9 easy after-school snacks your kids will love

Ah, back to school season. It can be a little hectic preparing for an upcoming school year. But you’ve hopefully had the chance to successfully hit up a few good back to school sales and feel prepared as your family settles into a new routine.

If you’ve got your shopping done, maybe now you’ll have time for some of the sweeter (and infinitely more memorable) things that go along with this bustling time of year—like being able to greet your child as they walk in the door from a long day with a delicious after-school snack.

But what should you make for your little scholars? Here are nine fun snack ideas to start the school year off on the right foot. These are so yummy, they may just inspire a tradition in your home of after-school snack time, a few special minutes to hear about your child’s day over some delicious treats.

1. Celery Snails & Caterpillars

Let’s start with these adorable Nutty Butterflies! Fill a few celery sticks with peanut butter and top them with some pretzels. Finish them with little candy eyes and you have the perfect little after-school snack.

If you’re curious about the eyes, you can pick up candy eyeballs at stores that have a cake decorating department, such as bigger grocery retailers or craft stores, as well as Amazon.

Get recipe from The Crafting Chicks.

2. Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Using fresh fruit and apple juice, these little popsicles are a cool after-school treat, especially during those first few weeks when it’s still hot outside.

Get recipe from One Little Project.

3. Classic Pigs In A Blanket

Cut your family’s favorite type of sausage into bite-sized pieces before wrapping it in strips of crescent rolls. Pop them in the oven and you’ll have a delicious snack your kids will ask for again and again.

Get recipe from Damn Delicious.

4. Fruit “Pizza” Crackers

Using crackers, cream cheese mixed with honey and fruit toppings, these little “pizzas” look delicious, and are fairly easy to whip up.

Get recipe from Homemade Ginger.

5. Pizza Toast

This is another fun pizza-inspired after-school snack. To make things easier, this blogger uses slices of bread in place of dough. Topped with melted cheese and little slices of pepperoni, this is a snack any kid who loves pizza will likely enjoy.

Get recipe from The Baker Mama.

6. Double Strawberry Cookie Butter Bites

These little double strawberry cookie butter bites are a fun twist on the average peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They use bite-sized crackers instead of bread and cookie butter in place of peanut butter. Topped with a slice of strawberry, they’re a yummy sweet treat to serve your kids after school.

Get recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

7. Fried Mac & Cheese Bites

Just when you thought mac & cheese couldn’t get any better, a recipe like this one for fried mac & cheese bites is created. You can either serve them plain or accompanied by a little ramekin of marinara sauce.

Get recipe from The Exhausted Mom.

8. Caramel Apple Nachos

What a fun idea! Slices of apples are arranged neatly on a plate, then drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Add some colorful sprinkles as a finishing touch and this super-easy snack is sure to be a hit.

Get recipe from Dinner at the Zoo.

9. Frozen Yogurt Dots

This one-ingredient recipe is not only healthy, but super simple to make. You can serve them alone or with another snack. You can stick to one type of yogurt or use several. And if you really want to get fancy, you can mix the yogurt with fruit or granola. There are just so many options when it comes to whipping up this easy and healthy snack.

Get recipe from One Good Thing By Jillee.

We also know it can be a challenge to think of ways to spruce up packed school lunches. We mean, you could send them to school with the same thing everyday, but if you’re looking to get a little creative or switch things up, here are 30 ideas to jumpstart your lunch-packing creativity. Hey, at least this way, you’ll never have to hear your kids complain about getting tired of eating the same thing everyday!