Our 21 Best Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, these snacks will be right up your alley! They’re healthy options that will still give you a burst of sweetness, thanks to nutritious ingredients like fruit, dark chocolate and nut butter. You’ll want to try four- and five-star rated options like our Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters or our Carrot Cake-Inspired Loaf Bread for a dessert-like snack that’ll put a smile on your face.
Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters
Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
These bite-size dark chocolate almond clusters blend dark chocolate with nutty almonds for an easy snack or dessert. Stick to the three ingredients we list here, or add your own twist by including dried cherries or toasted coconut for a little variety.
Lemon-Blueberry Granola
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This lemon-blueberry granola makes a delightfully crunchy topping for yogurt or just an out-of-the-bag snack. One batch of this homemade granola can last a month in a sealed container in your pantry, or store it in your freezer to keep it fresh even longer. Coconut oil adds extra tropical nuttiness to the granola.
Almond Joy–Inspired Energy Balls
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
These Almond Joy–Inspired Energy Balls feature the distinctive nuttiness of coconut plus dark chocolate and a creamy almond butter center to deliver all the classic flavors of the popular candy bar. Make these energy balls ahead of time for a grab-and-go breakfast or morning snack.
Carrot Cake-Inspired Loaf Bread
Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
Protein in this carrot cake–inspired loaf comes from cashew butter and Greek-style yogurt, which also helps keep it moist and tender. Carrots, nuts and raisins provide texture and flavor, while applesauce adds a subtle sweetness.
Blueberry Cobbler Energy Balls
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
These blueberry energy balls feature dried blueberries, oats and pecans that combine to give you a bite-size taste of blueberry cobbler. You can use almond butter for a nuttier taste or sunflower butter for something mellower to bind them together. These portable snacks are ready in just 30 minutes and can be stored in your fridge or freezer for a quick grab-and-go snack.
Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
This cinnamon banana bread is perfect for a special breakfast, a delightful snack or even a thoughtful homemade gift. The streusel filling makes each slice satisfying, with a lovely texture contrast between the moist bread and the crunchy, flavorful filling.
Anti-Inflammatory Energy Balls
Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum
Drawing inspiration from the flavors of Cherry Garcia, these chocolate-cherry date energy balls are a tasty tribute to the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor named after Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Packed with chunks of dark chocolate and dried tart cherries, they’re not only delicious but also contain polyphenols, a nutrient found in cherries that can help suppress inflammation.
Peanut Butter Yogurt Cup with Magic Shell Topping
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
This easy, high-protein snack tastes just like a Reese’s peanut butter cup. You can conveniently make it in the yogurt container for quick cleanup. Alternatively, if you don’t have a single-serve container, scoop 1/2 cup yogurt from a larger container into a small bowl. Any nut or seed butter would work well in this four-ingredient recipe.
Dark Chocolate Cashew Clusters
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Sue Mitchell, Prop stylist: Skylar Myers,
These 3-ingredient sweet treats are a breeze to make and, because dark chocolate clusters take just 15 minutes to prepare, they can be made on short notice to feed a crowd. While cashews contribute a sweet and mild flavor, don’t hesitate to swap them out for an alternative like almonds or peanuts, or try adding dried cranberries or cherries for a delightfully tangy twist.
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Enjoy these delightful carrot cake oatmeal bars, perfect for a snack or dessert alongside a steaming cup of coffee. Made with a blend of shredded carrots, oats and a hint of brown sugar, these easy bars capture the essence of carrot cake, while offering a boost of fiber and less sugar than cake. Portable and convenient, these bars can be enjoyed on the move. To make these bars gluten-free, opt for gluten-free oats.
Dulce de Leche Coconut Energy Balls
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Dulce de leche, a sweet caramelized milk product used in Latin American desserts, adds sweet caramel flavor to these tasty energy balls. Seek out dulce de leche in cans or glass jars, typically found in the baking aisle. You can swap out cashew butter for your preferred nut butter to give them your own unique spin.
High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Energy Balls
Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Lexi Juhl
These sweet and refreshing energy balls pack in the protein from almonds, almond butter and hemp seeds. Enjoy this easy snack before or after a workout or as a nice midday pick-me-up at work. The finishing glaze adds a tangy sweetness, but you can leave it off if you prefer a little less sugar.
Almond-Date Bars
These no-bake snack bars are packed with nuts, dried fruit and rice cereal. For the best texture, use naturally sticky whole pitted dates. Make these bars ahead of time and pack them in a lunchbox for work or school.
Cranberry-Pistachio Energy Balls
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
These energy balls marry cranberries and pistachios for a festive pick-me-up to fuel a workout or enjoy as an afternoon snack. Tahini has a mild taste that doesn’t overpower the other flavors, but any nut butter, from almond butter to cashew butter, can be used in its place.
Raspberry-Jam Bites
It doesn't get easier, or more delicious, than this simple, three-ingredient snack. Chia seeds and raspberries add fiber to these healthy frozen bites. Chocolate provides a touch of sweetness to balance the tartness of the berries.
Banana-Blueberry Protein Muffins
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
These super-moist and tender muffins get a protein boost with the addition of cottage cheese and peanut butter. The banana, which adds natural sweetness, doesn't overpower the flavor of the blueberries. Frozen blueberries work just as well as fresh. For a different twist, try raspberries or chopped apple.
Sticky Bun-Inspired Energy Balls
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This energy ball is packed with just the right amount of sugar and spice. To really emulate a sticky bun, we added a caramel pecan topping for a nice extra crunch. You can substitute any nut butter for the cashew butter if you prefer.
Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes
Alexandra Shytsman
Peanut butter is the star ingredient in these oatmeal cakes, providing not only flavor, but a boost of plant-based protein too. Hiding a bit in the center of each muffin is a fun way to ensure that peanut butter makes it into every bite.
High-Protein Lemon-Blueberry Muffins
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Julia Levy
These lemon-blueberry muffins are so good, you'll think they came straight from a bakery. A sprinkle of sugar creates a nice crunch on the outside, while strained yogurt ensures the muffins stay moist on the inside.
Mini Frozen Yogurt Parfaits
These mini yogurt parfaits are the perfect sweet treat. You can use raspberries, blueberries or strawberries in these bite-size parfaits.
Coconut-Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Make a batch of these granola bars ahead of time and you'll have a tasty, lunchbox-ready snack on hand. These nut-free granola bars are packed with chocolate chips and shredded coconut for a sweet treat. Whether you like a chewy granola bar or a crunchy one, the bake time is easily adjusted to suit your preferences.
Read the original article on Eating Well.
