30 Sweet Snacks That Are Way More Satisfying Than Store-Bought Candy
You're going to love our sour patch grapes.
Are you the type who thinks the best part about birthdays and holidays is the cookies, cakes, and candy associated with them? We get it! There’s something about sweet treats that can make any occasion feel extra special. But what about when you find yourself craving a little something sweet, with no party or event in sight? We’ve got you. These 30 sweet snacks are the perfect pick-me-up you can make any day, any time.
While we’ve got nothing against enjoying a slice of cake or pie for no good reason, when we’re specifically feeling snacky, we’re usually craving something we can eat a handful of. If that sounds familiar to you, make up a batch of our puppy chow, our sour patch grapes, our caramel popcorn, or our baked plantain chips. These also make for great additions to any more-savory party spread (think game day or cocktail party), though be warned—they go fast, so make extra.
If you're more the type to enjoy a singular treat and feel satisfied, check out our copycat McDonald’s apple pies, our s’mores bars, our cinnamon crunch soft pretzels, our strawberries 'n' cream granola bars, or our fruit pops. You could also do your future self a favor and make up a batch of our icebox cookies. They keep for ages in your freezer, so you’ll always be ready when a sweet craving hits (or when you want to share dessert with unexpected guests!).
Speaking of sharing, we’ve even got a few sweet dips here, perfect for a sweet-toothed crowd. If you’re a kid of the '90s, you’ll love our Funfetti dip (it tastes just like Dunkaroos), and everyone can get behind our cannoli chips and dip. We’ve even got a recipe for chocolate peanut butter hummus—just trust us, it’s delish.
Sour Patch Grapes
Put down that bag of candy! This magical recipe transforms green grapes into a sweet-and-sour snack that tastes suspiciously like Sour Patch Kids.
Get the Sour Patch Grapes recipe.
Funfetti Dip
This Funfetti cake-inspired dip tastes just like the Dunkaroos you grew up with. 😍 It's perfect served with everything from pretzels to Nilla wafers... you could even try it with fruit.
Get the Funfetti Dip recipe.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
When you need a little energy boost, these peanut butter bites will give you new life. We wanted these protein balls to taste a little bit like cookie dough (😈), so we added some mini dark chocolate chips. Skip them if you're trying to limit sugar.
Get the Peanut Butter Protein Balls recipe.
Homemade Kettle Corn
Now you don’t have to wait for the carnival to come back to town! This sweet and salty combination makes for a deliciously sugary treat that’s perfect for movie night, an afternoon craving, or on the snack table at your next party.
Get the Homemade Kettle Corn recipe.
Puppy Chow
Puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is one of the easiest and most delicious snacks EVER, and it's super-kid-friendly to make too. Have older kids help with the microwaving the chocolate and peanut butter and mixing it with the Chex cereal, then place it into a resealable bag with the powdered sugar, and let younger kids get to shaking it all around.
Get the Puppy Chow recipe.
Air Fryer GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
You won't believe these little cookies only have six ingredients, not including a pinch of salt (most of which you probably already have on hand!). We made 'em mini for snacking and easier packing in lunch boxes. 😊
Get the Air Fryer GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Strawberries 'n' Cream Granola Bars
These strawberries 'n' cream granola bars are so much better than the store-bought kind. Packed with rolled oats, coconut flakes, pepitas, and freeze-dried strawberries for a hit of tart flavor, these are the perfect on-the-go snack.
Baked Plantain Chips
If you love a wildly crunchy chip, plantains are the way to go. With a bit more fiber than your average spud chip, these plantain chips only require 3 ingredients. They're delicious on their own but can pair nicely with cinnamon sugar like we did here too.
Get the Baked Plantain Chips recipe.
Cherry Puff Pastry Pies
Nope, there's no need to make the dough from scratch, though of course you can if you'd like. But store-bought puff pastry = best cherry pie shortcut ever. Feel free to experiment with the fillings with whatever's in season.
Get the Cherry Puff Pastry Pies recipe.
Fruit Popsicles
In the heat of summer (or, tbh, when the radiator is bumping during the winter), nothing satisfies quite like a fruit pop. This classic strawberry version is big on fruit flavor and not too sweet. Try mixing it up with your fave fruits!
Get the Fruit Popsicles recipe.
Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Dipping pretzels in chocolate is nothing revolutionary, but boy, are they good. Here's how to do it perfectly every time. Full disclaimer: This recipe yields A LOT. Feel free to halve the recipe, but we've never had a problem eating them all.
Get the Chocolate-Covered Pretzels recipe.
McDonald's Apple Pie
Our copycat version of the McDonald's apple pie skips the deep fry and is baked instead for a better take on the restaurant favorite. We used puff pastry so you still get all of those flaky layers and buttery crust, all in a perfectly portable package.
Get the McDonald's Apple Pie recipe.
Caramel Popcorn
Making from-scratch caramel corn couldn't be easier, but don't be hesitated to rush it—baking at a low temperature for about an hour is key to popcorn with that irresistible sweet crunch.
Get the Caramel Popcorn recipe.
Chocolate Cuties
You already know about chocolate-covered strawberries, but have you tried chocolate-dipped oranges?
Get the Chocolate Cuties recipe.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Chips
Making your own apple chips is extremely easy—even without a fancy dehydrator. Our best tips for success are to pick the crispest apples you can (think Honeycrisp or Pink Lady, not Red Delicious or Fuji) and slice them as thinly as possible.
No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Use the base of these impossible-to-mess-up no-bake cookies as your launchpad, then stir in some additions to make them your own. Unsweetened shredded coconut, almond extract, Nutella, and chopped nuts all add extra depth to these cookies.
Get the No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
Cannoli Chips & Dip
Holy cannoli, this dip is good! Making homemade cannoli is fun but time-consuming and can be hard to serve to a crowd. This chip & dip version is all the fun without the hassle.
Get the Cannoli Chips & Dip recipe.
Strawberry Shortcake Rice Krispies Treats
For this spin, we took our classic Rice Krispies Treats and made them extra fun and fruity. The white chocolate melts into the Rice Krispies and the strawberries give them a burst of freshness you'll love.
Chocolate Coconut Balls
If you love Almond Joy candy bars, these chocolate coconut truffles are calling your name. Packed with toasted almonds and two kinds of coconut, they are chewy, nutty, and totally scrumptious. Oh... and did we mention they’re also covered in chocolate? 😋
Get the Chocolate Coconut Balls recipe.
Peanut Brittle
If you love sugar and peanut butter, peanut brittle is naturally a treat you should have on hand, always. Thankfully, it's not at all a complicated process, and you can make it right at home—with or without a candy thermometer!
Get the Peanut Brittle recipe.
