Welcome to Camp52, where we're recapturing the fun of summer as a kid. All month long, you'll find playful, carefree ideas for snacks (s'mores and popsicles, anyone?), drinks, crafts, games, field trips, packing tips, and more.
Think back to camp days of yore: Snacks were the unifier, the shady oasis on the hottest day of the summer, the best part of the day for the kid picked first for kickball and the kid picked last. Maybe someone at the camp was slicing thick chunks of cool watermelon. Maybe someone who loves you tin-foiled a brownie and tucked it into your backpack for you to find.
You may be beyond camp age, but snacking at the office is not so different. It should still be compact and pick-at-able (arguably the best part of snacking) and not too fragile; refrigeration should not be a priority. Make any of the 20 snacks below for a camper in your life, and pack some for yourself, too:
1. Nekisia Davis' Maple & Olive Oil Granola
Crispy, crunchy, and a little savory, this granola's the shaggiest and cluster-iest in all the land. Try stopping at one handful—we'll give you a prize if you succeed (the prize may or may not be more granola).
2. Savory Crispy Lentils & Pepitas
Kind of like trail mix's older, more sophisticated cousin, these spice-laden lentils with crunchy pumpkin seeds will keep you full and strong on any trek.
3. Single-serving Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cookie
"Single-serving" = the perfect excuse not to share. Luckily, this chocolate and peanut butter cookie takes about five seconds to make, so you can mix together a few more batches for friends.
4. Vegan Goldfish Crackers
Here's childhood standby with a nifty update—cheesy, savory nutritional yeast! We wouldn't say no to a whole big bag.
5. Chocolatey Tahini Cups
You're just two ingredients away from nutty, chocolatey, slightly savory goodness. Yes, two! Top with flaky salt for an impossibly delicious finish.
6. Green Tea Walnuts
Floral, slightly bitter matcha powder is the greatest foil for earthy and just-barely-sweetened walnuts. They get extra crunchy and caramelized in the oven, making for a roasty, toasty, incredible snack.
7. Wasabi Pea Snack Mix
What do you get when you mix Cheez-Its, Rice Chex, Fritos, cashews, and crispy wasabi-coated peas, then toss them in a spiced soy–Sriracha butter? An out-of-this-world snack mix. Make a double batch.
8. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies With Maple & Olive Oil
These chocolate chip cookies are so packed with wholesome, feel-good ingredients, you could easily eat them for breakfast...and lunch...and dinner!
9. Apricot, Date & Cashew Snack Balls
Robust, a little sticky, and just sweet enough, these snack balls will keep you going all afternoon long.
10. Honey-Butter Chip Shortbread Cookies
Can you think of a more craveable cookie? We can't. Crushed honey–butter potato chips are encased in a crumbly, rich, shortbread, and it's all topped with a honeyed glaze and more chips.
11. Sweet & Spicy Pretzel Nut Mix
With a mix of pretzels, cashews, almonds, and a ton of spices, this snack mix is pretty much a grown up version of Chex Mix.
12. Oat Streusel Jam Bars
Recipe developer Emma Laperruque says herself that this recipe couldn't be simpler: "Here, one shaggy dough does double the work: First, as a oatmeal-cookie like foundation. Second, as a streusely topping. Between is a gooey layer of jam." We are totally here for that.
13. Bulgogi Jerky
A road-tripper's (and camper's) snack of choice, but upgraded—with spices, seeds, and sake, too.
14. Pretzel Shortbread Cookies
More shortbread, more pretzels—this time, with their powers combined. And that's not even to speak of the chocolatey drizzle on top.
15. Kettle Corn
Another salty–sweet delight, ideal for crunching and munching. Were nostalgia-vibing hard.
16. Mom's Favorite Blueberry Bran Muffins
Bran muffins can get a bad rap, but you'll want to give them another try with these puppies. They're full of good stuff, like fruit, whole grain flour, and honey—parent-approved, for sure.
17. Five Minute, No-Bake Vegan Granola Bars
Five-minute. No-bake. Filled with nuts, dried fruits, and nut butters of all sorts. Why haven't you made these yet?
18. Around-the-World Coconut Popcorn Mix
Popcorn's back! This time, it's immersed in a spicy, lime-y snack mix, with flaked coconut and roasted peanuts to add even more texture. This one's a standout.
19. Chocolate Mochi Snack Cake
Looking for a flourless chocolate cake that's light, airy, and ever-so-squishy? Look no further than this mochi (or rice flour) cake. It's spry and subtle, and an excellent snack.
20. Lemon Bars With a Salty Olive Oil Crust
The secret to these five-ingredient lemoniest lemon bars? A super-thick homemade lemon curd and a fruity, almost savory olive oil crust. Puckery and just perfect.
This article was originally published in July 2016. It's been updated with even more snacks, so you can keep crunching and munching all summer long.
What's the snack you reach for without abandon? Let us know in the comments!
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