5 Simple and Light Summer Snacks

Posted by Michael Dougherty on Aug 11, 2016 8:00:00 AM

Light summer snackLet's face it, it's too hot to even turn on the oven, let alone eat large, heavy meals. To help you satisfy your summer appetite, we've curated this list of summer snacks that incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables as well as tried and true favorites.

We suggest you try one of these recipes next time you're looking for something to enjoy by the pool or to munch on between meals: 

Quick and Easy Summer Snack Recipes

Fresh Fruit with Fluffy Citrus Yogurt Dip

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • One 7 oz jar marshmallow fluff
  • Juice from one orange or 2-3 limes

Instructions

  1. Take the cream cheese out of the fridge and let it soften until it can be easily mixed
  2. Once the cream cheese is soft, add in the marshmallow fluff and fruit juice and mix until evenly blended
  3. Serve with fresh fruit — grapes and strawberries are great choices!

Recipe from This Week for Dinner


Chewy Homemade Granola Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup shredded coconut
  • ½ cup sliced almonds
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup agave
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • Dark chocolate chips
  • Nutella

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325 F
  2. Spread your oats, coconut, and almonds in a thin layer on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden brown (about 15-18 minutes)
  3. Combine the brown sugar, agave, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat until the brown sugar has completely dissolved
  4. Add the toasted oats, coconut, and almonds into the saucepan with the brown sugar, agave, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt mixture and stir until the solid pieces are completely covered
  5. Spray an 8"x8" baking dish with cooking spray and press the mixture into the dish so that it's even across the top and packed kind of tightly — be careful, as the mixture will likely still be pretty hot. Let the mixture cool to room temperature then cut into bars.
  6. Melt your dark chocolate chips in a small bowl with some Nutella. Stir this mixture together then drizzle over your granola bars to your liking

Recipe from Yummy Healthy Easy


PB&J and Fruit Quesadillas

Ingredients

  • 2 tortillas
  • 1/2 banana (sliced)
  • 2 - 4 strawberries (sliced)
  • 1 - 2 tbsps natural peanut butter
  • 1 - 2 tbsps of your favorite jam

Directions

  1. Preheat your pan over medium heat
  2. Spread peanut butter on one side of one of your tortillas, and spread jam on one side of your other tortilla
  3. Place one of your tortillas peanut butter or jam side up in the preheated pan and cover with sliced fruit. Cover with your other tortilla peanut butter or jam side down
  4. Cook until bottom tortilla is crisp, flip, then cook until second tortilla is crisp

Recipe from Texanerin Baking


Eggplant, Avocado, and Fried Cheese Toast

Ingredients

  • 2 slices grainy bread
  • 1 avocado, mashed with salt and pepper
  • ¼ cup cubed, cooked eggplant
  • 6 pieces of homemade paneer

Instructions

  1. Lightly fry your eggplant cubes and paneer until golden brown on all sides
  2. Toast your bread
  3. Spread on the mashed avocado like you would butter, and top with eggplant and paneer to taste

Recipe from Because I Like Chocolate


Sweet and Salty Prosciutto and Cantaloupe

Ingredients

  • One 3 oz package prosciutto
  • 1 cantaloupe
  • 5 basil leaves (chopped)
  • black pepper

Instructions

  • Cut your cantaloupe into bit sized chunks
  • Roll your slices of prosciutto into spirals, then place one spiral on top of each cantaloupe chunk securing the two together with a toothpick
  • Combine your chopped basil and black pepper and sprinkle on top of your mini fruit skewers

Recipe from Created by Diane

If these recipes sound good but you'd rather prepare them in a custom outdoor kitchen, now's your chance! We're offering a $5,000 Unlimited Outdoor Kitchen gift card to one lucky person who signs a contract with us between now and Labor Day (Monday, September 5, 2016). Just click the banner below to read the rules and to enter!

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Topics: Cooking Tips