Cheese & Cracker Platter

A stunning, no-cook cheese and cracker board loaded with creamy, sharp, and bold cheeses, paired with crunchy crackers, fresh fruits, nuts, and sweet touches. The ultimate zero-effort party centerpiece that looks gourmet and disappears fast.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Cheese & Cracker Platter is the ultimate party hack: zero cooking, five minutes of artful arranging, and it instantly makes you look like a hosting genius. With a perfect mix of textures (creamy, crunchy, sweet, salty) and flavors (mild to bold), there’s something for every guest—even picky eaters and kids love it. It’s completely customizable, naturally gluten-free (with GF crackers), and can be prepped hours ahead. Set it out and watch it become the center of the party—no one will believe it took almost no effort!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Follow the 3-3-3 rule: 3 cheeses, 3 crackers, 3 accompaniments.
• Offer soft, semi-soft, and hard cheeses for variety.
• Let cheeses come to room temperature 30–60 min before serving.
• Use odd numbers and varying heights for visual appeal.
• Include one “crowd-pleaser” (like Brie) and one “adventurous” (like blue).
• Add fresh elements last—grapes, herbs, figs—so they stay pretty.
• Provide separate knives for each cheese—prevents flavor mixing.

Yield: 15 Servings

Cheese & Cracker Platter

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Stunning no-cook cheese & cracker board—effortless party centerpiece everyone loves!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 types of crackers (water, seeded, buttery, gluten-free)
• 5 cheeses (about 2–3 oz per person): Soft: Brie or camembert, Semi-soft: Smoked gouda or herb goat cheese, Hard: Aged cheddar, manchego, or Parmesan wedge, Wildcard: Blue cheese or truffle pecorino
• Briny bites: olives, cornichons
• Dried fruits: apricots, cranberries
• Fresh fruits: grapes, sliced apples/pears, figs
• Fresh herbs and edible flowers for garnish
• Nuts: almonds, candied pecans, pistachios
• Sweet touches: honey in jar, fig jam, dark chocolate

Instructions

1. Choose your board: Wood, marble, or slate—larger than you think!
2. Place cheeses first: Space them out evenly—3 or 5 looks best.
3. Add bowls: Place honey, jam, olives in small bowls—anchors the design.
4. Cracker zones: Fan crackers in clusters near each cheese.
5. Fruit & nut rivers: Create flowing lines of grapes, nuts, dried fruit.
6. Fill the gaps: Tuck in chocolate squares, fresh herbs, cornichons.
7. Height drama: Stack some crackers, stand up Parmesan wedge.
8. Final flourish: Drizzle honey over Brie, scatter edible flowers.
9. Label it: Little cards or flags make it feel fancy.
10. Set & relax: Place in the center—your zero-stress masterpiece is ready!

Notes

• Room temperature cheese = maximum flavor and creaminess.
• Leftover cheese? Cube it for salads or melt into mac & cheese.
• Scale up or down easily—just keep the variety.

Nutrition Information

Yield

15

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 5Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gSodium 8mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g

The recipes and nutritional information on Yum Tonight are for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dietary advice.

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Ingredients Notes

• Cheeses: Brie/camembert (soft), cheddar/gouda (semi-hard), manchego/parmesan (hard), plus a wildcard (blue, goat, truffle).
• Crackers: Water crackers, seeded, buttery (like Ritz), plus gluten-free option.
• Fruits: Grapes, apple/pear slices, fresh figs, dried apricots.
• Nuts: Marcona almonds, candied pecans, pistachios.
• Extras: Honey, fig jam, olives, dark chocolate, fresh rosemary for garnish.

Variations and Substitutions

• Budget version: Cheddar, gouda, cream cheese log + grocery crackers
• Holiday board: Cranberry cheese, peppermint bark, spiced nuts
• Vegan platter: Dairy-free cheeses + fruit + nuts
• Kid-friendly: Mild cheddar cubes, string cheese, goldfish
• Mediterranean: Feta, hummus, pita chips, olives
• Dessert board: Swap savory for chocolate, berries, biscotti
• Low-carb: Cheese + pork rinds + pickles
• Themed colors: Red/white for Christmas, orange/black for Halloween

Storage Options

• Assemble up to 4 hours ahead (cover and refrigerate)
• Cheeses stay good wrapped tightly 1–2 weeks
• Leftover cheese freezes well (except soft varieties)

Dish Gallery

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Until you can read, Buffalo Chicken Dip with Crackers