7 Easy & Scrumptious Summer Snacks

Summer’s just about here-- time to spice up our snack selections!  We’ll be hanging around the house for the next few months—Why not try to make some new exciting treats?  These mouthwatering ideas are sooo easy to make, you'll wonder why you never thought of them before!

Frozen Fruit Yogurt Pops

Try these refreshing frozen pops when you need a break from the hot summer sun.  Made of fruit and yogurt, they’re a much better, more filling snack than regular popsicles.

Ingredients:

• 12oz vanilla yogurt
• 2 cups cut-up fresh or frozen fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, papaya, bananas, mango, or strawberries
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 5 oz paper cups
• Wooden popsicle sticks

Instructions:

1. In a blender, place all ingredients and blend until smooth.
2. Divide mixture among 6 paper cups.
3. Cover cups with foil and insert popsicle sticks into center of each pop.
4. Freeze about 6 hours or until frozen.

No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Energy Bites

These little treats are more tasty and exciting than the same old blah granola bar.  They’ll also keep you full for a long time—Perfect for an active day outside.  Grab one from the fridge whenever you need a quick on-the-go snack.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup Rice Krispies, Rice Chex, or another crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips
• ¾ cup honey
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. 
2. Refrigerate for one 1 hour or longer.
3. Roll into 1-2 inch balls.
4. Keep refrigerated.

Tomato Melts

They're kind of like grilled cheese, only easier!  Complete gooey-cheese goodness in just a few minutes. Are you an avocado lover?  You can add thin avocado slices with the tomato if you like!

Ingredients

• 2 slices bread
• mayonnaise
• 1/2 small tomato, sliced thin
• 4 slices cheese (your favorite kind)

Instructions

1. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each piece of bread.
2. Layer bread with tomato and top with cheese.
3. Broil on high for 2-4 minutes, or until bread is toasted and cheese is bubbly.  Have a parent help you with the oven if needed.

Tropical Summer Smoothies

Let this fruity smoothie whisk you away to a tropical island for a little while!  This will make extra for you to share.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe, peeled, frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen pineapple and/or mango chunks
• 1 cup milk of your choice
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. Serve immediately.

Banana “Ice Cream”

No ice cream in the house?  Take that bowl of over-ripe bananas that will probably just go to waste, and make it into banana ice cream! (It’s not really ice cream, but it tastes pretty darn close.)  Eat it right away  to keep that “ice cream” consistency before it melts.  Makes enough to share.

Ingredients:

• 2 peeled, frozen bananas
• 2/3 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt
• 1/4 cup milk

Optional add-in’s:

• A tablespoon of peanut butter and/or 2 teaspoons cocoa powder

OR

• A handful of berries

Instructions:

1. Blend until smooth.
2. Scoop into bowls.  Serve immediately.

Best Trail Mix Ever

Trail mix is the easiest snack ever to make and has all the best stuff in it.  Just throw all the ingredients together in a bowl and you’re done!  It makes a big batch. If you don’t have/like some of the ingredients, no worries!  Just leave them out or substitute something else in.  Let creativity reign!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Mini marshmallows
• ½ cup M&Ms or chocolate chips
• ½ cup Butterscotch chips
• 2 cups Mini pretzels
• 1 cup Peanuts or cashews
• 1 cup Cheerios
• ½ cup Yogurt covered raisins
• 1 cup Chex or Teddy Grahams
• 1 cup popcorn

Instructions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. 
2. Portion into snack bags to eat later, or share the bowl with family or friends.

English Muffin Pizzas

If you’re craving pizza, this recipe works in a snap.  Put these little pizzas together in just 15 minutes!  This recipe makes 12, but if you want less, just cut all of the ingredients by a half. You can add additional toppings if you like, just like you would with traditional pizza.  Anything goes here!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 6 English Muffins separated into halves
• 1/3 cup tomato pasta or pizza sauce
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
2. Separate the English Muffins into halves and place onto a baking sheet, cut side up.
3. Drizzle muffins with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder. 
4. Toast in oven for 5 minutes, or until just browned. 
5. Remove toasted English Muffins from oven. Top each half with 1/2-1 tablespoon tomato sauce and cover with cheese.
6. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes. 

Share With Kidzworld 

What recipe looks the yummiest to you?  Have you tried any of these?  Let Kidzworld know what you think!