As a parent, it can be difficult to find after school snack ideas that your kids will love.
With after-school activities, homework, and the busy schedules that come with raising kids, it seems impossible to always have the brain power to come up with creative snack ideas.
Kids after school snacks don’t have to be fancy every day. However, sometimes you may want to do something that’s a little different than the normal everyday routine.
Kids do like something sweet or savory, in justified quantity when they return home. You do not always have to cook or bake it. You can always order delicious cakes from online cake shops.
However, for those days when you do have time and want to surprise them with a fun and tasty treat these are after school snacks that your kids will love!
Now, let’s get started!
Ingredients Needed
The three after school snack ideas I’ll be sharing with you are OREO Hot Chocolate, Little Smokies RITZ, and Dracula Cookies (this recipe was inspired by one on the CHIPS AHOY! website, but I made a few alterations to it).
Below are the ingredients that you need for each recipe:
Ingredients Needed for OREO Hot Chocolate
- Hot Chocolate
- Family Size OREO
- Whipped Cream
Ingredients Needed for Little Smokies RITZ
- Family Size RITZ
- Mustard
- Turkey Little Smokies
- Sweet Relish
Ingredients Needed for Dracula Cookies
- Family Size CHIPS AHOY!
- Red Food Coloring
- Mini Marshmallows
- Red Cake Frosting
How to Make the After-School Snacks
If you make all these snack options at once as I did it will take you about 35 minutes.
This works for me because I like to take a break an hour before the kids get home, so I can unwind from work and get in mom mode again.
The best part about these snack options is you can make them in bulk and then for the next couple of days you already have their after-school snacks available and just must serve them once they’re home from school.
How to Make the OREO Hot Chocolate
This is probably the easiest of these after school snack ideas as it takes the least amount of time and can be done right after the kids walk through the door so it’s still hot.
Make the hot chocolate as you normally would (I personally prefer to use the Keurig)
While the hot chocolate is being made crush up some OREO in a sandwich bag
Once the hot chocolate is finished spray in some whipped cream
Add the bits of OREO to the whipped cream
Serve and let the kids enjoy!
OREO Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- Hot Chocolate
- Family Size OREO
- Whipped Cream
Instructions
- Make the hot chocolate as you normally would (I personally prefer to use the Keurig)
- While the hot chocolate is being made crush up some OREOs in a sandwich bag
- Once the hot chocolate is finished spray in some whipped cream
- Add the bits of OREO into the whipped cream
- Serve and let the kids enjoy!
How to Make the Little Smokies RITZ
Compared to the rest of the after school snack ideas this one takes the longest amount of time to prepare, which is why the time for these after school snack ideas is boosted up to 35 minutes. However, it is a hit among kids.
Put the Turkey Little Smokies in a pan and preheat your oven to 375.
Let the Turkey Little Smokies bake for 15 to 20 minutes
Layout RITZ on a baking pan
Add mustard to the RITZ
Add sweet relish on top of the mustard
Add the Turkey Little Smokies on top of the mustard
(Optional: Garnish with shredded cheese)
Serve and enjoy!
How to Make the Dracula Cookies
If I’m being honest, I had so much fun making these cookies. I made them while the sausages were baking so it does take about 20 minutes to prepare. However, no baking is involved.
Cut marshmallows in half for the fangs
Layout 15 CHIPS AHOY! flat side up
Spread frosting on the 15 cookies
Add whole mini marshmallows on top of the frosting
Get 15 more CHIPS AHOY! and cover the flat side in frosting
Place the cookies on top of the marshmallows
Dip the cut marshmallows into the red food coloring
Press the cut marshmallows in the front of the cookies to give off the fang look
Serve and enjoy!
Dracula Cookies
Ingredients
- Family Size CHIPS AHOY!
- Red Food Coloring
- Mini Marshmallows
- Red Cake Frosting
Instructions
- Cut marshmallows in half for the fangs
- Lay out 15 CHIPS AHOY! flat side up
- Spread frosting on the 15 cookies
- Add whole mini marshmallows on top of the frosting
- Get 15 more CHIPS AHOY! and cover the flat side in frosting
- Place the cookies on top of the marshmallows
- Dip the cut marshmallows into the red food coloring
- Press the cut marshmallows in the front of the cookies to give off the fang look
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Bonus: Make Shaved Ice
While hot chocolate, is the perfect after-school beverage during the fall and winter months, shaved ice is a better option during the spring and summer months.
To make shaved ice you can purchase a Hawaiian Shaved Ice Machine and easily make shaved ice once the kids are home from school.
If you’re unfamiliar with Hawaiian Shaved Ice you can read my Hawaiian Shaved Ice Review.
Closing Thoughts on After School Snack Ideas
As a mom of four I definitely know how hard it can be to find creative after school snack ideas that your kids will love.
While, I don’t do these sorts of after school snacks daily (and don’t recommend anyone does for that matter), the kids do love when I switch it up from the standard fruit or cookies after school snack.
Which one of these recommended after-school snack options do you think your kids will enjoy the most?
I love all your ideas, and that dracula cookie came out awesome!! what a creative way to eat a Dracula LOL 🙂
@tisonlyme143
These all look like so much fun!! What a great way to add a bit of fun to after school snack time!
Sign me up for the Oreo Hot Chocolate. Why didnt I think of that before but wonderful suggestion for the fall!
Okay, let me just say that I eat pretty healthy, but I’m gonna have to test out this oreo hot chocolate. That is right up my alley especially now that fall is here and colder weather is approaching. Thanks so much for these snack ideas.
Definitely trying out the Oreo hot chocolate. Oreos are my favorite. This will be fun to make with my kids especially since it’s about to be cold here.
Yummy! Those cookies are very creative. I could see myself making the Oreo hot chocolate for the kids.
That mug choice is everything. hahahaha
My children would love all of these options. The youngest would like the oreo crumbled hot chocolate. My oldest would like the little smokies on crackers.
I’m here for the Oreo hot chocolate. All these snacks look yummy but I love hot cocoa!
Those dracula cookies are too cute! I would love to have some of that oreo hot chocolate. You are very creative.
I’m blown away by the vampire cookies. I could do those and I’m not crafty, plus the messier the red icing – the better.
Joyce,
Yes…That is what I love about the cookies. I am so not a DIY person, but this turned out well and was easy and quick to do. I had so much fun making these snacks for the kids.
My boys would be all over that Oreo Hot Chocolate! Great recipes, I a definitely going to try one.
We have all the ingredients to make the Oreo hot chocolate right now! Never thought to put together ,so thank you !
Leslie,
That’s awesome. I hope you enjoy it.
I think that I am a huge fan of Oreo cookies and the Dracula cookies are so cute for Halloween!
Thank you for sharing these great recipes. How awesome. Not to mention how cute they are! Thank you so much 🙂
WOW. This is AWESOME. I so know my kiddies will love if I make them some afternoon snacks. Gosh, they LOVE to eat. LOL.
These are all such cute ideas! My son is always hungry when he comes home from school. I’m always curious about if he ever actually ate while he was there.
Yum! I think I want the Oreo Hot Chocolate and Dracula Cookies all to myself for a mama self-care moment!! But seriously, I just know my kids would enjoy all 3 snacks. Thanks for sharing the recipes!