New Years Clock Countdown (Print View)

A playful clock display with cheeses, olives, and crackers perfect for festive gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Crackers and Breadsticks

01 - 24 round crackers
02 - 8 breadsticks (optional, for decoration)

→ Cheeses

03 - 7 oz cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
04 - 7 oz Swiss cheese, cut into small cubes

→ Olives and Garnishes

05 - 24 black pitted olives
06 - 24 green pitted olives
07 - 2 cherry tomatoes
08 - Fresh parsley or rosemary sprigs (optional)

→ Extras (optional)

09 - 1 small round wooden or ceramic serving board, approximately 12 inches diameter

# Method:

01 - Place the round crackers evenly in a circular pattern along the edge of the serving board to represent clock numbers, positioning 12 at the top and 6 at the bottom.
02 - Alternately place one black olive and one green olive atop each cracker to mimic the clock numbers.
03 - Position the cherry tomatoes at the center of the board to serve as the clock's center point.
04 - Skewer cheddar and Swiss cheese cubes with toothpicks and arrange them to represent clock hands pointing to midnight.
05 - Optional: place breadsticks or additional garnishes around the board, filling gaps with parsley or rosemary sprigs for extra flair.
06 - Present the assembled platter immediately, inviting guests to enjoy as the countdown to midnight begins.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes just twenty minutes to assemble—your guests won't believe you made it
  • Every element is edible and delicious, so the platter genuinely disappears as the evening winds down
  • It naturally draws people together around the table, creating those spontaneous moments of connection right before midnight
02 -
  • Pit your olives beforehand—there's nothing quite like the moment a guest bites into an olive and hits a pit, which I learned the hard way and never again
  • Cut your cheese into uniform cubes before you start assembling, not during—your hands will thank you and the board comes together so much more smoothly
  • Place everything about ten minutes before serving, after your guests have arrived but before they're seated—the anticipation of looking at this beautiful thing builds the whole energy of the evening
03 -
  • Make sure your serving board is truly clean and dry before you start—any moisture will make your crackers go soft
  • If you're nervous about the olives sliding off the crackers, score each cracker very lightly with a knife first to create a small divot—they'll stay exactly where you place them
  • Use the best quality olives you can find; they're one of the main flavors here and they deserve to shine
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