30 After School Snacks Perfect for Hungry Kids

I don’t know what it is about getting home from school, but my kids always seem to be starving. It doesn’t matter what they’ve had for lunch, they’ve barely got through the door before they’re asking what there is to eat.

So I’ve put together 30 after school snacks that are actually the kind of things my kids would want to eat. There’s a bit of everything in here – muffins, cookies and snack mixes, but also mini pizzas, pinwheels and some more filling ideas for the days when a little snack just isn’t going to cut it.

Quite a few of them can be made ahead too, which is always handy. I’d much rather have a batch of muffins or something already sitting there than start making something from scratch at 4pm when everyone is hungry and I’m trying to get on with dinner!

1. Blueberry Muffins

These blueberry muffins are an easy one to have ready for when the kids get home from school. They’re soft, packed with blueberries and just the right size for a quick snack without filling them up before dinner.

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2. Mini Pizzas

These are great for those days when they come home wanting something a bit more filling. They’re really easy to make and you can switch up the toppings depending on what your kids like.

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3. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

If they come home from school asking for something sweet, these are a good one to have waiting. The peanut butter and oats make them a bit more substantial than a regular cookie too.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup unsweetened peanut butter
• ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until well combined.

3. Using gloved hands, roll about two tablespoons of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each ball with the back of a spoon or a fork.

4. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.

5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Frozen Fruit Yogurt Bark

This is a nice one to keep in the freezer for when they fancy something cold and sweet after school. It’s really simple, full of fruit and yogurt, and feels like a treat without being too much before dinner.

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5. Turkey Pinwheels

For the days when they want something savory, these are really handy and take hardly any time to put together. You can make them ahead too, so they’re ready to grab as soon as everyone gets home.

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6. Strawberry Banana Muffins

These are lovely for using up a couple of ripe bananas, and the strawberries make them feel a little bit more special. Make a batch ahead and they’re ready to grab when everyone comes home hungry.

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7. Banana Oatmeal Energy Balls

If you need something quick that they can grab straight from the fridge, these are really handy to have made up. They’re made with banana and oats, so they’re a bit more filling for that after-school hunger too.

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8. Mini Grilled Cheese

When they come home really hungry, something warm and cheesy usually goes down well. These are quick to make and small enough to work as a snack rather than turning into a whole meal.

Servings: 18

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1 package Hawaiian rolls
• 9 slices American cheese, cut into six pieces

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Stir together the butter, garlic, and parsley until well blended.
3. Cut each Hawaiian roll into three equal pieces.
4. Spread the butter mixture on one side of each piece of bread.
5. Place half the bread slices butter side down on the prepared baking sheet.
6. Top each slice with a piece of cheese.
7. Place the remaining bread slices on top of the cheese with the butter side facing up.
8. Bake the sandwiches for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cook time.

9. Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’ve got kids who turn their noses up at zucchini, adding chocolate chips is a pretty good way to win them over! They’re soft, sweet and easy to have ready for a quick snack after school.

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10. Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

This is a good one for the days when they want something sweet but you need it to be a bit more filling. Chocolate and peanut butter is always a good combination, and it only takes a few minutes to blend together.

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11. Mac and Cheese Bites

For something warm and cheesy after school, these are hard to beat. They’re crispy on the outside, creamy in the middle and just the right size for little hands to grab.

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12. Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

A batch of these is really handy to have ready for those extra-hungry afternoons. The banana and peanut butter add plenty of sweetness, while the oats make them a bit more substantial than a regular snack bar.

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13. Mexican Pinwheels

These are a nice change when sandwiches are getting a bit boring. They’re creamy, cheesy and full of Mexican-inspired flavors, and you can have them made and ready in the fridge.

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14. Cranberry Orange Muffins

I love these for the time of year when cranberries start appearing everywhere. The orange adds a lovely bit of sweetness, and they’re easy to make ahead for the kids to grab when they get home.

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15. Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

If they fancy something crunchy when they get home, these are so quick to throw together. They’re great on their own or you can add some salsa, guacamole or another favorite dip.

Servings: 24 tortilla chips

Ingredients:

• 4 Yellow Corn Tortillas
• Coarse Salt
• Cooking Spray

Instructions:

1. Cut each corn tortilla into six wedges, just like slicing a pie.

2. Arrange the tortilla pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. The number that fits will depend on the size of your air fryer.

3. Lightly spritz the tortilla pieces with cooking spray, then sprinkle them with coarse salt to taste.

4. Preheat the air fryer by running it for about 1 minute before cooking.

5. Air fry the tortilla wedges at 300°F for 8 minutes.

6. Repeat the process until all the tortilla pieces are cooked. Serve and enjoy!

16. Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Bars

These are a good one to keep in the fridge for when the kids get home and want something straight away. They’re sweet and fruity with plenty of crunch from the cereal, so they feel like a bit of a treat too.

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17. Cottage Cheese Egg Bites

If you want something with a bit more protein, these are a really handy option. They’re soft, cheesy and easy to keep in the fridge ready for when everyone gets home hungry.

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18. Sweet and Salty Snack Mix

This is perfect for those days when they can’t decide if they want something sweet or savory. It’s really easy to throw together and you can keep a batch ready for everyone to grab a handful after school.

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19. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are a good one for the days when only something chocolatey will do. The peanut butter makes them a bit more filling, and they’re easy to make ahead so there’s something ready when the kids get home.

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20. Pretzel Dogs

For a more filling snack, these are a fun one to make when the kids get home really hungry. You get soft pretzel wrapped around a little hot dog, so they’re easy to pick up and eat without needing a full meal.

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21. Banana Chocolate Bark

This is a fun one for when they’re asking for something sweet after school. The banana and chocolate work so well together, and you can break it into smaller pieces depending on how hungry they are.

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22. Veggie Hummus Pinwheels

For something fresh and savory, these are a nice change from the usual after-school snacks. The hummus makes them creamy, with plenty of crunch from the veggies, and they’re really easy to make ahead.

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23. Caramel Popcorn

If they’re in the mood for something sweet and crunchy, a bowl of this makes such an easy snack. You can make a big batch ahead of time too, so there’s plenty ready for after school over the next few days.

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• 8 cups popcorn, popped
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:

1. Pop the popcorn using an air popper or on the stovetop, then transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Remove any unpopped kernels and set aside.
2. Line two 9×11-inch baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
3. Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, let it cook for 4–5 minutes without stirring, allowing the sugar to fully dissolve and the caramel to thicken.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully stir in the vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda. The mixture will bubble up, so stir slowly until everything is combined.
5. Pour the hot caramel over the popcorn and gently toss until every piece is evenly coated.
6. Divide the coated popcorn between the prepared baking sheets, spreading it into an even layer.
7. Bake at 250°F (120°C) for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to help the caramel coat the popcorn evenly and crisp up.
8. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the popcorn to cool completely. As it cools, the caramel will harden and become crunchy.
9. Once fully cooled, break the popcorn into pieces and serve. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

24. Mini Pigs in a Blanket

These are always a fun one when you want to give them something a little different after school. They’re warm, easy to eat and filling enough to keep the kids going until dinner.

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25. Chocolate Peanut Butter Date Bark

If your kids love peanut butter and chocolate, this is an easy one to try. The dates make it a bit more filling too, which is handy when they come home starving.

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26. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milkshake

This is a fun one for a Friday after school or when you fancy giving them a bit of a treat. It’s basically cereal in milkshake form, so I don’t think you’ll get many complaints!

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27. Rice Krispie Treats

These are one of those simple snacks that always seem to go down well with kids. They’re quick to make, easy to grab and you can cut them into whatever size you want.

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28. Sweet Chex Mix with Candied Nuts

If they like picking at a snack when they get home, this is a good one to put out. It’s got Chex cereal and candied nuts all mixed together, and you can make a big batch to last a few days.

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29. Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Bites

If they come home asking what there is to eat before they’ve even taken their shoes off, these are quick enough to make there and then. They’re little bites covered in cinnamon sugar, so they’re great when they fancy something sweet.

Servings: 14-16

Ingredients:

• 1 can grands biscuit dough
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350
2. Cut biscuit dough into 4 pieces
3. Brush each pieces with vegetable oil on all sides.
4. Add cinnamon and sugar to a large Ziplock bag and shake to combine
5. Place in air fryer and cook for 4 mins then flip
6. Cook for an additional 3-4 mins until golden
7. Remove and dip in butter
8. Toss in cinnamon sugar
9. Serve and enjoy

30. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats

If your kids are Cinnamon Toast Crunch fans, I can’t see these lasting very long! They’re really easy to make and a fun change from the usual Rice Krispie treats.

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I hope this has given you a few new ideas for when the kids come home asking what there is to eat. I’m always glad to have a few easy snacks up my sleeve, especially on those days when dinner still feels a long way off!