Ants on a Log

The classic after-school snack made with protein-rich peanut butter gets a bit of a twist with a few new varieties. Learn how to make six different ants on a log snacks that your kids will absolutely love!

If you love peanut butter as much as I do, you’ll also like peanut butter brownies, this peanut butter banana smoothie, and my chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies.

If there’s one food that consistently makes an appearance as part of our daily food intake, it’s peanut butter. This is even more true during the back-to-school season when meals need to be healthy, tasty, and quick.

During those busy school days, my kids will often grab a piece of toast slathered with peanut butter as they run out the door, or enjoy a classic PB&J sandwich during their lunch break. I’ll often make them peanut butter overnight oats at night so they have a hearty breakfast in the morning.

We also use it frequently when making snacks too. Peanut butter snacks are the one thing I know will receive an A+ from my kiddos after a long school day.

Ants on a Log 6 Ways

If you are looking for a winning snack, here it is! Combining celery and peanut butter creates a magical combination. Not only does it taste fantastic, but it also is a snack fueled with the right mix of good fat, protein, and fiber. Here are six ways to enjoy these easy snacks for kids.

Classic Ants on Log

It’s always good to start with the original. I remember eating the ants on a log recipe as a kid myself years ago, so it’s extra fun to pass it on to my own kids. Here’s how to make the classic version:

• Start with your celery. Wash and cut celery stalks in half lengthwise. If they are especially tall, you may want to cut them in half width-wise as well.
• Add peanut butter.  Take a spoonful and spread it on the cavity of the celery.
• Add the “ants”.  Grab some raisins and press them into the peanut butter.
• Enjoy!

As you can see, these are one of those super easy snacks for kids that sneaks a vegetable in too. They’ll barely notice thanks to that perfect peanut butter flavor!

Peanut Butter Snails

• Prepare your celery. The same way you did as the classic recipe.
• Add peanut butter. Again, add a spoonful into the cavity of the celery.
• Add an apple slice. To give the snail its round back, press a round slice of apple into the peanut butter.
• Give it eyes. Add eyes to the front by pressing them into the peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Caterpillars

You’ll feel like supermom as your kid eats this fun combination. These little caterpillars are adorable and delicious, too. If you want a unique way to enjoy celery with peanut butter, this is the one to try.

• Prepare your celery and add peanut butter. Spoonful of peanut butter spread through the celery slice is the base of this sweet treat.
• Add grapes and berries. There are a few different fruits you can use. Green grapes, raspberries, purple grapes, blueberries, or blackberries all work well. Whichever fruit you choose, press a line of them into the peanut butter.
• Add the eyes. Lastly, make sure your little caterpillar has eyes by pressing a pair of candy eyes into the peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Fish in a Stream

Okay, I made that name up, but it works! Rather than ants on a log, this version has fish “swimming” in a peanut butter river upstream. To make this tasty treat, combine equal parts peanut butter and cream cheese and mix well. Then, spread the mix into the celery.

Now the fun part—toppings! I will even let my youngest help me press the fish crackers into the mixture. Easy!

Peanut Butter Circus

This version is similar to the one above. You use the same creamy peanut butter and cream cheese combination with celery. This time, top the mix with animal crackers lined up.

Peanut Butter Parfait

This version is one of my newest favorites. It is similar to the classic parfait, except rather than just use yogurt, you will combine equal parts of yogurt and peanut butter.

Add the mixture into the celery bowl, then spread across. Grab some of your favorite fruit along with some granola, and sprinkle it on top. So. Good!

More Ways to Enjoy Celery and Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is so versatile! If you want more variations, try adding some of these toppings to your celery with peanut butter:

• chocolate chips
• chopped strawberries
• banana slices
• pretzel pieces
• dried cranberries
• shredded coconut
• whipped cream

Ants on a Log

Course: Snacks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: ants on a log, peanut butter snacks

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 81

Author: Jamielyn Nye

The classic after-school snack made with protein-rich peanut butter gets a bit of a twist with a few new varieties. Learn how to make six different ants on a log snacks that your kids will absolutely love!

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Ingredients

Classic Version:

• 3 celery sticks
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup raisins

Optional ingredients for other variations above: apple slices, grapes, mini chocolate chips, cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, fish crackers, animal crackers, blueberries, granola

Instructions

• Rinse off celery sticks and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut each stick in half.
• Spread peanut butter in the cavity of each celery stick.
• Press raisins on top of peanut butter. Enjoy!

Notes

Peanut Butter Snails: 

• 3 celery sticks
• 1/4 cup peanut butter 
• 6 round apple slices
• 6 green grapes 
• 12 chocolate chips 

Instructions: Follow steps 1 & 2 above, then press a round apple slice into the peanut butter so that it's standing up. Add a grape in front of the apple slice, then press 2 mini chocolate chips "eyes" onto grape using peanut butter as the "glue." Serves 6. 

Peanut Butter Caterpillars:

• 3 celery sticks
• 1/4 cup peanut butter 
• 18 green grapes 
• 6 cherry tomatoes 
• Optional: 12 candy eyes 

Instructions: Follow steps 1 & 2 above. Starting at one end of the celery stick, press 3 grapes into the peanut butter. Then add a cherry tomato at the other end. If desired, add on candy eyes using peanut butter as the "glue." Serves 6. 

Peanut Butter Fish in a Stream:

• 3 celery sticks
• 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 Tablespoons cream cheese
• 24 fish crackers 

Instructions: Mix together peanut butter and cream cheese in a small bowl. Then follow steps 1 & 2 above. Press fish crackers on top of peanut butter mixture, with heads "swimming" in the same direction. Serves 6. 

Peanut Butter Circus:

• 3 celery sticks
• 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 Tablespoons cream cheese
• 12 animal crackers  

Instructions: Mix together peanut butter and cream cheese in a small bowl. Then follow steps 1 & 2 above. Press animal crackers on top of peanut butter mixture so that they are standing up. Serves 6. 

Peanut Butter Parfait:

• 3 celery sticks
• 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 Tablespoons yogurt 
• 1/4 cup blueberries 
• 1/4 cup granola 

Instructions: Mix together peanut butter and yogurt in a small bowl. Then follow steps 1 & 2 above. Press blueberries and granola on top of peanut butter mixture. Serves 6. 

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1ant on a log | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 53mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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