” Cut an apple horizontally into slices—about 4 or 5 per apple—before schmearing with something that will anchor more toppings like cream cheese, nut or seed butters, jam, or Greek yogurt. Top with nuts, seeds, granola, dried fruit and/or shredded coconut. For a savory-sweet twist, try apple slices topped with fig jam and slices of cheddar cheese or Manchego.

6. NO-COOK PEANUT BUTTER-OAT "COOKIES"

Craving a cookie but don’t feel like pulling out all the stops (or turning on the oven)? This easy peanut butter–oat cookie can be made by little kids or big adults in just a few minutes: Stir together 2 tablespoons each peanut butter and quick-cooking oats, 1 teaspoon powdered sugar, and a dash of vanilla extract. Mold it into a cookie shape and press the tines of a fork in to make a crosshatch pattern. Freeze for 5 minutes. Take it up a notch by dipping it in melted chocolate before freezing.

If you find that one of these snacks is a big hit with the fam, consider adding its ingredients to your regular shopping list. With these ideas in your back pocket, family snack time is so much easier.