Homemade Snack Recipes Made With Real Ingredients

Discover how making homemade snacks recipes from scratch can save you money and improve your family’s health. Learn simple ways to eliminate preservatives and control ingredients for a healthier, more satisfying snack time.

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Our Real Food Journey

I believe in the power of using real, whole ingredients in our home, and that’s the core of everything I share here on my blog. Over the past 10 years, I’ve dedicated time and energy to learning how to eliminate preservatives, additives, and artificial ingredients from our family’s diet.

This journey hasn’t been an overnight transformation, and I wouldn’t suggest anyone throw out everything they know and start from scratch. Instead, I encourage starting with small, manageable steps that feel sustainable for your lifestyle.

One of the first things I did was begin baking our own bread. Not only did it allow me to control what was going into our food, but it also became fun and rewarding. From there, I slowly stocked our pantry with simple, real ingredients like whole grains, unrefined sugars, and fresh produce—ingredients that I could use to make more homemade meals and snacks.

It’s about progress, not perfection, and every small change makes a big difference in the long run.

What’s the Cost

One of the most recent changes we made in our home revolves around the snacks we purchase. Snacks are meant to be quick and easy, but I was finding that the convenience of store-bought options was costing us—both financially and health-wise. Even when I chose higher-quality, seemingly healthier snacks, I couldn’t escape the long lists of ingredients, many of which were still packed with preservatives, artificial flavors, and added sugars.

This didn’t sit well with me, especially when I knew there had to be a better way to nourish my family. That’s when I decided to start making the majority of our snacks from scratch.

Why Choose Homemade Snacks?

You get to control exactly what goes into each snack. You no longer have to worry about added sugar or ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Making easy snacks at home can save money at the grocery store, especially with bulk ingredients making them a cost-effective choice.
You can tailor the flavors to suit dietary preferences, food sensitivities, and family favorites.

How Real Ingredients Make a Difference

Whether it’s baking a loaf of banana bread, making my own crackers, or creating healthier versions of chips and dips, the difference in flavor and satisfaction has been amazing. Plus, slowly but surely, making our snacks from scratch has become a rewarding and sustainable practice that fits perfectly into our lifestyle.

Nutritional Benefits: Using whole ingredients like oats, nuts, and fresh fruits provides more vitamins and minerals compared to processed alternatives.
Flavor: Real ingredients create richer, more satisfying flavors that prepackaged snacks can’t match. Just ask my kids who no longer want certain store-bought snacks they used to love.
Preserving Freshness: Homemade snacks are free from preservatives, giving you the freshest, most wholesome snacks possible.

Get the Guide

3 Easy and Delicious Snack Recipes from the Snacks from Scratch Guide

Below you’ll find links to 3 healthy snack recipes that are included in my Snacks from Scratch guide. The recipe guide includes 17 more of our favorite healthy snacks that you can make with and for your kids. Fun snacks like homemade goldfish, marshmallows, animal crackers, PB&J dip to serve with fresh fruit, energy bites, and so much more!

Homemade Granola Bars

Simple and customizable with real ingredients like quick oats, honey, and chocolate chips.
Perfect for an afternoon snack that’s healthy and filling.

Sourdough Crackers

Utilize sourdough discard to make a flavorful snack that’s a great alternative to potato chips. These are a favorite in our home and don’t last long so be sure to make a big batch!

Quick and Easy Granola

A quick snack recipe using oats, honey, and cinnamon for a sweet, that kids will love on top of Greek yogurt or by the handful. This recipe is versatile so you can add extras like hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes, and sunflower seeds.

jar of granola open from the top looking in

How to Get Started with Making Your Own Snacks

Stock Your Pantry: You’ll want to make sure your pantry is stocked with wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, dried fruits, natural sweeteners, and other baking essentials that can be used in easy recipes. You can download my free guide to stocking your panty here.
Prep: I encourage batch cooking or prepping snacks in advance to make them quick and easy during the week. One of the ways we save money on our grocery bill is by planning ahead so that I’m not adding to the cart out of convenience. I make a double batch of pretty much everything so that I have the option to freeze some for later.
Involve the Kids: Invite the kids to join you in the snack-making process, turning it into a fun family activity. My kids love to help in the kitchen. Not only is it a great way to spend time together but they’ve learned so much over the years and now there are many recipes they make totally on their own.

Benefits of Making Snacks from Scratch Regularly

Consistently having kid-friendly snacks on hand is the perfect way to promote better eating habits. When my family has healthier choices within reach, they are more likely to make a better choice when satisfying their sweet tooth. By making our own snacks, we can also avoid unnecessary packaging and reduce the amount of waste we produce. Lastly, there’s a sense of accomplishment in knowing exactly what’s in the food I serve my family. Making snacks at home isn’t the easy choice, but I do believe it’s the best choice.