Pin A playful, nutritious snack tower inspired by giraffes—layers of fruits, vegetables, and cheese create a fun, eye-catching treat perfect for kids or parties.
This snack tower is always a hit with my family during gatherings and makes snack time exciting for the kids.
Ingredients
- Base & Body: 4 thick slices cucumber, 4 baby carrots, 4 celery sticks (cut into 4-inch lengths), 4 cubes cheddar cheese (about 1-inch), 4 cubes gouda cheese (about 1-inch)
- Neck & Head: 4 long pretzel rods, 8 black olive slices (for eyes), 4 cherry tomatoes (for the nose), 4 thin apple slices (for ears)
- Decorative Features: 2 tbsp cream cheese or hummus (for glue), 1 tbsp black sesame seeds (for spots), Fresh chives or parsley (for leaves/grass garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Lay out the cucumber slice as the base of each snack tower.
- Step 2:
- Stack a cube of cheddar cheese on the cucumber, followed by a baby carrot and a cube of gouda cheese to form the giraffes body.
- Step 3:
- Insert a pretzel rod upright into the stack for the neck, gently pressing it into the cheese and vegetable layers for stability.
- Step 4:
- Attach a cherry tomato to the top of the pretzel rod as the giraffes head, securing it with a dab of cream cheese or hummus if needed.
- Step 5:
- Use thin apple slices on each side of the cherry tomato to form ears, fixing them with cream cheese or hummus.
- Step 6:
- Place two black olive slices on the cherry tomato for eyes, and dab a drop of cream cheese or hummus to help them stick.
- Step 7:
- Sprinkle black sesame seeds along the body and neck for spots.
- Step 8:
- Garnish the plate with fresh chives or parsley to resemble leaves or grass.
- Step 9:
- Serve immediately for best texture.
Pin My kids love assembling these snack towers themselves, turning snack time into a creative family activity.
Required Tools
Cutting board, sharp knife, small spoon or toothpick (for spreading cream cheese/hummus), serving plate
Allergen Information
Contains dairy (cheese, cream cheese) and gluten (pretzel rods). Tree nut free, peanut free, egg free. Always check product labels for cross-contamination if serving to individuals with allergies.
Nutritional Information
Approximately 85 calories, 4 g total fat, 10 g carbohydrates, and 3 g protein per tower.
Pin This snack tower is a fun and healthy way to engage kids while offering fresh, tasty bite-sized treats.
Recipe Questions
- → How do I keep the snack tower stable?
Use cream cheese or hummus as a 'glue' between layers and gently press the pretzel rod into the stacked ingredients for support.
- → Can I customize the ingredients?
Yes, swap vegetables or cheese types according to preference, such as substituting bell pepper strips or mozzarella cubes.
- → How do I make a vegan version?
Replace dairy cheese with plant-based cheese alternatives and use hummus instead of cream cheese to assemble.
- → What can I use for decoration besides sesame seeds?
Fresh chives or parsley provide a leafy garnish, enhancing visual appeal and adding a mild herbal flavor.
- → Is this snack suitable for parties?
Absolutely, the playful design and variety of textures make it an engaging and healthy party treat for kids and adults alike.