Cobblestone Courtyard Olives Crackers (Printable version)

Elegant arrangement of crackers and olives creating a rustic, European-inspired centerpiece.

# What you need:

→ Crackers

01 - 36 to 40 round crackers (water crackers, multigrain, or rice crackers)

→ Olives

02 - 1 cup assorted pitted olives (Green Castelvetrano, Kalamata, black)

→ Garnishes (optional)

03 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or rosemary)
04 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
05 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

# Steps to follow:

01 - Select a large serving platter or board to serve as the courtyard base.
02 - Place the round crackers closely together in a random, overlapping pattern to resemble cobblestones.
03 - Nestle the assorted olives into the spaces between the crackers to create a mortar effect and visual interest.
04 - If using, sprinkle the chopped fresh herbs and crumbled cheese evenly over the top.
05 - Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the arrangement for enhanced flavor and sheen.
06 - Present immediately as an interactive and visually appealing appetizer.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • It takes ten minutes but looks like you've been planning it all week.
  • Nobody needs to cook anything, so you can actually enjoy your guests instead of sweating in the kitchen.
  • The whole thing tastes better when people can pick and choose their own bites—there's something deeply satisfying about that kind of freedom on a platter.
02 -
  • Pit your olives before you arrange them unless you enjoy watching people discover pits with their teeth—I learned this the hard way in front of people I was trying to impress.
  • Varying the sizes and colors of both crackers and olives is the real secret; it makes the whole thing look authentic and intentional rather than assembled from what was left in the pantry.
03 -
  • Assemble this no more than two hours before serving so the crackers stay crisp and the olives don't weep too much juice onto the board.
  • If you want to prep ahead, arrange everything except the oil drizzle, cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and finish it just before guests arrive for maximum impact.
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