I have strong opinions about summer snacks. I like them to be bright, not heavy. I like them to be fresh, but not boring. I’ve eaten enough sad veggie platters in my life to know what I like.
And what I like are homemade popsicles and fruit salads. For salty cravings, it has to be spicy Alabama fire crackers or zesty guacamole. These are the addicting flavors of summer.
1. Ants On A Log
This one takes me right back. Who else grew up practically living at the pool, with goggles still fogged up and a towel draped over your shoulders, eating these?
It’s still wild to me that we would go so nuts over these snacks. I mean, it’s just celery! But the combination of peanut butter and raisins, plus that super fun name, was all it took. We totally looked past the green vegetable!
2. Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Crisps
I saw this at a cookout a few years back and was instantly hooked. Seriously, everyone is a fan of chips and dip, and it’s just as much about the textures as it is about the flavors.
With this recipe, you get something like a fruity pico de gallo, made by chopping up fresh apples, strawberries, and melon until they’re nice and fine.
And the cinnamon crisps? They’re just flour tortillas that get a coating of cinnamon sugar before being baked. So ridiculously simple!
3. Game Day Veggie Dip Cups
I know the name says “game day,” but you’ll find me making these all summer long. I just love that they are the absolute perfect individual portion, and you get basically zero mess. WINNING.
Ranch dip is always going to be a solid choice, but I’ve also made these with tzatziki and hummus.
Sliced bell peppers and baby carrots are the perfect shape and size for this, but I’ve found that cherry tomatoes can take up a bit too much space and are tricky to dip.
4. Healthy Sour Candy Frozen Grapes
If Sour Patch Kids are your jam but you try to avoid all that sugar, get ready for your mind to be blown. This is one of those recipes that you just have to try for yourself to believe it.
The recipe calls for a sugar substitute, so you’ll probably need to look online or check out the health food section of your grocery store. As the recipe notes, monk fruit sweetener is the tastiest way to go.
5. Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
You’ve heard that we eat with our eyes first, right? So with that in mind, the more vibrant you can make something, the more irresistible it is. These fruit kabobs are not only super bright, but they’re also completely natural.
You aren’t using any food coloring to get those amazing shades, so you can feel good that this is healthy and free of additives. The key is just to find a bunch of different colors.
I’m a big fan of using mango and strawberries alongside kiwi and pineapple. Plums are also a fantastic choice if you can find them when they’re perfectly ripe.
6. Iced Lemon Cookie Granola Bars (No-Bake!)
I feel like I always see chocolate and peanut butter or blueberry granola bars. And look, they are delicious, but it’s nice to switch things up sometimes, too. These luscious lemon bars are the ultimate snack for summer!
They’ve got lemon cookies for a buttery crunch, brown rice cereal for some crispy little pops, oats for chewiness, and an amazing lemon glaze that adds a bit of zing. So good!
7. Mini-Fruit Pizzas
What’s a better way to get the kids to eat their fruit than by putting it on a “pizza?” For these little bites, you can make prep so much faster by using store-bought cookies. I’m a huge fan of soft sugar cookies, but really, any kind will work.
Just a heads up: if you make these too far ahead of time, the fruit on top might start to dry out while the juices seep into the frosting and the cookie.
8. Apple Nachos with Peanut Butter and Chocolate
I’m pretty sure most kids would give beets a try if you drizzled them with enough peanut butter and chocolate chips! So who could possibly say no to this simple and inventive summer snack?
I think a sweet apple variety is the best for this, so I went with a mix of fuji and pink lady. But since they’re getting covered in peanut butter, any type of apple will be delicious.
If there’s a peanut allergy in your family, go ahead and use almond butter. And if you need it to be totally nut-free, try a drizzle of caramel instead.
9. Easy Watermelon Popsicles
Watermelon is already the quintessential summer snack, right? But with this recipe, it becomes extra cold and so much more fun! All you have to do is blend some seedless watermelon with lime juice and pour it all into a mold.
I just bought these fantastic Tovolo zombie ice pop molds, and they have been a total hit! They’re so fun and you can just pop them in the dishwasher.
10. Frozen Yogurt Bark with Berries Recipe
Out of all the summer snacks on this list, this one is definitely the most patriotic! It’s red, white, and blue, not to mention it’s crazy-easy to pull together and so scrumptious.
And the best part? It really is just frozen yogurt and fruit. You can use a non-fat vanilla or Greek yogurt and sweeten it up with a little bit of honey or agave syrup.
Once you have it spread out on a lined baking tray, you can add whatever fruity toppings you want. I think berries work best, but feel free to get creative with it.
11. Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels
Here’s another incredibly bright and fun summer snack that’s also filling and super tasty. That simple mix of cream cheese and a dry ranch packet is genius and brings so much flavor to these.
But, you could always go with hummus or Boursin cheese if you like those more.
Or, since there’s spinach inside, why not try this dreamy whipped feta dip? Yum to the max.
12. Key Lime Pie Energy Bites
Energy bites are the perfect summer snack! They are light, sweet, and so easy to take with you to the beach, the pool, or on a fun road trip.
Did I mention they’re also vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and they come together in just a few minutes?
Just toss the dates, cashews, coconut, key lime zest and juice, and maple syrup into a food processor and blitz away until you have a smooth dough. So easy!
