Craving something sweet? Here are 7 irresistible homemade treats under $10

“Now I need something sweet” is a sentence I say too often. I need a treat after dinner and while watching a show or movie. I had to find a way to cut down on snack spending, but I couldn’t give it up completely.

So I worked around it and gave myself a $10 budget for treats. That meant making something at home with the ingredients I bought (I’m an amateur baker). Here are 7 homemade treats under $10, most of which use boxed mix ingredients. Prices may vary by location, but this is what I usually pay.

Disclosure: I received a free sample of Nestlé Toll House Milk Chocolatey Flavored Soccer Ball Morsels.

Chocolate chip cookies with soccer-shaped morsels (Nestlé Toll House)

When I learned that Nestlé Toll House has a limited-edition chocolate chip cookie dough with soccer ball morsels, my family and I immediately said we’re baking this weekend. You can see the soccer ball lines in the morsels; they’re so cute.

As a sports fan, I love it when brands get into the season spirit and create food that can easily be added to tables at watch parties. Nestlé Toll House cookie dough has been a part of my life since childhood. We bake cookies for any and every occasion in my family.

Price: Nestlé Toll House Milk Chocolatey Flavored Soccer Ball Morsels ($5.79), Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with Soccer Ball Morsels ($4.99)

Strawberries and Cool Whip

I love strawberries; they’re one of my favorite fruits to eat in the Spring and Summer. When I want them sweeter, I eat them with a couple scoops of Cool Whip. This is one of the most refreshing snacks I choose to make most often.

What I buy: Driscoll’s Strawberries, or any brand ($4.99–$6.99), Cool Whip original ($3.49, 8oz)

PB&J graham cracker sandwiches

Remember those PB&J sandwich crackers we got for lunch at school? I sometimes crave them and made my own version once. It wasn’t as good as the official one, but it wasn’t bad either.

What I buy: Smucker’s Goober Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Stripes ($3.94), Honey Maid Graham Crackers ($3.97)

Cake bars with your preferred icing

My definition of a cake bar differs from the official one. I use yellow cake mix, pour it into a square pan, bake, then cut it into rectangles or squares. I love lemon icing, so that’s my go-to topping!

What I buy: Betty Crocker Yellow Super Moist cake mix ($2.79), Duncan Hines Creamy Lemon Supreme Frosting ($2.89)

Taffy grapes

This is a popular Chicago-area treat that I absolutely love! We use fresh, cold green grapes, dip them halfway in white almond bark (or white chocolate) or caramel, then roll them in crushed peanuts. It’s so good and refreshing!

What I buy: 1lb of green grapes ($1.49-$3.49), Vanilla Almond Bark ($6.79), Crushed Peanuts ($1.59, 2.1 oz, Meijer brand)

Funnel cake

I tried a funnel cake for the first time at a Winter Wonderland fest when I was younger and got hooked! I use yellow cake mix and pour it into a Ziploc Sandwich Bag. Cut the corner off and pour it into your pan. Get ready to deep fry!

What I buy: Betty Crocker Yellow Super Moist cake mix ($2.79), Ziploc Sandwich Bag 50 count ($3.49)

Muffins

My grandma used to make muffins from scratch, and I hope to get there one day. For now, my favorite muffin mix is the Betty Crocker chocolate chip mix and the cinnamon-flavored mix.

What I buy: Betty Crocker chocolate chip mix ($3.89, 14.75 oz)

For treats with mixes, you might need butter, eggs, vegetable oil, or milk. I didn’t include those costs because I usually have them at home. To save even more money, sometimes I get generic (store-brand) products instead of well-known brands.

Image credits: Nestlé Toll House, Lashaunta Moore/Compliment Magazine, Pexels (Strawberries)