Long-Necked Giraffe Snack

Featured in: Everyday Country Recipes

This snack tower features layers of cucumber, cheddar and gouda cheese, baby carrots, and celery stacked to resemble a giraffe's body. Pretzel rods serve as the neck, topped with cherry tomatoes, apple slices, and black olive eyes for the head. Black sesame seeds add spot details, while fresh herbs garnish the plate. It's a playful, vegetarian, and gluten-free way to delight kids or guests with fresh, healthy ingredients and simple assembly.

Updated on Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:30:00 GMT
Vibrant Long-Necked Giraffe Snack Towers with colorful veggies, cheese, and playful pretzel necks. Save
Vibrant Long-Necked Giraffe Snack Towers with colorful veggies, cheese, and playful pretzel necks. | cloverhearth.com

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 always delights my children, making snack time a joyful experience for the whole family.

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.
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My family loves gathering around to build these snack towers together, turning snack time into a fun bonding moment.

Nutritional Information

Each tower has about 85 calories, 4 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of protein.

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.

Required Tools

Cutting board, sharp knife, small spoon or toothpick (for spreading cream cheese or hummus), serving plate.

A close-up of a whimsical Long-Necked Giraffe Snack Tower, perfect party food with fresh ingredients. Save
A close-up of a whimsical Long-Necked Giraffe Snack Tower, perfect party food with fresh ingredients. | cloverhearth.com

This snack tower is not only visually delightful but also encourages healthy eating habits for all ages.

Recipe Questions & Answers

What vegetables are used for the giraffe's body?

Cucumber slices, baby carrots, and celery sticks form the main structure of the giraffe's body in the snack tower.

How is the giraffe's neck constructed?

Long pretzel rods are inserted upright into the cheese and vegetable layers to create the giraffe's neck.

Which ingredients create the giraffe's head and facial features?

A cherry tomato forms the head, with black olive slices for eyes and thin apple slices for ears.

Can this snack tower be made vegan?

Yes, by using plant-based cheese cubes and substituting cream cheese with hummus, the tower becomes vegan-friendly.

What adds the giraffe's spots and decoration?

Black sesame seeds are sprinkled along the body and neck, while fresh chives or parsley garnish the plate to resemble leaves or grass.

Long-Necked Giraffe Snack

Enjoy a colorful tower layered with cucumber, cheese, pretzels, and fresh veggies—perfect for snacks or gatherings.

Prep duration
20 minutes
0
Overall time
20 minutes
Recipe by Clover Hearth Emily Dawson


Skill level Easy

Culinary roots International

Servings made 4 Portion size

Diet preferences Meatless

What you'll need

Base & Body

01 4 thick cucumber slices
02 4 baby carrots
03 4 celery sticks, cut into 4-inch lengths
04 4 cheddar cheese cubes, approximately 1 inch each
05 4 gouda cheese cubes, approximately 1 inch each

Neck & Head

01 4 long pretzel rods
02 8 black olive slices
03 4 cherry tomatoes
04 4 thin apple slices

Decorative Features

01 2 tablespoons cream cheese or hummus
02 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
03 Fresh chives or parsley, for garnish

How to make it

Step 01

Prepare base: Place a cucumber slice flat on the serving surface as the base of each snack tower.

Step 02

Assemble the body: Stack a cube of cheddar cheese on the cucumber slice, add a baby carrot, then top with a gouda cheese cube to form the body.

Step 03

Insert neck: Insert a pretzel rod vertically into the stacked ingredients, pressing gently to ensure stability.

Step 04

Form the head: Place a cherry tomato on top of the pretzel rod, securing it with a small amount of cream cheese or hummus if needed.

Step 05

Add ears: Attach thin apple slices to each side of the cherry tomato using cream cheese or hummus as adhesive.

Step 06

Create eyes: Position two black olive slices on the cherry tomato for eyes, securing each with a dab of cream cheese or hummus.

Step 07

Apply spots: Sprinkle black sesame seeds over the body and neck to mimic giraffe spots.

Step 08

Garnish: Decorate the serving plate with fresh chives or parsley to resemble leaves or grass.

Step 09

Serve: Serve immediately to retain optimal texture and freshness.

Equipment needed

  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Small spoon or toothpick for spreading cream cheese or hummus
  • Serving plate

Allergy details

Be sure to review every ingredient for potential allergies, and talk to a medical expert if you’re unsure.
  • Contains dairy from cheese and cream cheese.
  • Contains gluten from pretzel rods.
  • Free from tree nuts, peanuts, and eggs.

Nutrition information (each portion)

Only use this data as a helpful reference—it’s not intended to replace professional health guidance.
  • Calorie count: 85
  • Fat content: 4 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 10 grams
  • Proteins: 3 grams