My Go-To After-School Snacks Include 29 Fall Treats
School ends, and within minutes, the snack requests start rolling in like they’re running a diner. That’s when variety saves the day. With 29 fall treats ready to go, the complaints disappear faster than shoes in the hallway. It’s simple, fun, and gives everyone just enough fuel to get through homework without negotiating for pizza at 4 p.m.

Caramel Apple Fudge

Kids reach for slices after homework is finished, before starting on chores. Sharing Caramel Apple Fudge makes the afternoon feel special for everyone around the table. Small squares are packed into lunchboxes for the next day. Leftovers usually last only a few hours.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Apple Fudge
Bacon Wrapped Smokies

Friends argue over the last bite as fingers grab skewers off of snack trays the minute school lets out. Plates holding Bacon Wrapped Smokies clear out fast during group projects or movie nights. Even adults sneak a piece for a quick snack. Requests for more come every week.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Mozzarella Sticks

Pulling apart each piece delivers enough melted cheese to keep everyone happy until dinner. Bags filled with Mozzarella Sticks are emptied as soon as they hit the kitchen counters. Siblings race to the kitchen when they hear what’s inside. Nothing beats that cheese pull.
Get the Recipe: Mozzarella Sticks
Easy Chicken Tenders

Dinner waits while plates pile high with crisp strips after practice or club meetings. Extras of Easy Chicken Tenders are gone quickly from the fridge. Kids trade for more on busy nights. These are never skipped when friends come over after school.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Tenders
Cheese Quesadilla

Even the pickiest eaters agree on what to grab when simple is what’s needed fast. Wedges of Cheese Quesadilla heat up well after sports or late bus rides. Dipping sauces get requested by everyone. There is always someone reaching for another piece.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Quesadilla
Buckeye Brownies

Trays draw a crowd as soon as the first square comes out after class. Chilled Buckeye Brownies end up on homework desks and in backpacks for snacks on the go. Leftovers are packed up for lunch treats. The chocolate always gets a smile.
Get the Recipe: Buckeye Brownies
Spinach Artichoke Dip

Big scoops disappear while friends gather for a game or quick study session after school lets out. Everyone dips into Spinach Artichoke Dip several times before thinking of something else. Crackers and chips are gone well before the dip. No one leaves until the bowl is empty.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Dip
Gooey Pumpkin S’mores Cookie Cake

Plates empty within minutes of cutting thick squares once homework is finished. Gooey Pumpkin S’mores Cookie Cake makes after-school time feel like a treat. Friends ask what’s in it and line up for seconds. Kids remember it for next time.
Get the Recipe: Gooey Pumpkin S’mores Cookie Cake
Sweet Potato Fritters

Crunchy bites vanish fast while everyone debates who gets the last one at the table. Stacks of Sweet Potato Fritters work perfectly as a holdover before dinner. Even picky eaters want in. Teachers ask for the recipe when it shows up in lunchboxes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fritters
Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap

Slices help curb hunger after sports as backpacks hit the floor. Each Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap packs up easily for club meetings or music lessons. Kids offer trades for extra bites. They stay fresh for after-school events and outings.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap
Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

Dessert bars start fights over who gets the bigger piece when plates hit the table. Baking up Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars means no one misses dessert even on school nights. Snacks disappear during homework time. Everyone grabs one before heading out again.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars
Copycat Savvy Slider

Small sandwiches fill stomachs fast when everyone wants something different after long days. Stacks of Copycat Savvy Slider are passed around for group study sessions. Leftovers end up as evening snacks. Even parents grab them for quick dinners.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Savvy Slider
Chicken Salad Sandwich

Easy to pack up or eat at the counter when homework runs late. Kids enjoy Chicken Salad Sandwich for the mix of soft bread and crunchy filling. Grownups ask for a share when home from work. Sandwich halves vanish quickly from lunchboxes.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad Sandwich
Steak Fajita Nacho

Chips pile up with toppings perfect for sharing between friends right after they walk through the door. Pans of Steak Fajita Nacho get wiped clean after big days. People gather for movie night with these every week. Even the last crumb gets fought over.
Get the Recipe: Steak Fajita Nacho
Pumpkin Bars

Slices make snack time fun when everyone crowds the kitchen to see what’s new. Kids always find the pan of Pumpkin Bars before heading to activities. Adults even request some for after-dinner coffee. These snacks go fast at every gathering.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Bars
Grilled Cheese

Warm sandwiches win over even picky eaters during afternoons when there’s no time for cooking. Grilled Cheese comes out golden and crisp for quick snacks. There are always crumbs on every plate. Kids sit down just for a bite.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheese
BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

Folded slices land on plates as soon as shoes come off by the door. Whole families line up for BBQ Chicken Quesadilla after band or dance practice. These come out for snack time at least twice a week. There are always requests to make them again.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Chicken Quesadilla
Whipped Feta Dip

Homework sessions become more fun when a smooth spread appears alongside crackers. Friends compete to scoop up more Whipped Feta Dip during study groups. There’s never enough for a second round. Someone always asks for the recipe by the end of the first snack.
Get the Recipe: Whipped Feta Dip
Pizza Rolls

Trays vanish right after the oven is set down because everyone wants crispy bites fast. Layers in Pizza Rolls fill up snack plates on busy afternoons. Friends hang around for extra helpings. Any leftovers make an easy next-day treat.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Rolls
Crunchwrap Supreme

Cuts into wedges for an all-in-one snack when kids need something filling but fast. Each Crunchwrap Supreme holds together on the run between activities. Friends rave about the crispy outside. Sometimes the batch is gone before dinner starts.
Get the Recipe: Crunchwrap Supreme
Strawberry Brownies

Pink squares light up snack breaks and add some color to homework time. Strawberry Brownies find their way into lunchboxes and after-dinner treats. Kids, big and small, love them for surprise desserts. Most ask for these at every celebration.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Brownies
Roast Beef Sliders

Every tray empties before dinner since these are fast to grab and easy to eat. Sharing Roast Beef Sliders keeps afternoons less hectic for both kids and parents. No complaints about boring snacks. Younger siblings keep asking for more.
Get the Recipe: Roast Beef Sliders
Moist Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Lunchboxes gain a tasty update with a quick grab on the way out the door. Baked Moist Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins manage to disappear before study time is over. Teachers see these pop up at snack time. Second helpings are expected without asking.
Get the Recipe: Moist Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Cheesy rolls make snack time feel like a treat from a favorite restaurant. Plates filled with Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits do not last through homework sessions. Siblings fight over who gets the last one. Parents sneak their own after meetings.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Spiced Apple Cookies

Friends go straight to the jar for a quick treat on rainy afternoons. Delicious bites of Spiced Apple Cookies are also perfect with milk after class. No one waits for dessert to grab one. The jar empties by the week’s end.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Apple Cookies
Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings

Game days and study groups both get better once trays are loaded up and hot. No one skips a chance at Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings, no matter how much homework waits. The wings pull everyone to the kitchen. Cleanup is easy because the bones are all that’s left.
Get the Recipe: Wingstop Louisiana Rub Wings
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Warm cookies get eaten fast as kids look for comfort after a long day at school. Moms know Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies fill bellies and keep moods up. The mixing bowl is empty before the oven cools. Soft cookies are split between friends and family.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Zucchini Fritters

Plates fill up with crunchy snacks that everyone can agree on after gym or rehearsals. Hot Zucchini Fritters work as a shared snack before heading off to clubs. Kids pack extras for lunch. No one needs much convincing to try a bite.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Fritters
Cheeseburger Sliders

Small sandwiches get handed out to tide kids over when dinner is running late. Cheeseburger Sliders pack up for sports practice or group study snacks. There are only empty plates left after snack time. Parents are quick to sneak one too.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Sliders
About the Author

Hey there! I’m Mandy
Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.
She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.
She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.
