Ants on a log

Ants on a log is a snack made by spreading cream cheese, peanut butter, ricotta cheese, or another spread on celery and placing raisins (or, if preferred, chocolate chips) on top. The snack name is presumed to date to the 1950s.[1][2] The peanut butter version of ants on a log is recommended as a healthy snack by the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[3] There are numerous variations of ants on a log, including:

Ants on a log

Ants on a log using cream cheese

Variants

• Gnats on a log: currants[4]
• Ants on vacation: without "ants" (raisins)[3]
• Ants on a Slip 'n Slide: add honey on top of the peanut butter before adding raisins[5]
• Ants in the Pants: without peanut butter
• Fireants on a log: substitute dried cranberries for raisins.
• Hippopotamuses on Thomases: Half English muffin with peanut butter and prunes.[6]
• Pigs at the Trough: Mini marshmallows instead of raisins.
• Ticks on a stick (Stuffed Celery): replace peanut butter and raisins with cream cheese and chopped black olives.

See also

• List of peanut dishes
• List of vegetable dishes

References

1. Smith, Andrew F. (ed.) (2007). The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780195307962.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
2. "Ants on a Log: How did celery, peanut butter, and raisins become a snack time staple?" by Aimee Levitt. The Takeout. 8 June 2020. Accessed 10 June 2020.
3. "Smart Snacks" (PDF). McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois. March 26, 2008. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
4. Bailey, Stephanie (January 26, 2009). "Insect-themed Food". Dept of Entomology, Univ. of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
5. Cain, Lisa (June 18, 2009). "Ants on a log". Snack Girl. Retrieved 2014-12-15. Ants on a log is a combination of celery, cream cheese (or peanut butter), and raisins.
6. "21 Fun Ways to Reinvent Ants on a Log". Nickelodeon. June 18, 2016. Retrieved 2019-09-25.