Isn’t this the cutest thing? No need to stick with shriveled up raisin “ants” on a celery “log, “when you can have celery canoes with robust fresh grapes rowing with pretzel sticks! Yes, this simple little recipe proves that healthy snacks can be adorable and tasty, too.
Celery Canoes are a Snack for All
What’s great about this snack is how fun and versatile it is. Here are some quick notes:
- Kids Can Help: This really is a simple recipe. Young chefs can break the celery, spread on the nut or seed butter, and place the grapes and pretzel sticks. Making their own food gets kids excited about eating it too!
- Gluten-Free Optional: There are now several brands of gluten-free pretzel sticks, and most of them are dairy free.
- Allergy-Friendly: Almost every household has some version of peanut butter that they enjoy! Use your favorite, whether that’s almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or soy butter. Make sure if you’re choosing a flavored peanut butter or alternative that it is still dairy free.
- Snack Favorite: These are great for after school, snacks on-the-go, or even serving at parties. You can serve them with other fun snacks, like Friendly Toast.
Why Grapes?
This recipe was originally shared with us by Grapes of California, and their registered dietician / recipe creator, Ellie Krieger. Hence the grape focus. But I like to call grapes “old-school superfoods,” and think they deserve more attention. They are overshadowed by many newly famous fruits, but that doesn’t take away from their natural nutrition. Grapes of every color contain a variety of antioxidants and other polyphenols — natural compounds in grapes that contribute to heart health.
Special Diet Notes: Celery Canoes
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, optionally nut-free, optionally peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based. Just be sure to choose pretzel sticks and “nut” butter that suit your dietary needs.
Celery Canoes
Ingredients
Method
- Make a partial slice or two down the spine of each piece of celery, so they lay flat on a plate.
- Spread 2 teaspoons of peanut, almond, or seed butter into each celery stalk.
- Place the grapes in a row inside the celery, pressing them lightly into the nut butter.
- Position 8 pretzel sticks along the sides of each celery “canoe” to look like oars for the grape “rowers.”
