Urban Grid Snack Platter (Printable Version)

City-inspired snack platter with pretzel rod grid, cheeses, veggies, dips, olives, and nuts for interactive snacking.

# What You Need:

→ Streets

01 - 20 long pretzel rods

→ Cheeses

02 - 3.5 oz mild cheddar, cubed
03 - 3.5 oz gouda, cubed
04 - 3.5 oz mozzarella, cubed

→ Meats (optional, omit for vegetarian)

05 - 3.5 oz salami, sliced
06 - 3.5 oz smoked turkey, cubed

→ Vegetables

07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cucumber, sliced
09 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
10 - ½ cup baby carrots

→ Dips & Spreads

11 - ½ cup hummus
12 - ½ cup ranch dip

→ Extras

13 - ½ cup mixed olives
14 - ½ cup roasted nuts (almonds or cashews)

# How to Make It:

01 - Lay out pretzel rods in a grid pattern on a large rectangular platter, creating streets and blocks that mimic a city map.
02 - Distribute cheeses, meats (if including), vegetables, dips, olives, and nuts in the individual grid blocks, keeping ingredients separate for variety and ease of selection.
03 - Set dips into small bowls and position them within or alongside the grid for convenient access.
04 - Present the platter immediately, encouraging guests to sample and combine different blocks as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's interactive enough that guests feel like they're part of something creative, not just grabbing food off a plate.
  • You can prep everything ahead and just arrange it when people arrive, which means you actually get to enjoy your own party.
  • The pretzel rods do the heavy lifting visually—no fancy plating skills required, just let the grid do the talking.
02 -
  • Cube everything roughly the same size so the platter looks intentional and people can grab pieces without overthinking it—irregular chunks feel unfinished.
  • Prep vegetables no more than an hour ahead and keep them in water in the fridge so they stay crisp; soggy cucumber ruins the whole experience.
03 -
  • Prep your ingredient sections in small bowls first, then transfer them to the platter one block at a time—this keeps everything organized and prevents the chaos of trying to arrange while holding five different things.
  • If you're making this for a crowd that includes vegetarians, vegans, and people who eat everything, clearly separate the meats and label them quietly so no one has to ask—small considerate details like this are what people notice.
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