• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MJ and Hungryman

  • About
  • Blog
  • Feeding tips
  • Recipes
  • Resources
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Baby Led Weaning
  • Recipes
  • Feeding tips
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Baby Led Weaning
    • Recipes
    • Feeding tips
    • Resources
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ร—
    MJ & Hungryman ยป Baby/Kid-Friendly Recipes ยป Ants on a Log

    Ants on a Log

    By Min On January 20, 2023

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

    Share or Save It for Later!

    Jump to Recipe
    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    So fun to make, ants on a log is the perfect snack for kids! All you need are celery, peanut butter, and raisins, but don't be afraid to create your own tasty version.

    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    What is ants on a log?

    My 5-year-old son didn't want to even touch a celery stalk until I introduced him to this delicious snack recently. So of course I had to share!

    If you haven't heard of ants on a log before, it's a fun snack that was invented in the 1950s and is made of a crunchy celery stalk (the log) stuffed with peanut butter and topped with raisins (the ants).

    It's such a genius combination! You get crunchy, creamy, and chewy textures as well as sweet and savory flavors in one bite.

    Not only is it delicious and healthy, it's a great way to encourage your child to get in the kitchen and use their creativity. There are endless ways to customize, and you and your child can even have fun renaming it, too!

    Jump to:
    • What is ants on a log?
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Easy Snacks
    • Ants on a Log

    Ingredients

    All the ingredients laid out on a wooden board.

    Basic Ingredients

    To make the classic version, you will need celery, peanut butter, and raisins.

    But if you want to incorporate more variety, then here are some fun ways to transform this classic snack.

    Alternatives to Celery stalks:

    • Carrot sticks
    • Apples, Sliced
    • Banana, halved
    • Bell pepper, sliced
    • Romaine lettuce (will need to call it ants on a leaf hehe)

    Peanut Butter Alternatives:

    • Nut butter (e.g. almond butter, cashew butter)
    • Seed butter (e.g. sunflower butter, pumpkin seed butter)
    • Hummus (store-bought or homemade, like this beet hummus)
    • Mashed avocado
    • Cream cheese (dairy or non-dairy like this homemade tofu cream cheese)
    • Cottage cheese
    • Yogurt
    • Ricotta
    • Beetroot dip

    Alternatives to raisins:

    • Fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, mangoes, etc.)
    • Dried fruits (dates, currants, apricot, etc.)
    • Freeze-dried fruit
    • Edamame
    • Beans
    • Peas
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Red bell pepper
    • Seeds (hemp seeds, flax seeds, etc.)
    • Chocolate chips
    • Shredded coconut
    • Sprinkles
    • Granola
    • Animal crackers
    • Pretzel pieces

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    1. Cut the celery stalks into 4-5 inch pieces.
    2. Spread filling of choice.
    3. Top with desired "ants" or toppings.

    Variations

    3 celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins.

    As you can see, there are endless ways you can customize and reinvent the ants on a log recipe.

    We usually enjoy this as an afternoon snack. And because it's so tough to get my son to eat celery, we always like to use it as our log. I like to place several filling and "ant" options on a large wooden board, sit back, and just watch what he comes up with.

    All 5 of the examples you see here are HIS creations!

    • Celery + creamy peanut butter + raisins
    • Celery + hummus + red bell pepper (he calls these fire ants)
    • Celery + yogurt + blueberries
    • Celery + yogurt + edamame
    • Celery + mashed avocado + hemp seeds

    Serving Suggestions

    bite-sized ants on a log with fresh blueberries in a snack box.
    • While both smooth and chunky peanut butters will work, the smooth version is easier to spread.
    • Cut these upgraded celery sticks into bite-sized pieces to make them easier for younger children to eat (4-6 year olds). Your child might do fine with them whole, but I noticed that my 5 year old enjoyed these so much more when they were cut up.
    • For 2-4 year olds, I recommend serving deconstructed. Slice the celery into thin matchsticks or half-moon slivers and add filling and toppings on the side.
    • These logs are also a great school snack. What I recommend is fully filling up the container so there's no room for the celery sticks to move around. I also like to cut into bite-sized pieces so my son can just pop them into his mouth one at a time without making a mess. For older children, you can pack all the components separately so they can assemble for themselves (or enjoy separately).

    May be interested in: Healthy School Snacks

    More Easy Snacks

    • Healthy Muffins for Kids (And Toddlers)
    • How to Make Banana Milkshake
    • The Best Sweet Potato Rounds
    • Ultimate Snack Tray Ideas (for Lunch or Dinner)

    Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!

    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    Ants on a Log

    So fun to make, ants on a log is the perfect snack for kids! All you need are celery, peanut butter, and raisins, but don't be afraid to create your own tasty version.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 6 logs
    Author: Min | MJ and Hungryman

    Ingredients

    • 3 celery stalks (or other logs)
    • ยผ cup creamy peanut butter (or other filling)
    • ยผ cup Raisins (or other ants)

    Instructions

    • Wash and dry the celery stalks. Cut into 5-8 inch long pieces.
    • Spread each celery with peanut butter. Press the raisins into the filling. Repeat for the other celery sticks. Note you may not need all the amount recommended.

    Notes

    4 other variations to try:
    • Celery + hummus + red bell pepper (he calls these fire ants)
    • Celery + yogurt + blueberries
    • Celery + yogurt + edamame
    • Celery + mashed avocado + hemp seeds

    Nutrition

    Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Tag me @KidFriendly.Meals today!
    « Creamy Avocado Banana Smoothie
    Healthy Chocolate Avocado Pudding »

    Share or Save It for Later!

    Share: [addtoany]

    About Min

    Thank you so much for stopping by! I am Min, a Registered Dietitian, a Christ follower, a wife, and a mom to our two miracle babies! Currently, Iโ€™m having a ton of fun feeding their tummies and sharing our baby led weaning journey! Follow me on Instagram if interested in seeing daily menu as well as tips and tricks.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Maina says

      January 23, 2023 at 9:25 am

      4 stars
      Great idea. Got my daughter to eat celery!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 23, 2023 at 4:48 pm

        Yay!!! I'm so glad!

        Reply
    2. AB says

      January 20, 2023 at 8:15 pm

      I love the idea of making them bite size! I've tried this a few times when my daughter was 3.5 but I think the whole stalk made it hard for her. Will try again soon! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 20, 2023 at 9:14 pm

        Yes!! Def makes it easier to eat!

        Reply
    3. KM says

      January 20, 2023 at 3:15 pm

      5 stars
      We JUST ate this today and my picky 4 year old loved it! He loves crunching! We have a peanut (and pecan, walnut) allergy, so we used almond butter. Love this classic! Heโ€™s picky, but I will continue to expose him to this one (hopefully he likes it tomorrow! ๐Ÿคช) and use it as a gateway to the variations! Would love him to eat those too!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 20, 2023 at 9:16 pm

        Ooh yay!! Yes to trying all the fun variations :). You should totally encourage him to pick the fillings and "ants" ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    4. Annie says

      January 20, 2023 at 2:14 pm

      Great ideas!

      Reply
      • Min says

        January 20, 2023 at 9:16 pm

        Hope you try them all ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    HI!

    I am MJ, a registered dietitian and a mom of 2. I truly hope youโ€™ll enjoy all the recipes and tips that I share on what and how to feed your child!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    search

    Trending Now

    A direct shot of muffin with a bite taken out.

    Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

    Three different Greek yogurt smoothies in glass jars.

    Creamy Greek Yogurt Smoothie (6 ways)

    A close up overhead shot of chocolate pudding in a glass bowl with three raspberries.

    Healthy Chocolate Avocado Pudding

    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    Ants on a Log

    Avocado smoothie in a glass jar with a straw and bananas and avocado in the background.

    Creamy Avocado Banana Smoothie

    A close up shot of strawberry yogurt with strawberries in the backgrounnd.

    Easy Strawberry Yogurt

    Jump to Recipe
    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    Is your baby 4-6 months old?

    Give your baby a head start on solids even before their first bite!
    I'M READY!
    Jump to Recipe
    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    Is your baby 6 months old and up?

    Learn all the secrets to starting solids safely while optimizing nutrition!
    I NEED IT NOW!
    Jump to Recipe
    5 celery sticks with various fillings and toppings.

    Is your toddler becoming picky?

    Arm yourself with these strategies that will transform your mealtimes!
    YES, PLEASE!

    popular feeding tips

    A four image collage of healthy baby snacks including iron.

    Healthy Baby Snacks (Easy and Balanced)

    A four image collage of best baby cereals.

    Best Baby Cereal (2022)

    Four top low sugar cereals for toddlers and kids.

    Best Healthy Cereals for Kids

    four iron rich vegetable meals for babies, including spinach, swiss chard, peas

    Best Iron Rich Foods for Babies and Toddlers (50+ recipes)

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2023 MJ & Hungryman LLC ยท Privacy Policy | Contact

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT