New Years Clock Countdown (Printable Version)

Celebrate with a clock-themed platter of olives, crackers, and cheese cubes arranged for midnight fun.

# What You Need:

→ Crackers and Breadsticks

01 - 24 round crackers
02 - 8 breadsticks (optional)

→ 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

09 - 1 small round serving board approximately 12 inches in diameter (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Evenly space 24 round crackers in a circle around the edge of the serving board to represent the clock numbers, positioning 12 at the top and 6 at the bottom.
02 - Place one black olive and one green olive alternately atop each cracker to mimic clock numbers.
03 - Position the 2 cherry tomatoes in the center of the board to form the clock's center point.
04 - Skewer cheddar and Swiss cheese cubes onto toothpicks and arrange them as the clock hands pointing to midnight.
05 - Optionally place breadsticks and garnish with parsley or rosemary sprigs to add flair and fill gaps.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to enjoy while counting down to midnight.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like restaurant-quality showstopping party décor, but takes only 20 minutes and requires zero cooking—pure assembly magic that makes you look like a genius host.
  • Your guests will actually remember this platter because it's interactive and Instagram-worthy; people gravitate toward it naturally and keep coming back for more.
  • It's the rare recipe that works whether you're hosting eight people or eighty—just multiply the ingredients and you've got an effortless crowd pleaser.
02 -
  • Prep this platter no more than 2-3 hours before serving, and keep it covered loosely with plastic wrap in the fridge. Crackers start to soften and olives dry out if exposed to air for too long, which diminishes the textural contrast that makes this platter special.
  • Cut your cheese cubes slightly larger than you think necessary—they look smaller once positioned, and larger cubes are less likely to crumble or look lost on the toothpicks.
03 -
  • Use the sharpest small knife you have when cubing the cheese—dull knives create rough edges that look jagged and can catch on toothpicks awkwardly. A small serrated knife works wonderfully for Swiss cheese specifically because it grips without crushing.
  • If you're serving this at a casual gathering rather than a formal party, skip the toothpicks for the clock hands and simply position the cheese cubes alongside the cherry tomatoes in the center instead. It's more approachable and less likely to poke someone's lip unexpectedly.
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