Cobblestone Courtyard Platter (Print Version)

An elegant arrangement of round crackers and olives creating a vibrant, textural appetizer centerpiece.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Crackers

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

→ Olives

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

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Select a large serving platter or board to serve as the courtyard base.
02 - Place the round crackers close together in a random and overlapping pattern to simulate cobblestones.
03 - Nestle assorted olives tightly in the spaces between crackers to create a mortar effect and enhance the visual presentation.
04 - Sprinkle chopped herbs and cheese crumbles evenly over the arrangement, if desired.
05 - Drizzle a light coat of extra virgin olive oil across the entire platter for added flavor and sheen.
06 - Present immediately as an interactive and visually appealing appetizer centerpiece.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours on it, but honestly takes about ten minutes from start to wow.
  • Everyone gravitates toward it because it's beautiful, interactive, and tastes genuinely good—no pretense required.
02 -
  • Pit your olives ahead of time; nobody wants the surprise of a pit in their mouth mid-conversation, and pitted olives nestle better between the crackers anyway.
  • The crackers stay crispest for about an hour, so time this for when people are actually gathering, not too early in the day.
03 -
  • Chill your platter in the fridge for 10 minutes before filling it; cold crackers stay crisp longer and cold olives taste cleaner.
  • Always arrange right before serving—this is one of those rare dishes where the final 30 seconds matter more than advance prep.
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