The best sleepover snacks to make or buy

It isn't a sleepover without lashings of sugar, but your snacks don't all have to be decadent. Add some fruity, healthy versions in there too, particularly if you want the kids to actually get some sleep…

This watermelon pizza looks impressive and is super easy to make. Plus, it's ALL fruit so is actually good for your guests!

Get the recipe for watermelon pizza.

Cornflake cakes and Rice Krispies cakes are kids party classics. They're cheap and easy to make, or you can buy a tub of ready-made chocolate crispie bites and let the kids tuck in.

Get the recipe for chocolate Rice Krispie cakes

Ideal for summer sleepovers, these cooling snacks will go down a treat. Simply coat bananas with chocolate and sprinkles and freeze.

Get the recipe for frozen banana pops.

Cupcakes can be a sleepover party activity as well as a snack. Set out some homemade or shop-bought cupcakes and a selection of different coloured icings, toppers and sprinkles and let kids decorate their own.

You could even make it into a competition with a prize for the best decorated cupcake.

Get our easy cupcake recipe here.

Thread a selection of different fruits onto sticks for a tasty fruit kebab.

Get the recipe for fruit kebabs.

If you want to make fruit seem a bit more appealing to kids, just add chocolate!

This easy chocolate dipping sauce only takes 10 minutes to make. Serve with a platter of strawberries, sliced banana, grapes (make sure they're sliced for under fives as they can be a choking hazard) and pineapple.

It also goes perfectly with the fruit kebabs above.

Get the recipe for easy chocolate dipping sauce.

Who doesn't love pick 'n' mix?

Buy a selection of different sweets and place them round the room in bowls for kids to pick their favourites.

Rocky road can be made beforehand – and your kids will probably love to help by putting in their favourite ingredients.

Alternatively you can buy bite-size rocky roads from most supermarkets.

Get the recipe for rocky road for kids.

These iced treats look great and contain plenty of fruit and protein. Perfect for a warm-weather sleepover.

Get the recipe for apple, yoghurt and berry ice lollies.

Once you've got a basic chocolate bark recipe you can come up with your own inventions using different types of chocolates and toppings, from fruit to smarties.

We love this white chocolate recipe and the popping candy adds a touch of surprise the kids will love.

Get the recipe for white chocolate bark with popping candy.

Freakshakes are like turbo-charged ice cream milkshakes topped with cream, sweets, sauces and more. They look super-impressive and kids will love slurping on them while they watch a sleepover movie.

Get the recipe for chocolate freakshakes.

Sandwich nut butter and granola between slices of juicy apple for an easy-to-grab snack. Just make sure you check your guests don't have any nut allergies before serving.

Get the recipe for applewiches.

Whip up a batch of gooey brownies and cut them into bite-sized pieces for a great sleepover snack. If you want to make it easier you can buy brownie mix or ready-made brownies instead.

Get our easy brownies recipe.

Buy a selection of fruit in bright colours and place it on a platter for kids to help themselves. For added wow factor, arrange the fruit to look like a rainbow.

You could use marshmallows or yoghurt to make clouds.

A bowl of marshmallows in different colours looks super pretty. If you're having a summer sleepover and the kids are camping out, you could even toast the marshmallows over a campfire or barbecue – supervised of course.

From crisps and dips to hotdogs and pizza, these are the best snacks to serve at a kids' sleepover. And some of them are even healthy…

A big selection of crisps and some dips is always a winner. Make sure you get some plain crisps as well as flavoured for any fussy eaters.

Doritos, Pringles and pretzels will also go down well.

Or, for a healthier option, why not whip up some easy apple crisps, carrot crisps, or even kale crisps?!

Dips such as hummus are a winner with most kids. Buy ready made or make your own and serve with carrot, cucumber and pepper batons for dipping.

Get the recipe for easy homemade hummus or mix things up with some colourful green pea hummus or beetroot hummus.

Another great dip for parties is guacamole, which is made from nutritionally rich avocados. You can buy this dip in most supermarkets but it's super easy to make your own – and it's much tastier, too.

Get the recipe for homemade guacamole.

If you want to serve hot food, hot dogs are an easy choice. Just buy some buns and hot dogs, heat and serve with ketchup, mustard, salad and toppings of your choice.

Delicious served hot or cold, order in pizzas as a sleepover treat. Alternatively, buy a selection from the supermarket or even have a go at making your own and letting the kids top them.

Get our easy homemade pizza recipe.

A great veggie gluten-free option for picking up and snacking on, falafels are delicious dipped in hummus or a yoghurty dip. You can buy ready made or have a go at crafting your own.

Get the recipe for falafel.

Wraps are great for making large numbers of healthy sandwiches for kids to pick on throughout the evening.

You can make them with any filling you like but a source of protein such as chicken or cheese, some salad, and a sauce, like mayonnaise or hummus, is always a winner.

Some of our favourites include: turkey, carrot and spinach wraps; chicken, coleslaw and hummus wraps; and falafel wraps.

Make sandwiches more appealing for younger kids by using a cookie cutter to create cool shapes, like these banana and peanut butter sarnies. Designed to look like monkeys, they have raisins for nostrils and banana slices for eyes.

Get the recipe for peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

These mini pizza bites are just the right size for snacking on and they're really easy to make.

Just cut out rounds from wholemeal tortillas using a cookie cutter, top with tomato sauce, a sprinkling of cheese, olives or whatever you fancy, and grill.

Get the recipe for tortilla pizza bites.

Most kids like chicken nuggets and they're a good snack to eat with heir hands while they're chatting, playing video games or watching a movie at a sleepover.

You can also get plant-based alternatives for any vegetarian guests.

Plus, they're super quick to bung in the oven straight from the freezer; unless you're feeling super ambitious and want to try our homemade chicken nugget recipe!

Cook up some fries or oven chips as a cheap and easy sleepover snack. If you want to make them more exciting, go for curly fries.

If you want to go all-out, older kids will love these tasty chilli chips – just be sure to make some extra for yourself!

A big bowl of popcorn always goes down well at a sleepover, particularly if the kids are watching a movie. Buy sweet or salty, or even pop your own – kids will love watching – and hearing – it expand.

Or, for a truly decadent treat, why not try our chocolate and yoghurt popcorn recipe?

If your guests are fans of olives, put out a few bowls for them to pick at.

You could also put out bowls of silverskin pickled onions.

Cook up a batch of frozen veggie fingers or fish fingers and serve them cold for kids to snack on. They make great sandwiches, too!

Go retro with a cheese and pineapple hedgehog. Thread chunks of cheddar cheese and tinned pineapple onto cocktail sticks and stick them into a large raw potato wrapped in foil.

You can also add any other bite-size foods such as grapes, sausages, olives, pickled onions and cherry tomatoes.

(Just be careful with serving small round foods to kids under five; always cut the foods in half first, to reduce the risk of choking).