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 peanut butter 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.
This post is sponsored by the National Peanut Board. I received compensation, but all opinions and content are my own.
Peanut Butter Snacks
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.
Peanut butter is used frequently in our snacks too. Peanut butter snacks are the one thing I know will receive an A+ from my kiddos after a long school day.
Why We Love Peanut Butter:
No matter how you consume it, a two tbsp serving of peanut butter will get you eight powerful grams of protein, two grams of filling fiber and 12 grams of unsaturated fat (aka the good kind!).
Peanut butter also happens to be an affordable and very easy to find ingredient, which I can definitely appreciate.
What Kind of Peanut Butter Should I use?
Whichever brand you like! There are so many great variations from no-sugar to honey-swirl. It doesn’t matter as any of them will work with these recipes. I personally prefer a smooth peanut butter more than chunky, but my kids will eat either.
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 ants on a log:
- 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 of peanut butter 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, ants on a log 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 ants on a log recipe.
- Add peanut butter. Again, add a spoonful of peanut butter 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 celery and peanut butter 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 create these peanut butter snacks. 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 peanut butter mix. 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 in the celery and peanut butter.
Peanut Butter Parfait
This version of ants on a log 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 peanut butter yogurt 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 ants on a log 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
As you can see, peanut butter snacks are the perfect way to feed your hungry kids after school while also ensuring they get protein, fiber, and a dose of fruits and veggies. What’s your favorite way to offer up peanut butter?
Ants on a Log Recipe
Ingredients
Classic Ants on a Log:
- 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
- 3 celery sticks
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 6 round apple slices
- 6 green grapes
- 12 chocolate chips
- 3 celery sticks
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 18 green grapes
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- Optional: 12 candy eyes
- 3 celery sticks
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons cream cheese
- 24 fish crackers
- 3 celery sticks
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons cream cheese
- 12 animal crackers
- 3 celery sticks
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons yogurt
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup granola
Nutrition
Now it’s your turn to spread the peanut butter love! Share your favorite peanut butter recipe in the comments with the hashtag #HowDoYouPB.
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Thanks for sharing these other delicious ideas. We love ants on a log here, but they get boring after a while. Not now I can wait to make these this afternoon.
These would disappear in our house!
These are so adorable! Such a great way to feed my picky eaters!
What a fun after school snack! So cute, healthy and delicious too! My kids will love this!
You should’ve seen my nephew’s eyes when he came over and saw all of these on the table. They were all approved!! Of course I had to try a few myself.