There is no craving like a snack craving. All is calm and then whammo, the snack thunderclap hits you and all you can think about is food.
But not just any food. Snack cravings are veeery particular. You either want sweet or savoury. You want crunch or melt. You rarely want both.
One thing is certain, whatever you want, you want it now. This is where these legendary snack hacks come into their own. Each of them should reduce the time from craving to cramming nicely.
Ready, set, snack.
Springy pancakes
When you're craving the unique flaky-chew that is the spring onion pancake, but you can't be fussed making a dough, puff is your go-to. A little technique, plenty of spring onions and you'll be munching your way through a stack of these favourites in no time at all.
Egg rollin'
The secret to an easy seaweed egg roll is ensuring you distribute the oil through the pan evenly. A bit of paper towel will see you right, then it's a matter of minutes until this lunchbox staple is ready to roll.
Flashy flan
Taste buds at the ready - flan is incoming. No need to wait around forever for baking/setting/resting time. You can make this version in the microwave in a mug. Gotta love a hack that delivers your snack in five minutes flat.
Vinegar crisp
Pouring vinegar on your roast potatoes results in a taste like no other, but it also results in soggy potatoes. Not cool. But what if you boiled your spuds in vinegar before roasting? Utter genius!
Chip off
Layering spring roll wrappers with nori sheets and then deep-frying them is exactly the kind of Poh hack we've come to love. These snappy nori chips are unbelievably moreish, but luckily they are so cheap and easy you'll happily make thousands.
Biscuit rush
You want to smash an entire packet of biscuits, but, alas, you were much better behaved the last time you were at the supermarket. No biscuits in stock. Fear not, snacky soul, you can rustle these three-ingredient babies up in a speedy 10 minutes.
Pasteli crack
Getting the crunch of your pasteli just right can be tricky, but not when you hack your honey. The trick is to simmer the honey mixture long enough to strengthen the bond of the honey glue – too short a simmer and your bars will be soft, not crunchy (though still delicious).
Mayo be so bold
Ploughing your way through a bowl of crumbed chicken strips is a pastime all on its own. The way to optimise is to use mayo instead of egg to hold your crumb coating. Not only does mayo make the perfect crumb binder, but it also adds sweetness and richness to the finished snack.
Sweet crunch
If you've never been able to get your baked sweet potato fries crispy, hear this. You need to pre-blanche them, drain them, refresh them with cold water and then drain super well. Now they're ready to crisp up in the oven.
Ice cream cheater
Oh, the horror of craving ice cream but not having any ice cream. Sure, we're often up for a late-night dash to the shops to rectify that, but not always. With Donna Hay's two-ingredient caramel ice-cream cheat plus roughly 3-4 hours chilling time, we're, um, sorted.
Quick muse
Two ingredients - two! - bake into a muesli bar that would satisfy even the most devoted Uncle Toby's fan. Considering one of the ingredients is condensed milk, you can be sure the fat-sugar ratio will be sufficiently up there.
“This is a really fab refined sugar-less healthy snack to make for the family – it also makes a great gift. I like to wrap the centres of the bars with a strip of baking paper tied on with kitchen string, so you can pick them up without getting sticky fingers.” Poh Ling Yeow, Poh & Co. 2
Condensed fudge
Buy two cans of that condensed milk, because you'll want the extra one to make this two-ingredient fudge. The best bit? No sugar thermometer needed here.
Scrap that
Turn leftover veggies into seedy crackers with a satisfying crunch. Could this be the ultimate snack hack?
These fritters are a really quick and easy way to escape a routine toast-based brekkie. They’re delicious served with sour cream and chutney, with chilli sauce, on their own, or as part of a brunch spread - however you like!
I make these often. They’re tasty, everyone loves them and they are easy to throw together. You can also substitute chicken for paneer. If you are in a hurry, you can buy tortilla wraps and cut them in half, but homemade wraps are cheaper and tastier.
These bite-size fried jalapeño peppers pack a punch with habanero and chipotle sauces stirred through the cream cheese filling, and the layer of bacon is a smoky, salty surprise.
The secret to a good chip should be no surprise. Good spuds, good fat and care in the cooking. That said, they’re dead easy to make once you know the routine.
Theses delicious sticky rice cakes are often served in Vietnam as an accompaniment to grilled chicken or sweet crisp roasted duck but are just as delicious served solo, as a snack, dredged in sugar or icing sugar. Note that a wok is the best cooking vessel to use here and that using a cooking thermometer is by far the safest and most accurate way to monitor the temperature of your oil.
Sipping on malted milk milkshakes and playing dominos is a vivid childhood memory. These biscuits combine the two and kids will love not only creating them, but also playing with them as they snack — all you need is a glass of milk!
Mochi, delightfully chewy, mellow little pillows of rice-based dough often filled with nut, seed or sweet bean mixtures, get their name from mochigome, a particular strain of glutinous rice. Traditionally, the cooked rice is pounded to make the dough but glutinous rice flour (easily purchased from Asian grocers) mixed with water can be used instead.
Smoky paprika popcorn combined with almonds and chorizo baked until crisp. Get everything in one bite.
