Spring Training-Inspired Snacks

While it’s not yet the official season, spring is in the air in Scottsdale! With the sun shining, the weather warming up and Cactus League in full swing, the valley is alive with spring fever. Whether attending a game or hosting a watch party, snacks are essential. Here are some easy and tasty baseball-inspired snacks to try at home!

 

Pigs in a Blanket

Who doesn’t love a hot dog at the ball game? Pigs in a blanket are easy, fun and perfect for a party. Simply roll a hot dog in one triangle of crescent dough beginning with the large size, sprinkle with seasoning (just as everything bagel, BBQ rub or garlic butter seasoning and bake at 350 degrees until the dough becomes golden brown and the hot dog is heated to temp. This can also be done with little smokies for a party platter. Just cut each triangle of the crescent dough in half, lengthwise, then proceed as directed above. Seasoning the crescent dough takes this simple snack to the next level — and dipping sauces are important. Classic ketchup and mustard are quintessential baseball hot dog condiments but think beyond those to a garlic aioli or honey BBQ sauce, for example.

 

Date PB Balls

No-bake date balls are fun to make and easy to customize. So have a ball in the kitchen and get creative with different ingredients. The basic “dough” begins with:

1 cup soft dates blended into a paste (can add a scant amount of water or soak them first to soften)

1 ½ cups oats

½ cup peanut butter (or any nut or seed butter)

3 Tbsp. maple syrup or honey

 

Now the fun begins! Toss in a few tablespoons each of the following:

Seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower

Chocolate chips

Dried fruits such as cherries or cranberries

 

Combine well and roll into one-inch balls. Then drizzle them with chocolate or roll in crushed nuts or shredded coconut flakes.

 

Cracker Jacks Snack Mix

Who doesn’t think of popcorn, pretzels and Cracker Jacks when conjuring up images of a baseball game? Why not combine these ingredients for a tasty snack mix? Just as with the date balls, creativity is key (and delicious). Add in some shelled peanuts, M&Ms, Raisinets, yogurt chips, Corn Chex cereal or any other favorite snacks to make this MLB-inspired snack mix. Then pour into a giant bowl and serve.

 

 Sweet Skewers

For an easy healthy-meets-sweet treat, these skewers are a home run. This snack just needs strawberries, blueberries and marshmallows. Remove the stems from the strawberries, then wash and dry the fruit. Then simply thread these ingredients in alternating order for a red, white and blue taste of Americana! Bonus tip: Use a red food marker or writing icing to draw baseball stitches onto the marshmallows.

 

When taking in a game at Scottsdale Stadium or planning a watch party, stop into the Palm & Pantry for some great take-home items including dates, nuts, wine, beer and other local artisan products.