24 Easy, Make Ahead Snacks for Kids

Recipes that kids love to eat, are easy to make or can be made ahead. Cookies, snacks and menu ideas.

Kid Tested Recipes

Mothers are so busy that easy, make ahead snacks for kids are a welcome assist. The make ahead snacks should be easy and healthy, but also ones that the kids will actually eat. No matter how easy it is, or how healthy it is, if the kids won't eat it you've wasted your time and ingredients.

I know that most kids don't need a lot of choices, but they do appreciate a change once in a while. So, the ideas and recipes that you'll find here are kid tested and approved. Easy snacks are great to have prepared ahead of time and ready when the kids get home from school or are just hungry. I'm sure you'll find the recipes easy to make and then just refrigerate or freeze until needed.

Find the recipe for making these tasty soft pretzels at my recipes.

1. Chocolate Covered Bananas

You'll know exactly what to do to make these tasty chocolate covered bananas when you go to Mommy’s Kitchen and see the outstanding and easy to follow step-by-step tutorial.

2. Oatmeal Banana Bites

These oatmeal banana bites are a great breakfast or anytime snack for the kids.

3. How to Freeze and Reheat Pancakes and Waffles

Most everyone has a favorite pancake or waffle recipe that they love, but they don't know if or how to freeze them for later use. This site, GOOD LIFE eats gives you the lowdown on how to reheat pancakes and waffles. This will also work for pancakes or waffles that have been made with a mix.

4. Gobble Up Granola Snacks

This recipe for granola snacks is so easy because it's ingredients are things you usually have on hand. See how to make the Gobble Up Granola Snack by following the recipe at allrecipes.com and then notice how your kids gobble them up.

5. Pizza Sammies

Making pizza sammies is so easy and remember to freeze any leftovers. Mommy's Kitchen has a terrific tutorial and when you make these once, they'll be a family food staple.

6. No Bake Chocolate Cookies

No bake chocolate cookies is a snack that is not overly sweet, but the combination of oatmeal, chocolate and peanut butter definitely makes this a kid's favored snack.

7. Homemade Chicken Nuggets

My grandkids love homemade chicken nuggets and you'll find a great recipe for making them at The Gallery Gourmet. This recipe deep fat fries the chicken nuggets, but I place the prepared panko covered nuggets on a baking sheet and bake them in a 425 degree preheated oven. Bake them 10 minutes, then turn them over and bake an additional 3 to 4 minutes or til done.

8. Orange Creamsicles

Orange Creamsicles are an especially good snack when the weather is warm, but the kids won't refuse them when the weather turns cold. You'll find the recipe for making these delightful popsicles at oven love. Super delightfully delicious!!

9. Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip

The kids will love dipping fruit in this delicious dip...that is if there is any left by the time you get it made. No sugar is added to the dip, so it's very healthy snack. Find the recipe for this super easy yogurt dip at skinnyms.

10. Bacon Cheeseburger Bombs

The kids are sure to come running when you tell them that you've made them "bombs" for a snack. Make this delicious snack, that even the grown ups will love, by following the tutorial at Spend With PENNIES.

11. Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

What's not to love about the chicken fajita quesadillas? They look great and taste even better.

12. Quick and Easy Bread Sticks

My grandkids love bread sticks and this easy to make recipe is perfect for a quick, easy and healthy snack. Find the recipe for making these bread sticks at Jamie Cooks It Up. Make them ahead and warm for a few seconds in the microwave.

13. Caterpillar Grape Kabobs

Which kid could resist grapes made to look like a caterpillar? The recipe for making these kabobs can be found at A Spotted Pony.

14. Pizza Snack Cups

Just reading the ingredients for making these pizza snack cups has my mouth watering. Kids love pizza and pizza is a healthy food choice. The recipe for making these pizza snack cups is found at Food.com.

15. Mini Chili Dog Crescents

A snack recipe is really a winner when you know that you can serve the snack to every aged family member. This great mini chili dog crescent snack, with the recipe found at Raining Hot coupons, will become a family favorite.

16. Caramel Snack Mix

What a great and fun snack to make with, or for, the kids. All the good stuff is in this caramel snack mix.

17. Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Maybe "easy" is the key word to induce you to try this recipe, but you can't go wrong with this easy, mini chicken pot pie recipe.

18. Oven Fried Chicken Strips

Oven fried chicken strips will be one of the kids' favorites. And a favorite of mom too because it's so easy.

19. Cheese Roll-ups

This is probably one of the easiest snacks that you'll be able to make and you know how the kids love cheese. A great, quick and easy snack. See how they are made by going to Raining Hot coupons.

20. Strawberry Cream Cheese Snacks

Oh, how I would love to bite into one of these right now. So easy and so delicious. Find the recipe for making this terrific snack at Food.com. The kids will love these.

21. Pizza Toast

Here's another great, super easy snack that the kids will love. Try pizza toast for the go to snack this evening.

22. Kid's Party Food Ideas

23. Breakfast Sandwiches

These sandwiches aren't only for breakfast. Imagine the satisfaction of an egg, ham and cheese muffin sandwich. Mmmm! Make them ahead and freeze them for quick thawing. Find the how-to at Flying on JESS FUEL.

24. Apple Slice Cookies

What could be easier to make, and a more nutritious, than peanut butter covered apple slices! And they look soooo good. Find the pictured instructions for making them at PaleoEats&Treats.

25. Carrot Cake Bites

Kids, and mothers, like finger foods because of less clean up. Another reason you'll like these carrot cake bites is that they taste scrumptious.

26. Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Strawberry banana smoothie sounds like a great satisfying beverage to have with, or instead of other snacks.

© 2013 Loraine Brummer

Do You Think Your Kids Would Like Any of These Snacks? - or leave a message.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak from Toronto, Canada on March 21, 2014:

wonderful ideas here! my kids would like all of these!

marsha32 on March 20, 2014:

oh my! I must pin this to my recipes I want to try board ans come back to it and try some of these. In the meantime I'm going to share it with my middle daughter through facebook.

chrisilouwho on February 01, 2014:

bookmarking this, thanks for some great ideas!

VioletteRose LM on January 29, 2014:

They all sound too good, I think my son will like them.

Eugene Samuel Monaco from Lakewood New York on January 27, 2014:

These all look wonderful and delicious. I might save some for the kids.

joshuaay on January 26, 2014:

The peanut butter yogurt dip looks amazing.

Merry Citarella from Oregon's Southern Coast on January 26, 2014:

I think so, but I know I would! The pretzels at the beginning made me think it's time to eat! Great lens with great suggestions! Thanks for posting it.

Lynn Klobuchar on January 26, 2014:

These look great, and I agree that I am eating them instead of the kids! I have long made "chicken patties" from scratch for my kids and bake them as you do. Here's the odd thing about that -- they have never found a deep fried breaded chicken tender/nugget they wouldn't eat, but my homemade ones are the ones they eat happily "straight" -- no ketchup or other dipping sauces! Thanks for reminding all of us how much we can show our love -- and keep things healthier -- by making it from scratch, or almost. We are definitely having homemade chicken/patties nuggets this week.

JessicaLVine LM on January 25, 2014:

Yes. Now I want a chocolate covered banana! lol

PaigSr from State of Confusion on January 24, 2014:

I am sure my son's will if not I saw a couple that I would be happy to try.

TapIn2U on June 27, 2013:

Kids will surely love these. Sundae ;-)