Bar snacks are a great (if not necessary) addition to any home bar. By bar snacks, we mean something that you can munch on in between drinks.
In your local pub or bar, you may find crisps, nuts, and pork scratching. Although you can add these to your home bar, there are plenty more options to class up your home bar.
What better way to please your guests at events and parties than to have an array of bar snacks ready?
Keep reading for some ideas for snacks to put on your home bar, from sweet and savoury pretzels to homemade cheese balls.
Pretzels
Any good bar has pretzels behind it – and your home bar shouldn’t be an exception.
Pretzels can be either sweet or savoury. You could make a stash of chocolate pretzels for your home bar – it’s a quick and simple recipe. Simply heat some chocolate and peanut butter in a glass bowl over some boiling water, and wait for it to melt.
Then, dip the pretzels in the chocolate mix – either halfway or all the way. Once they’re covered in chocolate, place them on greaseproof paper and pop them in the fridge for an hour or so until the chocolate is hard.
You could also add a mixture of herbs and spices – whether you’re a cinnamon lover or fancy something a bit spicier.
Another option is a zesty marinade with lemon juice – a perfect combination with cocktails!
BBQ Snack Mix
Everybody loves a savoury trail mix, and trail mix makes a perfect bar snack. Whether you’re sipping on beer or enjoying a delicious cocktail, trail mix is a great way to line your stomach and settle any cravings.
You can season a trail mix however you like – but BBQ is one of the best ways. Simply add honey roasted peanuts, cheesy crackers, small pretzels, and any other nuts or crisps you want to add.
You can use all-purpose seasoning combined with BBQ seasoning, as well as a good amount of paprika. Adjust the amounts of seasoning depending on your taste – if you prefer spicy food, why not add some chilli flakes?
Popcorn
Whether you use microwave popcorn or prefer to pop your own, popcorn is always a great snack – especially for your home bar.
You can season or spice up your popcorn however you like. Some people prefer their popcorn to be sweet, with either a sprinkle of sugar, a drop of butter, honey, cocoa, cinnamon, or even small marshmallows.
However, for a home bar, savoury popcorn is probably more appropriate. You could simply add a sprinkle of salt, or spice it up even further by adding BBQ seasoning, cheese, garlic, or even cayenne pepper for some spicy popcorn.
Cheese Balls
Cheese balls are a quick and easy snack for guests and are a great addition to any home bar. You can either purchase some premade cheese balls from your local supermarket or make your own.
To make your own, you just need around 2 cups of flour, 1 and a half cups of grated cheese, 3 egg yolks (dispose of the whites – or make a meringue?) and 8 tablespoons of butter.
Combine them all together and once they’re fully mixed, gather it all together using your hands. Place on a well-oiled or floured board and knead the dough until you can shape it into a ball.
Once you’ve shaped the dough into a big ball, wrap it into waxed paper and pop it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Then, roll the dough into smaller balls and pop into the oven for around 20 minutes, or until they’re a golden brown colour.
If you want to make more, make sure that you make two separate dough balls – otherwise, it may not cool effectively in the fridge.
Banana Chips
Banana chips can be a great healthy bar snack, and they’re super easy to make. However, if you don’t have the time or energy to make them, you can buy a few bags from your local supermarket for under £5.
First of all, preheat your oven to 250f. While the oven is heating, combine 4 parts water with 1 part lemon juice (fresh or from a bottle).
Then, slice bananas thinly and place them onto a baking sheet. Brush them with the lemon water mixture and bake them for between 1 and 2 hours (until they’re crispy).