It's that time of year again, where kids are off to school. You're running out of ideas for lunches, especially sweets. Check out this comprehensive recipe roundup for (literally) dozens of fun ideas! (The kids are gonna love these!)
What can I Put in my Kid's Lunchbox?
The age-old question! For those of us who've been around long enough, we can remember PB&J sandwiches, chips, apples, and so on.
Sometimes, if we were lucky, mom would throw in a Rice Crispy treat. (Homemade, of course!)
Or, maybe, if she'd been baking, we might have Oatmeal cookies or even Snickerdoodles. I was a huge fan of my Mama's Chocolate Chip cookies, of course. And her Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies were out of this world.
The possibilities were endless.
These days? Well, let's just say that most kids get store-bought goodies in their lunch boxes. And let's be honest: there are a lot of them to choose from, cleverly packaged to make kids drool.
But I'm still of the opinion that homemade is best, especially when it comes to desserts. With that in mind, I've reached out to dozens of food bloggers to ask for their personal favorites.
With their help, I've compiled a Master List of Lunchbox desserts, perfect to pack in your kiddo's lunch!
There are healthy options, fun options, colorful options, and creative options! In short, you'll find plenty to choose from here.
Packing Lunches can be Fun!
Once you see the list we've come up with, you're going to get really excited! There are cookies, bars, snack cakes, even gummies!
Not only will you be able to offer the kids homemade options, you can even ask them to help you make them the day ahead!
Or, spend Sunday baking up sweet treats for the week ahead. (Fun, right? Baking with Kids is one of my favorite things to do.)
No matter how or when you mix them up, these desserts will sure come in handy when you're packing that lunchbox.
Why You’ll Love These Lunchbox Desserts
- Kid-Friendly: Tested and loved by little ones.
- Portable: Perfect for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, or bake sales.
- Quick & Easy: Recipes come together fast with simple ingredients.
- Versatile: Options include cookies, brownies, bars, muffins, and no-bake treats.
- Budget-Friendly: Make homemade snacks for less than store-bought.
So, what are we waiting for? Let's check out these fun lunchbox dessert options!
60 Simple Lunchbox Desserts
Enjoy this master list of fun lunchbox desserts!
Puff Pastry Cream Horns
The kids are going to flip when they open their lunch box and find these luscious cream horns inside!
Easy Healthy Sugar-free Twix Bars--GF with Vegan and No Bake Options
These Homemade Twix Bars are a super tasty and healthy alternative option to the popular candy bar. They're easy to make as well!
Easy S'Mores Truffles
If you love the taste of S'Mores around a campfire but you're feeling fancy, have I got a treat for you! This truffle recipe will give you the flavors you love in tiny bite-sized pieces! They're perfect for a school lunchbox!
Air Fryer Dehydrated Blueberries
These sweet, crispy, healthy dehydrated blueberries make a wonderful lunchbox dessert. This recipe includes oven and dehydrator instructions if you don’t have an air fryer.
Air Fryer Dehydrated Strawberries
These easy, sweet, crispy dehydrated strawberries are a perfect lunchbox dessert. This recipe includes oven and dehydrator instructions, too!
Air Fryer Donut Holes
Air Fryer Donut Holes are a sweet way to enjoy fall. This version uses pumpkin and are easy to make in your air fryer. These would be great to serve before trick-or-treating or as a weekend snack!
Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies
Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies. This is how Scotland does cookies with lots of oats and a caramel flavour.
Canned Frosting Fudge
If you’re looking for the world’s simplest fudge recipe, you’ve come to the right place. This recipe starts with two simple ingredients: chocolate chips and canned frosting.
Cranberry Orange Granola
Cranberry Orange Granola is a delicious healthy breakfast or snack you can take anywhere.
Easy Cake Mix Sugar Cookies
Easy Cake Mix Sugar Cookies uses 3 simple ingredients to create the perfect holiday sugar cookie. These make a great base for adding other things to them like sprinkles, icing or candy. Your kids or santa will love these!
Easy Sugar-free Keto Mounds Bars--Keto, Vegan, and Oh So Delicious!
With a tasty and creamy coconut filling and an excellent dark chocolate covering, these Sugar-Free Mounds Bars make a very healthy alternative to the popular candy bar.
Perfect Easy Brownies (from scratch)
You're going to love this simple from-scratch brownie recipe perfect for school lunches!
Easy Vegan Biscoff Tiffin
Chocolate tiffin has always been popular, but you have to try this Scottish vegan Biscoff tiffin. Super easy to make and so, so delicious. Kids love it
Strawberry Fluffies (Strawberry Crinkle Cookies)
Simple, delicious, and oh, so memorable! Your kids are going to really go crazy over these delicious strawberry cookies!
Energy Balls?{11?Ways!}
From almond joy to cherry chocolate chip, here are 11 different flavors of energy balls to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Enough to pack a different flavor in those lunchboxes every day for over 2 weeks!
Fruit and Nut Snack Bars
These fruit and nut snack bars are tasty, chewy and crammed full of fruits, nuts and seeds. Taking less than an hour to make they make a great healthy snack in between meals at only 200 calories each
Funfetti Cookie Bars - Start with a Cake Mix
Who doesn't love a dessert with sprinkles?!
Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers
These chocolate covered graham crackers are better than store-bought and ready to brighten up your next special day.
Healthy Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Bites
These snickerdoodle cookie dough balls are super easy to make and taste so great! Super healthy as well.
Homemade Blueberry Pop Tarts
You won't believe how incredibly easy and mess-free it is to whip up your own Homemade Blueberry Pop Tarts! These scrumptious treats are perfect for lunch box desserts!
No Bake Cookie Dough Bites (Vegan, Gluten Free) - Hello Spoonful
When you are feeling lazy and don’t want a whole batch of cookies, make these no bake cookie dough bites instead! Safe, edible, no eggs, vegan friendly, and gluten free!
No Bake Date Bars - Vegan, Gluten Free & Healthy Recipe
These healthy no bake date bars are great for breakfast and as a snack! Make with only whole ingredients and all you need is a blender!
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Have you ever had a hankering for something sweet but couldn't quite put your finger on what you really wanted? These chocolate chip blondies are perfect for days like that! Not quite a cookie, not quite a brownie, not quite a cookie bar. Gooey, chewy, and crisp on the edges. . .they are (in a word) perfect.
Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
The best oat flour chocolate chip cookies with crisp edges, soft gooey centers, and plenty of chocolate chips. You won't be able to stop at just one.
Protein Fruity Pebbles Rice Crispy Treats
These Protein Fruity Pebbles Rice Crispy Treats are a fun take on the classic rice krispie treats and are made with just a few simple ingredients!
Strawberry Cheesecake Bars with Crescent Rolls
These are so delicious and loaded with berry flavor. Perfect to send in the kids' lunchbox!
Scottish Fresh Blueberry Oat Flapjacks
Scottish oaty snack bars studded with fresh blueberries, banana and seeds for a healthier snack.
Old-Fashioned Divinity
Kids are going to love this light, delicious candy. (They'll be the envy of the school lunchroom, for sure!)
Semi-Homemade Strawberry Whoopie Pies Recipe
Our Semi-Homemade Strawberry Whoopie Pies Recipe is the perfect sweet treat that takes only minutes to prepare! Everyone will love this easy dessert recipe! These strawberry whoopie pies are made with a box cake mix.
Flaky Pie Crust Cinnamon Rolls (with Maple Glaze)
These are crisp and delicious--lovely little pastries, perfect for lunchboxes!
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting (Mother-in-Law Approved!)
You could make up a batch of dough, cut out for different holidays all at once, then freeze them to bake and decorate later.
Striped Chocolate Popcorn
Striped Chocolate Popcorn is a buttery, salty, sweet, chocolate, white chocolate candy coated pretzel and pecan loaded popcorn treat!
Vegan Biscoff Oat Bars
homemade cookie bars are a no-bake fridge cake perfect for lunch boxes.
Healthy Strawberry Gummies (Homemade Fruit Snacks)
Delicious homemade gummies? Yes, please! This easy recipe looks delicious and fun!
No Bake Cinnamon Toast Crunch Bars Recipe
A no-bake crunch bar using Cinnamon Toast Crunch? Yum! These look absolutely divine!
German Chocolate Cake Cookies
If you love German Chocolate cake but want it in cookie form, do I have a treat for you! You’ll love these sweeter-than-coconut sandwich cookies, stuffed with coconut pecan frosting!
Easy No Bake Texas Sheet Cake Bites
These Texas Cheesecake Bites would be perfect for a lunchbox dessert!
Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix
No doubt the kids will love these Red Velvet Brownies, which start with a box of cake mix. (Simple is great, especially when you're in a hurry.)
Fruity Pebbles Cereal Bars - The Short Order Cook
Quick, easy. . .and oh so tasty! These cereal bars featuring Fruity Pebbles look divine and the kids are sure to love them.
Pumpkin Pie Crescent Rolls
Any dessert recipe that starts with a can of cresecent rolls is all right with me! Check out this easy and fun idea featuring a fall favorite. . .pumpkin!
Simple Pecan Pie Bars
Pecan pie in bar form? Yes, please! These are easy to bake, easy to serve, and perfect for transporting to school in a lunch box.
Biscoff Rice Krispie Treats
These Biscoff Rice Krispie Treats take your basic rice krispie treat recipe up a few notches by adding in Biscoff cookie crumbs, cookie butter, and vanilla pudding powder. They’re so quick and easy to make, taste amazing, and loved by kids and adults alike!
Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars
There are simply no words to describe the delicious flavor (and texture) in these cookie bars. They're definitely the best!
No Bake Rocky Road Avalanche Bars
These Rocky Road Avalanche Bars are filled with chocolate, nut butter, rice krispies cereal, and marshmallows. This recipe is no bake, no fuss, and no-one can resist them!
Mini Churros Donuts ( Gluten-free+Vegan)
This Mini Churros Donuts recipe is surprisingly very easy to make, and the batter just requires 6 ingredients.
Granny’s Goody Bars Recipe
These will satisfy your sweet tooth cravings in a jiffy! The top layer remains gooey and is so delicious.
Easy Butterfinger Cookies
In this post I’m going to share my personal recipe for Butterfinger Cookies. They’re rich with peanut butter and chocolate lavor, loaded with texture, and simple to make!
Easy No Bake Avalanche Cookies That You Can Make in Minutes
Fall in love with these easy avalanche cookies for a tasty treat that you can make in minutes. Here’s how to make them!
Chocolate Orange Slices
These chocolate orange slices are a tasty, easy to make dessert. Candied orange slices dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt or chopped nuts.
Vegan Mini Lemon Loaves
Vegan mini lemon loaves are dainty, bite-sized versions of lemon drizzle cake. They’re fluffy and flavourful, with just the right balance of sweet and sour. I think they’d make a super cute addition to any tea party!
Easy Hot Chocolate Cookies
If you love the cozy taste of a cup of hot chocolate but you’re in the mood for cookies, I’ve got the perfect treat for you! In this recipe I’m going to show you how to make Hot Chocolate Cookies—perfect for any occasion!
Healthy Date Bars Recipe (with video)
These healthy date bars are made with three ingredients that are no-bake, gluten-free, and refined sugar free.
Rice Krispie Treat Christmas Ornaments
The kids are going to flip when they discover these edible Christmas ornaments in their lunch kit!
Chocolate Covered Oreos Using a Mold
These are delicious and fun to make. The kids can help! And they're perfect for a school lunchbox!
Mary Berry Fork Biscuits (aka “The World’s Simplest Cookie")
This is the world's simplest cookie, friends! Perfect for school lunches!
Simple Chocolate Chip Scones
So simple and delicious! The kids will love opening up their lunch box to discover these chocolate chip scones inside!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze these desserts for later?
Yes! Many of these recipes freeze well. Wrap individually for grab-and-go convenience.
How long do these treats last in a lunchbox?
Many will stay fresh for 2–3 days in an airtight container, but sturdier cookies and bars can last up to a week.
Are there nut-free options?
Yes — try recipes like sugar cookies, brownies, or fruit bars for safe, nut-free lunchbox treats.
How do I keep desserts from getting soggy in a lunchbox?
Use parchment or wax paper between layers, and pack wetter items (like fruit) separately.
Can I make these recipes healthier?
Absolutely — swap in whole wheat flour, reduce sugar, or add fruit for natural sweetness.
That’s it for this post, friends! If you make any of these delicious recipes and love them, don’t forget to leave a review on the page!