7 Easy Homemade Snacks to Batch Bake for the Week
There’s something incredibly satisfying about opening the freezer or pantry and knowing you’ve already got snacks ready for the week ahead. Whether it’s a quick breakfast on a busy school morning, an after-school nibble, or something to enjoy with a cup of tea in the afternoon, having homemade options to hand makes life feel just that little bit calmer.
I love setting aside an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon to bake a few favourites. Most of these recipes use simple store cupboard ingredients, freeze beautifully, and are perfect for popping into lunchboxes or grabbing on the go.
Here are seven of our family’s favourite homemade snacks.
Classic Flapjack
A proper flapjack is hard to beat. Soft, buttery and chewy in the middle with crisp golden edges, it’s one of those recipes that never lasts long in our house.
Ingredients
- 250g rolled oats
- 175g butter
- 100g light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp golden syrup
- Pinch of salt
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
- Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup together.
- Stir in the oats and salt until everything is coated.
- Press firmly into a lined 20cm square tin.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden.
- Leave to cool completely before slicing.
Try adding: raisins, dried apricots, pumpkin seeds or a handful of chocolate chips.
Oat & Banana Breakfast Bars
These are naturally sweetened by ripe bananas and make an ideal grab-and-go breakfast.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 200g rolled oats
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 50g raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
Method
- Mash the bananas until smooth.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Spread into a lined baking tin.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes at 180°C.
- Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Peanut Butter Oat Bars
Soft, chewy and packed with protein, these are brilliant for busy afternoons.
Ingredients
- 200g rolled oats
- 150g peanut butter
- 80g honey
- 50g melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional extras:
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped nuts
- Mixed seeds
Method
- Gently warm the peanut butter, honey and butter together.
- Stir through the oats.
- Press into a lined tin.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes at 180°C.
Chocolate Chip Oat Squares
Think somewhere between a flapjack and a cookie.
Ingredients
- 200g rolled oats
- 150g plain flour
- 100g butter
- 75g brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 100g chocolate chips
- 1 tsp baking powder
Method
- Cream the butter and sugar.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Press into a baking tin.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes before cooling and slicing.
Puff Pastry Pesto Twists
Perfect alongside soup, packed lunches or as a savoury snack.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry
- 3 tbsp pesto
- 50g grated cheddar
- Parmesan (optional)
Method
- Spread pesto over the pastry.
- Sprinkle with cheese.
- Fold in half.
- Cut into strips and twist.
- Bake at 200°C for 15-18 minutes until puffed and golden.
Ham & Cheese Pinwheels
These always disappear first from the lunchbox.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry
- 150g grated cheese
- 6 slices ham
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1 beaten egg
Method
- Spread with mustard if using.
- Lay over the ham.
- Sprinkle with cheese.
- Roll tightly into a log.
- Chill for 15 minutes.
- Slice into rounds.
- Brush with egg.
- Bake at 200°C for 18-20 minutes.
They freeze brilliantly either before or after baking.
Pizza Scrolls
A homemade version of pizza rolls that everyone loves.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet ready-rolled pizza dough
- 3 tbsp pizza sauce
- 150g grated mozzarella or cheddar
- Ham, pepperoni or cooked chicken
- Sweetcorn
- Diced peppers
- Italian herbs
Method
- Spread the dough with pizza sauce.
- Add the cheese and toppings.
- Roll into a log.
- Slice into rounds.
- Arrange on a baking tray.
- Bake at 200°C for 18-20 minutes.
Fruit Crumble Bars
These feel like a little slice of pudding tucked into a lunchbox.
Ingredients
Crumble
- 250g plain flour
- 150g rolled oats
- 150g light brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 175g cold butter
Filling
- 300g fruit (berries, apples, rhubarb, plums or blackberries)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla (optional)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
- Mix together the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles chunky breadcrumbs.
- Press two-thirds into a lined baking tin.
- Toss the fruit with the sugar, cornflour and flavourings.
- Spread over the base.
- Sprinkle over the remaining crumble.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden.
- Cool completely before slicing.
A Simple Sunday Batch Bake
If you have an hour or two free at the weekend, choose three recipes and double up if you can. Freeze half straight away and you’ll have homemade snacks ready for the weeks ahead.
Some of my favourite combinations are:
- Flapjack + Ham & Cheese Pinwheels + Fruit Crumble Bars
- Oat & Banana Bars + Pizza Scrolls + Pesto Twists
- Peanut Butter Oat Bars + Chocolate Chip Oat Squares + Fruit Crumble Bars
There’s something wonderfully reassuring about knowing there are nourishing homemade snacks waiting in the freezer. It turns rushed mornings into calmer ones, makes lunchboxes easier to pack, and means there’s always something delicious ready when hungry children tumble through the door.
What’s your favourite make-ahead snack? I’d love to hear what you always have stocked in your freezer or cake tin.


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