Martini Sticks: Cream Cheese, Blue Cheese, and Olive Stuffed Celery Recipe
Martini Sticks are a savory, refreshing appetizer combining creamy cheeses with briny Castelvetrano olives stuffed into crisp celery sticks. Perfect for cocktail parties or light snacks, these chilled bites offer a smooth and tangy flavor contrast with a satisfying crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 stuffed celery sticks 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, drained and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup olive brine
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 4 ounces creamy blue cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetables
- 1–2 bunches of celery
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and creamy using a hand mixer or a sturdy whisk.
- Add Flavorings and Olives: To the whipped cream cheese, add the roughly chopped Castelvetrano olives, olive brine, lemon zest, creamy blue cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly to combine all the ingredients evenly without overmixing.
- Prepare Celery Sticks: Wash the celery stalks and slice them into sticks approximately 4 inches long, ensuring they fit comfortably in your serving dish and are easy to hold.
- Fill Celery Sticks: Using a small spoon or a knife, carefully spread the olive cheese mixture into the hollowed center of each celery stick. Alternatively, a piping bag can be used for a cleaner, more uniform filling.
- Chill Before Serving: Arrange the filled celery sticks in a serving tray or dish and refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes. Serving chilled enhances the flavors and texture.
Notes
- Castelvetrano olives provide a mild, buttery flavor; if unavailable, substitute with green olives but avoid overly salty varieties.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened for easy mixing and smooth texture.
- Lemon zest adds a bright contrast; avoid using lemon juice to prevent watery consistency.
- Chilling the filled celery sticks for longer than 30 minutes can improve firmness and flavor blending.
- For a visually appealing platter, garnish with extra olive slices or fresh herbs like parsley or dill.
Keywords: martini sticks, celery sticks appetizer, olive cream cheese filling, blue cheese appetizer, no-cook snacks, party appetizers, celery with cheese
