Layered Urban Skyline Stack (Print Version)

Crisp crackers, sharp cheeses, and folded cured meats stacked to resemble a vibrant urban skyline.

# What You'll 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 various lengths
07 - 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds (optional)

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Place crackers vertically on a large rectangular platter, spacing them unevenly to resemble a city skyline.
02 - Pile cheddar and gouda cubes atop the crackers at varying heights, alternating types to create color contrast.
03 - Fold salami and prosciutto slices into ribbons or rosettes and tuck them between and on top of cheese stacks to enhance the skyline appearance.
04 - Place fresh chives upright among the stacks to suggest antennae and spires.
05 - Optionally sprinkle pomegranate seeds over the arrangement to add vibrant color accents.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to pull apart sections for easy sharing.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely stunning on the table—your guests will think you spent hours in the kitchen when it only took 20 minutes
  • The combination of crisp crackers, creamy cheese, and salty meats creates this perfect textural contrast that keeps people coming back for more
  • It's interactive and fun to eat, letting guests pull apart their own little sections rather than feeling like they're just grabbing from a plate
  • You can customize it completely based on what's in your fridge, so it works for any dietary preference in your crowd
02 -
  • The crackers will start to soften if they sit assembled for more than about 30 minutes, especially if your kitchen is warm. I learned this the hard way at a party when my beautiful skyline started to droop by the time dessert came around. Assemble this as close to serving time as possible.
  • The height variation in your stacks is what makes this look intentional and architectural rather than haphazard. Don't arrange it like you're organizing a neat pantry—embrace the controlled chaos. This is your city skyline, not a filing cabinet.
03 -
  • Cut your cheese cubes slightly larger than 2 cm if you want them to be more visually dramatic and substantial in the bite. Smaller cubes can get lost in the composition.
  • If your cheeses are cold from the fridge, let them sit out for 10 minutes before assembling so they're slightly softer and easier to fold meats around. This also means the flavors are more pronounced when people eat them.
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