Looking for a healthy and sweet paleo snack? Try these nutrient-dense, vitamin-rich, fruit-based snack ideas that won’t leave you feeling heavy or bloated.
1. Fruit Pizza Bites
This is a raw dessert pizza recipe, formed into small bites for easy and healthy snacking. A rich chocolate crust is spread with whipped coconut cream and then topped with fresh fruit. Strawberries and mangoes make a juicy, colorful combination for the top of the pizza. Serve the deliciously sweet bites cold.
Ingredients:
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup coconut cream
2 tbsp honey
1 cup fresh strawberries, finely diced
1 cup fresh mango, finely diced
Instructions:
1. Add the walnuts to a food processor. Mix until the walnuts are finely ground. Add the dates, vanilla, and cocoa powder to the blender. Blend until everything is combined. With the blender still running, add a couple drops of water at a time to make the mixture stick together, if necessary.
2. Use your hands to roll the mixture into small balls. Place onto a sheet of wax paper and flatten with the palm of your hand. Place in the freezer for 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, blend the coconut cream and honey together with a hand blender.
4. Remove the crusts from the freezer. Spread with the coconut cream and top with strawberries and mango. Serve cold.
Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Medium
(Also try: Brownie Crust Dessert Pizza)
2. Strawberry Banana Bars
Satisfy any mid-afternoon cravings with these simple, fluffy paleo snack bars. The bars are studded with strawberries and bananas, a deliciously sweet and fruity flavor combination. Use very ripe bananas as the base for the tastiest results. Serve with a glass of cold almond milk or a cup of coffee.
Ingredients:
2 bananas, mashed
2 eggs
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place all of the ingredients except for the strawberries into a bowl and mix together with a hand blender. Once evenly combined, use a spatula to fold in the strawberries
2. Prepare an 8×8-inch baking pan with coconut oil spray. Press the batter into the pan in an even layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Cut into bars and serve warm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Servings: 9 bars
Difficulty: Easy
(For breakfast: Strawberry Banana Paleo Breakfast Bars)
3. Easy Apple Bites
After school snacks just became quicker and easier with these fun apple bites. Diced apples are layered with almond butter to make a healthy treat. Sprinkle on your favorite toppings, such as dark chocolate and coconut flakes.
Ingredients:
1 apple, thinly sliced and cored
3 tbsp almond butter
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions:
1. Spread the almond butter in a thin layer over each apple slice. Sprinkle with almonds, coconut flakes and chocolate. Serve immediately.
Servings: 1-2
Difficulty: Easy
(You’ll also love: Homemade Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips)
4. Balsamic Strawberry Bites
This recipe makes a rich, decadent paleo-friendly snack out of simple strawberries. Roast the strawberries in the oven with balsamic vinegar and honey to make a thick, syrupy spread. Spread over crackers with a little macadamia nut “cheese” to make this a complete snack. High quality balsamic vinegar is recommended for the best results.
Ingredients:
1 lb. fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp honey
1/2 cup macadamia nut “cheese”
Paleo crackers, for serving
4 fresh mint leaves, chiffonade
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the strawberries in a glass baking dish and drizzle with balsamic and honey. Gently toss to coat. Roast for 35-45 minutes, stirring once, until the mixture is syrupy and thick.
2. To serve, spread the macadamia nut cheese over crackers and top with balsamic roasted strawberries and mint.
Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy
5. Sweet Maple Applesauce
Applesauce is a simple snack idea that is easy to make from scratch. In this recipe, maple syrup is added as a natural sweetener to complement the flavors of the apples and cinnamon. Once the apples are soft, they can be mashed for chunky applesauce or pureed into a smooth texture with an immersion blender.
Ingredients:
3 lbs. apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup water
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
Instructions:
1. Place all of the ingredients into a large pot on the stove. Cover and cook over medium heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples have completely softened. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
2. Allow to cool slightly. Use an immersion blender to puree until smooth.
Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy
(Looking for something lower in sugar?: No Sugar Added Paleo Cinnamon Applesauce)
6. Bacon-Wrapped Pineapple Bites
The combination of sweet and salty foods works extremely well in this recipe. Juicy pineapple and crispy bacon are served together for a fancy snack. Secure the bacon-wrapped pineapple bites with toothpicks so that they stay together in the oven. Also, the size of the slices of bacon should depend on how thickly you cut up the pineapple.
Ingredients:
8 oz. bacon
2 cups fresh pineapple, diced
1/2 tsp chili powder
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet and coat with coconut oil spray. Cut the slices of bacon in half lengthwise and then into thirds.
2. Place the pineapple in a small bowl and sprinkle with the chili powder. Toss to coat.
3. Wrap a piece of bacon around a diced piece of pineapple and secure with a toothpick. Place onto the prepared wire rack with the sealed side down. Repeat for the remaining pineapple. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. Serve warm.
Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Medium
(MORE BACON!: Bacon-Wrapped Roasted Asparagus)
7. Quick Apple and Endive Salad
Transform basic fruits into something more exciting. Present them in an easy salad for a healthy mid-morning snack. Apples, grapes, and endives balance each other out well in this simple raw recipe. Red apples such as Fuji or Gala are ideal for this recipe because of their firm, sweet flesh. Add walnuts for crunch if desired.
Ingredients:
3 tbsp Paleo mayonnaise
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Paleo mustard
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 red apples, cored and thinly sliced
2 small endives, cored and chopped
1 1/2 cups green grapes, halved
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the apples, endives, grapes, and celery. Add the dressing and toss well to coat. Adjust pepper to taste. Serve cold.
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
8. Melon Prosciutto Skewers with Pesto
Sweet melon and salty prosciutto make an excellent combination and the perfect paleo snack when you want something both sweet and savory. They are also very easy to serve together. Both can keep in the refrigerator all week for a quick snack. This recipe also adds a dab of basil pesto to the melon prosciutto skewers for an added layer of flavor. The extra pesto can be stored in the refrigerator as well.
Ingredients:
1/2 cantaloupe melon
6 slices prosciutto
For the pesto:
1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
Juice of 1 lemon
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
1. Seed and remove the rind from the melon, then slice into cubes. Tear the prosciutto into small pieces. Thread the cantaloupe and prosciutto onto small skewers and arrange on a plate.
2. Place the pesto ingredients except for the olive oil into a food processor. Blend to evenly combine. Slowly pour in the olive oil while blending. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle each skewer with pesto to serve.
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
9. Strawberry Parfaits
Layers of delectable flavors are combined in a cup to make these strawberry parfaits. Fresh strawberries, whipped coconut cream, and crumbled chocolaty walnuts add sweetness and texture to the parfaits. Assemble the layers in any order and quantity, since they can be catered to each individual. Save any leftover ingredients in the refrigerator to make more the next day.
Ingredients:
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
1 cup coconut cream
2 tbsp honey
Instructions:
1. Add the walnuts to a food processor. Mix until the walnuts are finely ground. Add the dates, vanilla, and cocoa powder to the blender. Blend until everything is combined. Set aside.
2. Whip the coconut cream with the honey and set aside.
3. To assemble, place some of the strawberries into the bottom of a jar or cup. Add a thin layer of the walnut mixture, followed by coconut cream. Continue layering the ingredients until the top of the dish is reached. Serve immediately.
Servings: 1-2
Difficulty: Easy
10. Apple, Squash, and Pear Crisp
This sweet snack recipe combines a variety of fruits and vegetables for a hearty baked dish that is much easier to make than pie. Butternut squash and pears balance out the apples to add more color and flavor into the crisp. The recipe makes a large amount of food; wonderful for a warm and comforting snack all week.
Ingredients:
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and diced
2 red apples, peeled and diced
1 Bartlett pear, peeled and diced
3-4 tbsp honey
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon, divided
1 tsp nutmeg, divided
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, chopped
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the squash, apples, and pears in a 9-inch pie dish. Drizzle with honey and lemon juice and sprinkle with half of the cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss well to coat.
2. In a separate bowl, stir together the walnuts, coconut flakes, coconut oil, maple syrup, salt, and remaining cinnamon and nutmeg. Spoon the topping over the apple mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until lightly browned and bubbling. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Servings: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy
11. Strawberry Banana Granola Cups
This simple recipe provides a well-balanced snack. Diced strawberries, bananas, granola, and sweet coconut cream come together quickly, without any cooking necessary. Leftover coconut cream can be stored in the refrigerator, perhaps for the same snack the next day!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
2 bananas, sliced
1/2 cup homemade granola
For the coconut cream:
1 14.5-oz. can coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
1. Scoop the thickened cream from the top of the chilled can of coconut milk. Place into a bowl. Use a hand blender to whip the chilled coconut cream, vanilla, and honey together for about one minute or until smooth.
2. To assemble, place a layer of coconut cream in the bottom of a cup or medium bowl. Add a thick layer of granola, followed by the sliced fruit. Serve immediately.
Servings: 2
Difficulty: Easy
More Healthy Fruit Paleo Snacks to Try:
Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather
Cinnamon Banana Bread Energy Balls
Strawberry Cashew Energy Balls
8 Fruit-Infused Detox Waters to Drink Daily
11 Good Frozen Paleo Snacks to Try
11 Vitamin-Rich Fruit Paleo Snacks (Try these!)
Jess (Paleo Grubs)
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