List of snack foods


This is a list of snack foods in alphabetical order by type and name. A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. This may be a snack food, such as almonds or baby carrots, or even an occasional potato chip, but can also simply be a small amount of any food.

Batter and dough-based

Many cultures have dishes that are prepared by cooking batter and deep frying dough in many various forms.
NameImageOriginDescription
BitterballenNetherlandsA round shaped beef-ragout version of croquette, typically containing a mixture of beef or veal, beef broth, butter, flour for thickening, parsley, salt and pepper, resulting in a thick ragout. Most recipes include nutmeg and there are also variations utilizing curry powder or that add in finely chopped vegetables such as carrot.
BondaSouth IndiaVarious sweet and spicy versions of exist different regions. The process of making a spicy bonda involves deep-frying potato filling dipped in gram flour batter.
CerealUnited StatesA food made from processed grains that is often eaten cold, usually mixed with milk, juice, water, or yogurt, sugar, and sometimes fruit, but may be eaten dry.
CokodokMalaysia, Brunei, SingaporeA traditional Malaysian fritter snack that is made with flour and banana, and is fried. It is usually round in shape and tends to vary in size.
Cracker nutsJapanA snack food produced with peanuts that are coated in a wheat flour dough and then fried or deep-fried
CrêpeFranceA type of very thin pancake, usually made from wheat flour or buckwheat flour. The word is of French origin, deriving from the Latin crispa, meaning "curled".
CroquetteSpainA Spanish invention with worldwide popularity, a croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes and/or ground meat, shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sauteed onions or mushrooms, boiled eggs.
DoughnutNetherlandsA fried dough snack popular in most parts of the world
GulhaSouth AsiaA popular snack in Maldives
Khanom buangThailandA snack sold by street vendors in Thailand
PakoraIndiaA fried snack found across South Asia
PancakesAncient Greece, Ancient RomeFlat, soda-leavened semi-sweet cake made with egg and flour. In the United States, pancakes are typically eaten at breakfast with syrup, fruit and yogurt.
Parippu VadaKerala Traditional dal fritters
Pazham PoriKerala Traditional banana fritters
PizzaNaples, ItalyFlat bread with meat, vegetable and/or cheese toppings. Pizza is often eaten as pizza by the slice, "mini pizza" or "pizza baguette," and is often sold by the slice or by weight
PoffertjesNetherlandsA traditional Dutch batter treat
Pretzel, softGerman Italian-AmericanA traditional baked treat
Tele-bhaja India, BangladeshBengali fritters; a famous deep-fried snack made with vegetables and besan
Uzhunnu VadaIndian subcontinentPopular in South Indian states like Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka
WaffleBelgiumA batter-based or dough-based cake cooked in a waffle iron patterned to give a characteristic size, shape and surface impression. There are many variations based on the type of iron and recipe used, with over a dozen regional varieties in Belgium alone.

Confectionery

is related to food items that are rich in sugar and often referred to as confections. Confectionery refers to the art of creating sugar based dessert forms, or subtleties, often with pastillage.
NameImageOriginDescription
BrittleA type of confection consisting of flat broken pieces of hard sugar candy embedded with nuts such as pecans, almonds, or peanuts. Pictured is peanut brittle cracked on a serving dish
IndiaA type of confection made with traditional spicy sour treat made with tamarind, jaggery, Chili and curry leaves. Made by hand in small rural kitchens.
BubblegumUnited StatesA type of chewing gum, designed to be inflated out of the mouth as a . As with chewing gum, the product is made from chicle and is available in various flavors.
CandyAlso known as "lollies", many diverse candies exist, which include candy cane, candy corn, gumdrop, gummi bear, gummi candy, jawbreaker, jelly baby, jelly bean, licorice, lollipop, rock candy and taffy.
ChocolateChocolate has been used as a drink for nearly all of its history, and has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world. Sweet chocolate such as milk chocolate and dark chocolate are typically eaten as a snack food, as opposed to unsweetened chocolate, which contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions.
Chocolate barA confection in bar form comprising some or all of the following components: cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, milk. The relative presence or absence of these components form the subclasses of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.
Chocolate rugelachJewishPrepared with a cream cheese dough and a filling consisting of chocolate, jam and cinnamon. The addition of raisins and nuts and raisins is also common.
Chocolate truffleFranceA type of chocolate confectionery, traditionally made with a chocolate ganache centre coated in chocolate, icing sugar, cocoa powder or chopped toasted nuts, usually in a spherical, conical, or curved shape. Other fillings may replace the ganache.
FudgeUnited StatesTypically sweet and rich, it's prepared by mixing sugar, butter, and milk, heating it to the soft-ball stage at and then beating the mixture while it cools so that it acquires a smooth, creamy consistency. Many variations exist with other flavorings added, such as chocolate.
GeplakIndonesiaMade from equal parts coarsely grated coconut and sugar, in equal amounts, often colored brightly. Other variations exist.
Grass jellyChinaA jelly-like dessert prepared by boiling the aged and slightly oxidized stalks and leaves of Mesona chinensis with potassium carbonate for several hours with a little starch and then cooling the liquid to a jelly-like consistency.
MarshmallowIn its modern form, typically consists of sugar and/or corn syrup, water, and gelatin, whipped to a spongy consistency and coated with corn starch. Marshmallow probably came first into being as a medicinal substance, since the mucilaginous extracts comes from the root of the marshmallow plant, Althaea officinalis, which were used as a remedy for sore throats. Concoctions of other parts of the marshmallow plant had medical purposes as well.
MarzipanConsisting primarily of sugar or honey and almond meal, sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract. Pictured is marzipan made into the shapes of fruits.
NougatA variety of similar traditional confectioneries made with sugar and/or honey, roasted nuts, whipped egg whites, and sometimes chopped candied fruit.
PanforteItalyA traditional Italian dessert containing fruits and nuts, and resembles fruitcake or Lebkuchen. It may date back to 13th century Siena, in Italy's Tuscany region. Its preparation includes baking a mixture of sugar dissolved in honey, various nuts, fruits and spices and flour. The finished cake is dusted with icing sugar.
PuddingMost often refers to a dessert, but can also be a savory dish. Depending on its ingredients such a pudding may be served as a part of the main course or as a dessert.
Rice Krispie treatsUnited StatesA sweet dessert or snack made from Rice Krispies, melted butter or margarine, and melted marshmallows. Sometimes marshmallows and/or cereal that is seasonal is used to make these treats holiday-specific.
S'moresUnited StatesA traditional nighttime campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada consisting of a roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.
ToffeeMade by caramelizing sugar or molasses along with butter, and occasionally flour. Toffee is sometimes prepared with nuts or raisins.
Turkish delightTurkeyA family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios and hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; the cheapest are mostly gel, generally flavored with rosewater, mastic, bergamot orange or lemon.

Cookies, cakes and pastries

Cookies

Cakes

NameImageOriginDescription
GansitoMexicoA Mexican snack cake that is filled with both strawberry jelly and a creamy filling. They are covered in chocolate and have a chocolate sprinkle topping. It was created in 1957 by Marinela.
Jaffa CakesScotlandIntroduced by McVitie and Price in 1927 and named after Jaffa oranges, and now manufactured by numerous companies including McVities, Cadbury and other biscuit manufacturers, Tesco and other supermarket chains.
Snack cakeA baked dessert confectionery made with cake and icing.

Pastries

NameImageOriginDescription
ChurrosSometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut, it's a fried-dough pastry, predominantly choux, based snack. Churros are popular in Spain, Italy, France, the Philippines, Portugal, Central America, South America and the United States. Pictured are churros drizzled with chocolate.
Fairy bread
Fruit bun
PastryPictured is a profiterole, also known as a cream puff.
Scones
Snack pie
Toaster pastry

Drinks

NameImageOriginDescription
AmazakeJapanA traditional sweet, low- or non-alcohol Japanese drink made from fermented rice. Amazake dates from the Kofun period, and it is mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest book of classical Japanese history.
Atole
CoffeeEthiopia; southern ArabiaA beverage prepared from the dried seeds of Coffea species. It contains caffeine, a mild stimulant. It is often consumed with sugar and milk mixed in.
Colada morada
Energy drinks
Flavored milkSuch Flavors include Chocolate, Strawberry, And even Flavors like Rose, or Banana.
Horchata
JuiceA beverage prepared from the forced extraction of liquids from fruit and vegetables.
Kefir
Malted milk
Milkshake
Root beer
Root beer float
Sikhye
Soft drinks
Smoothie
Sports drinks
TamagozakeJapanConsists of heated sake, sugar and a raw egg
TeaUsually consumed warm. It contains hot water, a teabag for flavour, and sometimes milk and sugar is added.
TejuinoJalisco, MexicoA cold beverage made from fermented corn. It is often served with a scoop of shaved ice.

Frozen

NameImageOriginDescription
Frozen custardConey Island, New YorkA cold dessert similar to ice cream, but made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. It was invented in Coney Island, New York in 1919, when ice cream vendors Archie and Elton Kohr found that adding egg yolks to ice cream created a smoother texture and helped the ice cream stay cold longer. In their first weekend on the boardwalk, the Kohr brothers sold 18,460 cones.
Ice creamChinaA frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. The meaning of the phrase "ice cream" varies from one country to another. Phrases such as "frozen custard", "frozen yogurt", "sorbet", "gelato" and others are used to distinguish different varieties and styles. In some countries, such as the United States, the phrase "ice cream" applies only to a specific variety, and most governments regulate the commercial use of the various terms according to the relative quantities of the main ingredients. In other countries, such as Italy and Argentina, one word is used for all variants.
Ice popSan FranciscoA water-based frozen snack that is made by freezing flavored liquid around a stick. The first recorded ice pop was created in 1905 by 11-year-old Frank Epperson of San Francisco, who left a glass of soda water powder and water outside in his back porch with a wooden mixing stick in it. In the United States and Canada frozen ice on a stick is generically referred to as a popsicle due to the early popularity of the Popsicle brand. In Ireland the product is also referred to as a freeze pop. In the United Kingdom the term ice lolly is used. Ice block is used in parts of Australia and New Zealand, as well as icy pole, after a brand of the same name.
MilkshakeA sweet, cold beverage which is usually made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce. Outside the United States, the drink is sometimes called a "thickshake" or a "thick milkshake" or in New England, a "frappe". When the term "milkshake" was first used in print in 1885, milkshakes were an alcoholic whiskey drink that has been described as a "sturdy, healthful eggnog type of drink, with eggs, whiskey, etc., served as a tonic as well as a treat". However, by 1900, the term referred to "wholesome drinks made with chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrups." By the "early 1900s people were asking for the new treat, often with ice cream."

Natural snacks

Fruits and vegetables

Bars

Bread/sandwiches

NameImageOriginDescription
BagelPolandA bread product, traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, roughly hand-sized, which is first boiled for a short time in water and then baked.
BreadEgypt; Europe
ButerbrodRussia, UkraineAn open sandwich
ButterbrotGermanyAn open sandwich
Croissant
Croutons
Fried bakeCaribbeanA type of bread usually eaten with saltfish
Gua-baoTaiwanConsists of a slice of stewed meat and other condiments sandwiched between flat steamed bread
HouskaCzech RepublicLiterally knitted bread
LavashArmeniaTraditional staple food of Armenian cuisine - soft thin bread. In 2014, "lavash, the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia" was inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Open sandwichOne slice of bread with a topping or toppings
PastaPictured is cavatappi with pesto.
SandwichA snack typically consisting of two or more slices of bread with one or more fillings between them
SmørrebrødDenmark, NorwayAn open sandwich
Tea sandwichUnited KingdomA tea-time snack with the crust removed
TortillaA flatbread made from corn or wheat
TotopoOaxacaA flatbread made from corn

Cheese

NameImageOriginDescription
American cheeseUnited StatesA processed cheese from the U.S. American cheese was originally only white, but is now sometimes modified to be yellow-colored. Today it is typically manufactured from a set of ingredients such as milk, whey, milkfat, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, and salt.
CheeseA generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Pictured is a plate of assorted cheeses.
Cream cheese
KorbáčikyOrava region of SlovakiaA type of string cheese
Oaxaca cheeseMexicoA semi-hard string cheese
ObatzdaBavariaA cheese delicacy
Parmesan cheese
Processed cheeseAlso called "cheese food"; a food product made from normal cheese and sometimes other unfermented dairy ingredients, plus emulsifiers, extra salt, food colorings, or whey
String cheeseUnited StatesSnack-sized servings of low-moisture mozzarella

Chips/crisps

Crackers/biscuits

NameImageOriginDescription
Animal crackerA small cracker or cookie baked in the shape of an animal, usually an animal one might see at a zoo. The most common variety is light-colored and slightly sweet, but darker chocolate-flavored and colorful frosted varieties are also manufactured.
ArareSmall Japanese rice crackers
Bagel chips
CrackersPictured are water biscuits with toppings.
Hardtack
Knäckebröd
Lavash
Oyster cracker
Rice cracker
Senbei
Soda cracker
Water biscuit

Meat-based

NameImageOriginDescription
BaconA cured meat prepared from a pig, bacon is prepared from several different cuts of meat.
Çiğ köfte
Corn dog
Dried cuttlefish
Dried fish
Dried squid
Fish such as fried fish
Hot dogs
Jerky
Kibbeh nayyeh
Omelet
Oysters
Pickled herring
Soused herring

Noodles

NameImageOriginDescription
Bombay mixBombay mix is the name used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for a traditional Indian snack known as chiwda, chevdo, bhuso, chevda or chivdo in India, or Chanāchura in Odisha and chanachur in Bengal. It consists of a variable mixture of spicy dried ingredients, which may include fried lentils, peanuts, chickpea flour noodles, corn, vegetable oil, chickpeas, flaked rice, fried onion and curry leaves.
Cup NoodlesA well-known brand of instant ramen noodle snack manufactured by Nissin, packaged in a foam food container, hard plastic or paper cup. Other brand names are used in specific countries, such as Cup Noodle in Japan.
Instant noodlesInvented by Momofuku Ando of Nissin Foods, Japan.dried or precooked noodles and are often sold with packets of flavoring including seasoning oil. Dried noodles are usually eaten after being cooked or soaked in boiling water, while precooked noodles can be reheated or eaten straight from the packet.
RamenA Japanese noodle dish that consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork, chāshū, dried seaweed, nori, kamaboko, green onions, and occasionally corn.