Layered Urban Skyline Appetizer (Printable Version)

Crisp crackers stacked with cheddar, gouda, salami, and prosciutto for a visually stunning starter.

# What You Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 18 rectangular whole grain crackers

→ Cheeses

02 - 5.3 oz sharp cheddar, cut into 0.8 inch cubes
03 - 5.3 oz gouda, cut into 0.8 inch cubes

→ Meats

04 - 3.5 oz salami slices
05 - 3.5 oz prosciutto slices

→ Garnishes

06 - 12 fresh chives, cut to varied lengths
07 - 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the rectangular crackers vertically on a large serving platter, spacing them unevenly to resemble a city skyline.
02 - Pile cheddar and gouda cubes on the crackers at varying heights, alternating types to create color contrast.
03 - Fold salami and prosciutto slices into loose ribbons or rosettes and insert them between and atop the cheese stacks to enhance the skyline effect.
04 - Place fresh chives upright among the stacks to mimic antennae and spires.
05 - Sprinkle pomegranate seeds intermittently for visual pops of color, if using.
06 - Present immediately and encourage guests to pull apart sections for easy sharing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes just 20 minutes, which means you can impress without stress
  • Everyone builds their own bites, making it interactive and fun rather than formal
  • The combination of crispy, creamy, and salty flavors keeps people coming back for more
  • It photographs beautifully, turning your appetizer into conversation
02 -
  • If your cheese cubes are too small, they'll get lost in the visual and the bite. Stick with the 2 cm size—it's not arbitrary. I learned this after making tiny cubes that looked like seasoning rather than building blocks.
  • Room temperature cheese stacks better than cold cheese straight from the fridge. Take it out 15 minutes before you start assembling. Cold cheese is brittle and the cubes will crack.
  • The cracker stability depends on freshness. Use crackers within a few days of opening the box. Stale crackers will bend under the weight, and your skyline becomes abstract art instead of architecture.
03 -
  • Pre-cut everything but don't assemble until guests are almost arriving. Crackers lose their crispness quickly, and cheese sweats when exposed to air for too long. Assembly takes 10 minutes anyway.
  • If you're nervous about stacking, arrange crackers at a slight angle instead of perfectly vertical. It's actually more realistic to a real skyline and more forgiving if a piece shifts.
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