Late-night snacking isn’t the enemy, but some snacks definitely are. The wrong bite before bed can leave you staring at the ceiling, bloated, wired, and regretting your life choices. But that doesn’t mean you have to sip water and pretend it’s dessert. There are plenty of snacks that won’t wreck your sleep or your mood. These options hit the sweet or salty spot without hitting your system like a freight train. Keep them in your back pocket for nights when you’re feeling munchy.

Pieces of dark chocolate bark topped with sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, and other mixed nuts, arranged on a light blue surface.
Photo credit: The Dinner Bell.
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Blueberry Chia Pudding

Blueberry Chia Pudding. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chia seeds do all the work here while you sleep. This pudding takes five minutes to prep and turns into a creamy, fiber-rich snack that won’t mess with your blood sugar before bed.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Chia Pudding

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

Healthy cookie dough bars stacked high on parchment paper.
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These no-bake bars hit the sweet spot with dried cherries and chocolate chips, all held together with cashews. They’re rich but not over the top, making them a great way to curb your sweet tooth at night.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars

Sweet Potato Oat Bars

Sweet potato oat bars stacked on a kitchen towel.
Sweet Potato Oat Bars. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These bars combine oats and mashed sweet potato for a snack that’s filling without being too heavy. You can toss in dried fruit or nuts and still keep it balanced for a post-dinner bite that won’t leave you wired.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Oat Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bites

No bake peanut butter chocolate chip bites in a bowl.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bites. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These bites are made with real ingredients and taste like peanut butter cups without the crash. They’re sweet, simple, and great for winding down without reaching for packaged candy.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bites

Cinnamon Crunch Chickpeas

Cinnamon crunch roasted chickpeas in a bowl with more scattered around.
Cinnamon Crunch Chickpeas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Roasted chickpeas coated in maple syrup, cinnamon, and coconut oil are a great upgrade to the usual sugary snack. They’ve got crunch and just enough sweetness to count as dessert without messing with your sleep cycle.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Crunch Chickpeas

Greek Yogurt Protein Fluff

Greek Yogurt Protein Fluff. Photo credit: LikeHotKeto.

This light and creamy mix takes just a few minutes and hits the spot when you want something sweet but not heavy. It’s packed with protein, which can help keep your blood sugar stable through the night. A great go-to when you’re trying to avoid anything that’ll mess with your sleep.
Get the Recipe: Greek Yogurt Protein Fluff

Homemade Lemon Jello

Homemade Lemon Jello. Photo credit: jellojoy.

Made with real lemon juice and no weird additives, this dessert is bright and light without the sugar crash. It’s the kind of treat that gives you something sweet to end the night without spiking your energy and keeping you awake.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Lemon Jello

Homemade Veggie Chips

Homemade Veggie Chips. Photo credit: Chef’s Pencil.

These are thin-sliced root veggies roasted until crisp. They’ve got crunch, flavor, and just enough salt to feel like a treat. Unlike heavy snacks, these won’t leave you feeling bloated or wired late at night.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Veggie Chips

Frozen Yogurt Bark

Frozen Yogurt Bark. Photo credit: Little Sunny Kitchen.

Frozen yogurt bark is easy to throw together with whatever fruit or nuts you’ve got around. It hits that creamy-crunchy combo without weighing you down. Keep it in the freezer for when you want a sweet snack that won’t mess with your sleep.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Yogurt Bark

Pasta Chips

Pasta Chips. Photo credit: Little Sunny Kitchen.

These crispy little bites are made from cooked bowtie pasta and some pantry spices. They take care of that chip craving without the grease and are perfect if you’re still a little snacky after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Chips

Pineapple Muffins

Pineapple Muffins. Photo credit: Budget Delicious.

These muffins are sweet but not over the top and make a solid option when you want something more than fruit but less than dessert. Great for late evenings when your sweet tooth kicks in but you still want to sleep like a rock.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Muffins

Air Fryer Popcorn

Air Fryer Popcorn. Photo credit: Budget Delicious.

Popcorn made in the air fryer means way less oil but all the crunch. It’s light, salty, and perfect for movie nights that don’t end in heartburn or tossing and turning.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Popcorn

Roasted Cashews

Roasted Cashews. Photo credit: Recipes From A Pantry.

Tossed in spices like cumin and paprika, these roasted cashews are full of flavor but not heavy. They give you that satisfying crunch without the need for a giant bowl of chips. Perfect for winding down with something simple that won’t keep you up.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cashews

Air Fryer Banana Chips

Air Fryer Banana Chips. Photo credit: Recipes From A Pantry.

Banana chips from the air fryer come out crisp with no added junk. They’re naturally sweet and work great as a bedtime snack when you want something crunchy without the sugar rollercoaster.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Banana Chips

Banana Chia Bites

Banana chia mini muffin bites in a blue ceramic basket.
Banana Chia Bites. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These mini banana muffins are naturally sweet and packed with chia seeds for a little boost of fiber. They’re soft, simple, and great for a quick snack when you want something small that won’t mess with your sleep.
Get the Recipe: Banana Chia Bites

Homemade Cheez It’s

Homemade Cheez It’s. Photo credit: Chef Savvy.

These homemade crackers bring the same crunch and cheddar flavor as the boxed kind, but fresher. They’re baked, not fried, and don’t leave you with that heavy, greasy feeling late at night.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cheez It’s

Chocolate Strawberries

Chocolate Strawberries. Photo credit: The All Natural Vegan.

Fresh berries, melted chocolate, and flaky pastry layers come together in this dessert that looks fancy but is surprisingly easy. It’s just rich enough to count as dessert but light enough to not wreck your sleep.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Strawberries

Sourdough Granola

Sourdough Granola. Photo credit: The Feathered Nester.

This is a clever way to use sourdough discard and make crunchy granola packed with oats, nuts, and dried fruit. It’s a solid snack if you’re looking for something that’s got fiber and crunch without weighing you down.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Granola

Strawberry Mousse

Strawberry Mousse. Photo credit: My Rad Kitchen.

Light and airy, this mousse delivers that sweet hit without being too rich. It’s a make-ahead dessert that feels like more than it is, and it won’t leave you tossing and turning after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Mousse

Dark Chocolate Bark with Dates and Nuts

Dark Chocolate Bark with Dates and Nuts. Photo credit: The Dinner Bell.

This bark is made with dark chocolate, nuts, and dates, so it brings sweetness with some real nutrition. The fiber and magnesium help balance blood sugar, making it a smart late-night snack that works with your body, not against it.
Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Bark with Dates and Nuts

Creamy Whipped Cottage Cheese Dessert

Creamy Whipped Cottage Cheese Dessert. Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

With just cottage cheese, maple syrup, and vanilla, this dessert checks the box for something sweet and protein-rich. It’s creamy, light, and won’t spike your blood sugar before bed.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Whipped Cottage Cheese Dessert

Fresh Fruit Salsa

Fresh Fruit Salsa. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

This simple mix of chopped fruit is a great way to satisfy a craving without turning to processed snacks. It’s fresh, fast, and perfect when you want something light and naturally sweet after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salsa

Crispy Air Fryer Beet Chips

Crispy Air Fryer Beet Chips. Photo credit: Eat Your Beets.

Beets crisp up beautifully in the air fryer and keep that slightly sweet, earthy flavor. These chips feel like a snack but don’t have the junk that can mess with your sleep later.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Beet Chips

Frozen Yogurt Berry Bark

Frozen Yogurt Berry Bark. Photo credit: Recipes for Toddlers.

This bark is a freezer staple made with yogurt and whatever berries you have on hand. It’s quick to make, great for kids and adults, and works as a cool, late-night bite that doesn’t feel like too much.
Get the Recipe: Frozen Yogurt Berry Bark

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas. Photo credit: Foodess.

These chickpeas come out crispy and packed with flavor thanks to simple pantry spices. They’re great to set out after dinner when you want a snack that isn’t going to keep you wired or ruin your sleep later.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

Founder and Writer at  | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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