Lucky Four Leaf Clover (Printable version)

A fresh snack featuring overlapping cucumber and cheddar leaves with a grape center and celery stem.

# What you need:

→ Clover Leaves

01 - 16 round cucumber slices (about 1/4 inch thick)
02 - 16 thin round cheddar cheese slices (cookie-cutter cut, same size as cucumber slices)

→ Clover Center

03 - 4 small green grapes or cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Stem

04 - 4 celery sticks, cut into 3-inch pieces or 4 thin pretzel rods

→ Garnish (optional)

05 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese or hummus (for adhesion)
06 - Fresh parsley or dill, finely chopped

# Steps to follow:

01 - Slice cucumbers into 1/4-inch rounds, cut cheddar cheese with a small round cookie cutter to match cucumber slices, halve grapes or cherry tomatoes, and cut celery or pretzel rods into 3-inch pieces.
02 - Arrange four cucumber slices on a serving plate in a cloverleaf pattern with edges slightly overlapping.
03 - Place a cheddar cheese slice atop each cucumber slice to represent the clover leaves.
04 - Set a halved grape or cherry tomato at the center where the four leaves meet.
05 - Position a celery stick or pretzel rod as the stem, tucking one end slightly under the clover leaves.
06 - Use a small amount of cream cheese or hummus to adhere the pieces together as necessary.
07 - Sprinkle finely chopped parsley or dill over the snack for added color and flavor if desired.
08 - Repeat steps for all four clover snacks.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Kids and adults both get excited about assembling something this visually playful—it feels like edible art rather than just a snack
  • Zero cooking required means you can pull this together in 15 minutes, even when you're running late for a gathering
  • Naturally vegetarian and easily customizable for different dietary needs, from gluten-free to dairy-free swaps
  • It's the kind of snack that starts conversations and makes people smile before they even taste it
02 -
  • Slice your cucumbers thicker than you might think—thin ones get floppy and won't hold the cheese and toppings properly without sliding. A quarter-inch is your sweet spot.
  • Assembly is best done close to serving time, especially if you're making these ahead. If you must prepare them early, store them covered in the fridge and the cucumbers stay crisper than you'd expect.
  • The cream cheese or hummus isn't just decoration—it's structural integrity. A small amount underneath the vegetables keeps the whole snack from becoming a frustrating mess to eat.
03 -
  • Use a small round cookie cutter to cut cheese rounds that match your cucumber perfectly—it takes an extra 30 seconds and transforms the whole presentation from homemade to intentional
  • If your cream cheese is cold and stiff, let it sit at room temperature for five minutes so it spreads easily without tearing the vegetables underneath
  • Arrange your cucumbers in the clover pattern first, then stack cheese, then add the center piece—this order keeps everything stable and prevents rearranging midway
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