Ants on a Log Apple Salad

The classic childhood snack gets a bit of a makeover when you make this ants on a log apple salad recipe. Chopped apple, celery, peanut butter, yogurt, and raisins are shaken up in a jar to create a crave-worthy snack that is also good for you.

This post is sponsored by Dandy® Fresh Produce. 

When I saw the viral apple salad in a jar recipe pop up on my social media feed, I knew I needed to recreate one that featured all the ingredients of the nostalgic snack–ants on a log. So I partnered with my favorite celery, Dandy® fresh-cut celery to make it happen! It’s the one brand of celery that I put in my cart time and again because it is naturally sweeter, crispier, and less stringy than other brands on the grocery store shelves.

One reason to make this salad (other than it’s delicious!) is that it is the perfect afternoon snack that can power you through the afternoon slump since it provides the right balance of carbs, fiber, and protein. And just like the ants on a log snack, we’re keeping this simple here with minimal ingredients. This salad features just 5: apple, celery, yogurt, peanut butter, and raisins. So grab a big jar and let’s make a snack!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a basic rundown of some of the key ingredients you’ll need for this ants on a log apple salad recipe. See the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredient list and amounts you’ll need. 

• Apple: I like crisp-sweet apples for this salad like pink lady, honey crisp, or gala–but you can use whatever variety is your favorite.
• Celery: you’ll want to use a celery with good flavor for this salad. mMy go-to is Dandy® fresh-cut celery. It also adds lots of crunch to this yummy snack.
• Yogurt: my favorite for this snack is non-dairy vanilla yogurt, but you don’t have to use a non-dairy yogurt if you don’t want to. Similar salads online use plain Greek yogurt for added protein.
• Peanut Butter: you can’t have ants on a log without peanut butter. Use creamy or crunchy for this snack.
• Raisins: the “ants” for the log get tossed in with the rest of the ingredients in your jar for this delicious salad snack.

Variations and Substitutions

Add Nuts: for extra crunch, you can also add some chopped peanuts or pumpkin seeds to this. I’ve tried it with both of those and thought it was great!

Use a Different Nut Butter: if you have an allergy to peanuts or just want to try a different variation, you can swap the peanut butter for another nut butter. Almond butter or sunflower butter would be great swaps.

Try it with Dates: if you don’t like raisins, you can swap them for chopped dates or even prunes.

How to Make Ants on a Log Salad

• Chop the Apple and Celery: chop the apple and celery into small, evenly shaped bite-sized pieces.
• Combine in a Jar: add all of your salad ingredients to a jar and shake well to combine.
• Enjoy: enjoy straight from the jar (I like to drizzle mine with more nut butter and add a few chopped peanuts) or spoon it into a bowl.

Make Ahead and Storage

Make Ahead: there’s no reason you have to make only one serving of this salad at a time. You can easily double or triple the recipe and stir it together in a big bowl rather than putting it in a jar. Once it’s mixed up you can store it in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge.

Fridge: this salad will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge in an airtight container in case you have leftovers.