Almond Butter and Celery with Raisin-Cranberry Topping (The Grownup Version)
Yes, it's ants on a log, the kind that holds up under a generous load. This was a top-five childhood snack for a reason, the combination of crunchy, salty, sweet, and creamy just works, and the only thing wrong with the original was that it used peanut butter from a plastic jar and raisins that tasted like they'd been in a box since the Carter administration. Upgraded with good almond butter, a mix of raisins and cranberries, and some hemp seeds for a bit of protein and crunch, this is the kind of snack that's assembled in five minutes and holds you over until dinner. We're not going to pretend this is a sophisticated recipe. It doesn't need to be.
- VEG
- GF
- DF
- ≤30
- KID
Estimated macros per serving
Calories ~250 · Protein ~7g · Carbs ~18g · Fat ~19g
Ingredients
For the celery logs:
- 6 large celery stalks
- ½ cup creamy almond butter (no sugar added)
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- Flaky sea salt
Method
- Wash and trim the celery stalks. Cut each into 4-inch pieces and pat dry. Wet celery makes the almond butter slide around, nobody wants that.
- Spread an even layer of almond butter into the channel of each celery piece, using a butter knife or small offset spatula. Don't be shy, this is the main event.
- In a small bowl, mix together the raisins, cranberries, and hemp seeds.
- Press the raisin-cranberry-hemp mixture into the almond butter, distributing evenly among the celery pieces. Give each a pinch of flaky sea salt.
- Arrange on a plate and eat immediately, or pack into a container with a lid for a portable snack.
Variations & Notes
- Peanut butter swap: Use natural peanut butter or cashew butter. All three work.
- Chocolate version: Skip the raisins and press a few dark chocolate chips into the almond butter alongside the cranberries and hemp seeds. Borders on dessert.
- Extra Hungry: Double it. This scales without complication.
- Kid note: Our daughter approves — with modifications. Raw celery and thick nut butter are both on the choking-hazard list for toddlers, so for little kids: cut the celery into thin sticks (not just shorter logs), spread the almond butter thin rather than piling it into the groove, and skip whole raisins and cranberries for under-fours (or chop them fine). The version in the photo is for the over-four crowd.
- Storage: Best fresh, but will hold in the fridge for a few hours. The celery stays crunchy; the almond butter firms up slightly.