17 Of The Coolest Back-To-School Snacks That Take Under 10 Minutes To Make

BuzzFeed
·9 min read

Hello, fellow snack attackers! I am so delighted to make this post to help you elevate your personal — or parenting — snack-making status. It's that busy back-to-school season and we are on it!

Cedric the Entertainer in a light polo shirt says, "I'm from a long line of snackers." People are seen working in the background
CBS

So, where did my inspo for this piece come from (besides being a mom stressed out over how many after-school snacks my son will inhale this year)? It's quite unique, really...

Woman sitting in a cereal-themed playroom with a slide, ball pit, and neon
Woman sitting in a cereal-themed playroom with a slide, ball pit, and neon
Room setup called
Room setup called

Krista Torres

The idea was born at the Rice Krispies-themed "Re-Treat Suite." I was blessed enough to attend a comped press trip to check it out and, while there, learned all sorts of unique Rice Krispies Treat hacks that I immediately became obsessed with.

The beachside suite, located at the Red Jacket Beach Resort in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is decked out wall-to-wall in Rice Krispies-themed everything, treat and activity stations, and has a lot of hidden Easter eggs! Fans can request complimentary stays on a first-come, first-serve basis until August 23rd.

Without further ado, let's get into three Rice Krispies hacks I learned, plus 14 other genius food hacks I think you will love:

1.Rice Krispies S'more Pops

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a blue apron, holds a giant rectangular Rice Krispies treat
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a blue apron, holds a giant rectangular Rice Krispies treat
Seven rice crispy treats lie on a wooden surface. The treats are bumpy and irregular in shape
Seven rice crispy treats lie on a wooden surface. The treats are bumpy and irregular in shape
A gloved hand forms a rice ball on a skewer over a wooden surface with other rice balls visible in the background
A gloved hand forms a rice ball on a skewer over a wooden surface with other rice balls visible in the background
A skewer-held rice ball being dipped into a bowl of dark sauce
A skewer-held rice ball being dipped into a bowl of dark sauce
Mixture of dry ingredients with wet ingredient drizzles and a wooden skewer in a mixing bowl
Mixture of dry ingredients with wet ingredient drizzles and a wooden skewer in a mixing bowl
A smiling woman holds a chocolate-covered treat on a stick in focus, with a blurred background. Her facial features and hair are visible
A smiling woman holds a chocolate-covered treat on a stick in focus, with a blurred background. Her facial features and hair are visible

Krista Torres

For this one, I utilized the giant Treat Sheet again and formed the Rice Krispies into a big marshmallow shape. Then, I put each one on a skewer, dipped it in chocolate sauce (you could also do melted milk chocolate), and rolled it in crushed graham crackers. I literally made these in like five minutes — they were so easy and so delish!

2.Rice Krispies Treat PB&J:

A woman with long hair smiles while using a rolling pin on a large sheet of rice crispy treats. She is wearing a blue apron and gloves
A woman with long hair smiles while using a rolling pin on a large sheet of rice crispy treats. She is wearing a blue apron and gloves
Two slices of bread with strawberry jam on one and peanut butter on the other, prepared for making a sandwich. Jars of peanut butter and jam are in the background
Two slices of bread with strawberry jam on one and peanut butter on the other, prepared for making a sandwich. Jars of peanut butter and jam are in the background
A gloved hand cuts a triangular coconut rice cake on a wooden surface
A gloved hand cuts a triangular coconut rice cake on a wooden surface
Close-up of a gloved hand holding a sandwich with peanut butter and jelly filling. Jars of peanut butter and jelly are blurred in the background
Close-up of a gloved hand holding a sandwich with peanut butter and jelly filling. Jars of peanut butter and jelly are blurred in the background
A woman in a gray apron, wearing gloves, holds a large Rice Krispies treat towards the camera and smiles in front of a promotional Kellogg's Rice Krispies backdrop
A woman in a gray apron, wearing gloves, holds a large Rice Krispies treat towards the camera and smiles in front of a promotional Kellogg's Rice Krispies backdrop
Woman with long hair and apron eats a large sandwich. She appears surprised or pleased. (Name of the person in the image not known)
Woman with long hair and apron eats a large sandwich. She appears surprised or pleased. (Name of the person in the image not known)

Krista Torres

I used a rolling pin to flatten a Treat Sheet until it packed solid. Then, I cut squares and formed each into the shape of a slice of bread. I put on peanut butter and jelly, slapped 'em together, and cut them into triangle halves (because the only true way to cut a sandwich is diagonally). I INHALED it. It was SO GOOD.

3.Rice Krispies Treat Sushi

A tray of rice krispie treats sits on a wooden board. Around it are bowls of gummy candies and rolled fruit snacks, along with a package of blue raspberry candies
A tray of rice krispie treats sits on a wooden board. Around it are bowls of gummy candies and rolled fruit snacks, along with a package of blue raspberry candies
A hand holds a partially rolled Rice Krispies treat on a wooden cutting board
A hand holds a partially rolled Rice Krispies treat on a wooden cutting board
A hand with pink nails places a red candy fish on a rice crispy treat, with more rice crispy treats, more red candy fish, and a strip of blue fruit roll-up nearby
A hand with pink nails places a red candy fish on a rice crispy treat, with more rice crispy treats, more red candy fish, and a strip of blue fruit roll-up nearby
Hands with pink nail polish creating a candy sushi using rice crispy treats, red gummy fish, and blue candy strips. Several completed pieces are in the background
Hands with pink nail polish creating a candy sushi using rice crispy treats, red gummy fish, and blue candy strips. Several completed pieces are in the background

Krista Torres

This is one of the most adorable ways to create excitement around a sweet snack! All you do is take a sheet pan-size Rice Krispies Treat and cut it into small rectangular sections. Top a Swedish fish on each one, cut a Fruit Roll-Up in half lengthwise, and wrap it around to hold it together. (Alternatively, top it with a strawberry slice instead of Swedish fish to add fresh fruit!)

*me imaging my son bringing friends over after school and being the coolest mom ever serving them this sushi*

Rice Krispie sushi pieces topped with red gummy fish and wrapped in blue fruit roll-up strips on a black plate
Krista Torres

Another way to make this is to roll the Rice Krispies into a ball, wrap it with a Fruit Roll-Up, and top with pieces of Swedish Fish (or fresh fruit).

Hands wrapping a Rice Krispies treat with a piece of fruit roll-up on a wooden surface
Hands wrapping a Rice Krispies treat with a piece of fruit roll-up on a wooden surface
Hand with long nails holding a small cracker with a slice of gummy candy on top. A yellow gummy candy is partially visible on the side
Hand with long nails holding a small cracker with a slice of gummy candy on top. A yellow gummy candy is partially visible on the side

Krista Torres

The final snack will look like this, and you can use chocolate sauce as the soy sauce. SO CUTE AND SO FUN:

Heart-shaped dish with chocolate sauce next to plates of rice crispy treats topped with gummy bears and gummy fish
Heart-shaped dish with chocolate sauce next to plates of rice crispy treats topped with gummy bears and gummy fish
A woman with long hair smiles while holding a candy using chopsticks. Multiple bowls and jars filled with various sweets are displayed in front of her
A woman with long hair smiles while holding a candy using chopsticks. Multiple bowls and jars filled with various sweets are displayed in front of her

Krista Torres

4.Now, here are some other hacks I love! Banana Rollups:

A hand holding a pinwheel snack made of tortilla wrapped around banana slices, with more pinwheel snacks placed on a wooden cutting board

5.Two-Minute Sweet Potato Chips:

A hand reaching for a bowl of sweet potato chips topped with sea salt

6.Yogurt, Honey, and Fruit Popscicles:

A yogurt popsicle with visible chunks of strawberries inside, held by a person in their hand

7.Make-Ahead Caprese Salad Bowls:

Four black bowls each filled with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and small mozzarella balls resembling a caprese salad

8.Cinnamon French Toast Rollup:

A bowl with brown sugar mix and a hand adding cinnamon powder. A slice of bread lies on a wooden surface. Text:
A bowl with brown sugar mix and a hand adding cinnamon powder. A slice of bread lies on a wooden surface. Text:
Close-up of a frying pan with oil and food being cooked using metal tongs
Close-up of a frying pan with oil and food being cooked using metal tongs
Close-up image of a cinnamon roll with a bite taken out, revealing a gooey cinnamon filling. Text at the top reads
Close-up image of a cinnamon roll with a bite taken out, revealing a gooey cinnamon filling. Text at the top reads

Tasty / youtube.com

This is a Tasty recipe inspired by Motherthyme. Roll each slice of bread flat with a rolling pin. Carefully cut off crusts. In a bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Spread onto each bread slice, and roll up. In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Dip each roll-up in egg mixture, and pan fry in a buttered skillet until all sides are golden brown.

One of our Tasty readers made them and I AM LITERALLY DROOLING at this pic they shared:

Stack of cinnamon roll French toast drizzled with icing. Text overlay reads, "Cinnamon roll French toast" with heart-eyed and tongue out emojis
rylinmarie / tasty.co

9.BBQ Popcorn:

A bowl of BBQ-flavored popcorn sits on a wooden surface, with "bbq" written in white text in the upper right corner

10.Air Fryer Cheeseburger Eggrolls:

Hands pulling apart a cheesy, beef-filled empanada with sauce on a plate beneath. Text overlay says,
Hands pulling apart a cheesy, beef-filled empanada with sauce on a plate beneath. Text overlay says,
Eggrolls cooking in an air fryer on foil. Text on the image:
Eggrolls cooking in an air fryer on foil. Text on the image:
A boy in a green hoodie is taking a large bite of food in the kitchen. Text in image reads:
A boy in a green hoodie is taking a large bite of food in the kitchen. Text in image reads:

@callmekristatorres / tiktok.com

I gotta share this one because my son has been making it himself for the past couple of years. I brown some ground beef (or turkey) ahead of time with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, a pinch of brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Then, I save that in the fridge so he can grab it when he wants to make these. He does so by adding the meat and shredded cheese to the center of an egg roll wrapper (you can find them in the refrigerated section). He brushes some water around the edges and rolls them up like a burrito. Place each one in the air fryer and spray them all with cooking spray. Cook at 400 for eight minutes, flip, and cook for three more minutes. They're so crisp and tasty! Here's a video on how to make them.

11.Ham and Pickle Rollups (aka Minnesota Sushi):

A hand holds a ham and pickle roll-up with cream cheese, while similar roll-ups are arranged on a plate in the background next to a yellow colander of grapes

12.Hot Dog Pancakes:

Pancake batter rounds cooking in a pan, each containing a sausage that is being flipped with a purple spatula
Pancake batter rounds cooking in a pan, each containing a sausage that is being flipped with a purple spatula
A white plate with five mini hot dog pastries, each consisting of a small sausage wrapped in a croissant-like dough
A white plate with five mini hot dog pastries, each consisting of a small sausage wrapped in a croissant-like dough

5 Minute Crafts / youtube.com

5 Minute Crafts shared this recipe on their YouTube. All you do is put a dab of pancake batter in a skillet and place a mini hot dog on top. Once the pancake starts to brown, use a spatula to fold it around the hot dog until it all cooks. Top with ketchup, mustard, or syrup!

13.Pizza Grilled Cheese

Several cooking ingredients and utensils are on a kitchen counter, including pepperoni slices, shredded cheese, sauce, butter, and pasta
Several cooking ingredients and utensils are on a kitchen counter, including pepperoni slices, shredded cheese, sauce, butter, and pasta
Two slices of bread in a pan with pepperoni and grated cheese on top, resembling mini pizzas
Two slices of bread in a pan with pepperoni and grated cheese on top, resembling mini pizzas
A plate with a grilled sandwich cut in half, showing layers of meat and melted cheese. The bread appears slightly burnt
A plate with a grilled sandwich cut in half, showing layers of meat and melted cheese. The bread appears slightly burnt

u/phantomBlurr / reddit.com

Put a twist on a traditional grilled cheese by making a pizza one! Reddit user u/phantomBlurrr simply buttered one side of two pieces of bread, put them in a skillet (butter side down), added pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella. She then put the topping sides together to create a beautiful pizza grilled cheese.

14.Fun Flavored Cucumber Slices:

Close-up of a woman holding a piece of cucumber with seasoning. Text reads: "this is what it looks like."

15.Mug Cake Brownie:

A white cup filled with chocolate hazelnut spread on a dark surface. Text reads:
A white cup filled with chocolate hazelnut spread on a dark surface. Text reads:
Close-up of a chocolate dessert dusted with powdered sugar
Close-up of a chocolate dessert dusted with powdered sugar

Tasty / youtube.com

This one is from Tasty! In a 12-ounce mug or larger, mix four tablespoons flour, three tablespoons sugar, two tablespoons cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, three tablespoons milk, one tablespoon oil, vegetable or canola, and one teaspoon vanilla extract until just combined. Once combined, spoon a tablespoon of chocolate hazelnut spread on top of the batter. Microwave on high for 90 seconds to two minutes, watching to make sure it doesn’t spill over (depending on the size of the mug). Let cool one minute before eating. Top with additional chocolate hazelnut spread and powdered sugar (optional).

16.Pie Maker (or Muffin Tin) Eggs:

Person cracking an egg into a small pie maker with ham lining two pie molds; eggs and pie maker visible in the background
Person cracking an egg into a small pie maker with ham lining two pie molds; eggs and pie maker visible in the background
Two eggs cooking with bacon in a double egg cooker on a white countertop
Two eggs cooking with bacon in a double egg cooker on a white countertop

Love Happy Ali / youtube.com

Love Happy Ali made this recipe on YouTube. It is super simple! Place your ham or bacon in the bottom of a pie maker, top with an egg, and cook. Put on toast and serve. If you don't have a pie maker, you could do this in a muffin tin in the oven as well!

17.And, finally, let's end on one of my favorite Taco Bell hacks. Order a few sides of their red sauce (it is different than the packets of sauce!) — and take the leftovers home to dip in everything from homemade breakfast burritos to quesadillas:

A woman in a car holds three circular containers, appearing to show them to the camera
A woman in a car holds three circular containers, appearing to show them to the camera
A woman sits in a car, dipping a food item into a small container of sauce
A woman sits in a car, dipping a food item into a small container of sauce

@callmekristatorres / tiktok.com

I've done this since I was a kid, and it is my all-time favorite fast food hack. Order a side of red sauce (it's free at most locations, so I am not shy; I usually get like six) and dip literally everything you order in it for elevated flavor. If you have extra, take it home and put it on literally anything you fancy. It tastes WAY better than the packets of sauce!

I hope some of these snack hacks piqued your interest. But, if all else fails, you can always just eat a giant Rice Krispies Treat. Happy snacking!

Woman holding and taking a bite from a giant Rice Krispies Treat. Jars of candy and cereal are on the table in front of her
Krista Torres

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