Pin It A playful, visually striking appetizer platter inspired by urban skyscrapers, featuring a variety of stacked savory bites perfect for cocktail parties or modern gatherings.
This appetizer has become my go-to for parties because guests love the interactive way of building their own mini skyscraper bites.
Ingredients
- Breads & Crackers: 16 cocktail rye bread squares, 16 multigrain cracker rectangles, 16 breadstick segments (about 2 inches long each)
- Cheeses: 120 g (4 oz) aged cheddar sliced, 120 g (4 oz) herbed cream cheese, 120 g (4 oz) gouda sliced
- Vegetables & Garnishes: 1 cucumber sliced into thin rectangles, 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips, 8 cherry tomatoes halved, 2 avocados sliced, 1 small bunch chives cut into 2 inch lengths
- Extras: 16 pitted green olives, 1 tbsp black sesame seeds, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Prepare a large platter or wooden board as your cityscape base.
- Step 2:
- Lay out the cocktail rye bread and multigrain crackers in clusters mimicking city blocks.
- Step 3:
- Stack slices of cheddar and gouda on some bread/crackers to form skyscraper layers.
- Step 4:
- Use herbed cream cheese as glue to adhere vegetable slices (cucumber, bell pepper, avocado) between layers or on top for color and height.
- Step 5:
- Place breadstick segments upright into some stacks for extra verticality and visual effect.
- Step 6:
- Garnish with halved cherry tomatoes, olives, and chive lengths to enhance the skyline look.
- Step 7:
- Drizzle lightly with olive oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds, salt, and pepper.
- Step 8:
- Serve immediately allowing guests to choose and enjoy their favorite skyscraper bite.
Pin It Serving this at family gatherings always sparks fun conversations and allows everyone to customize their bites just the way they like.
Required Tools
Large serving platter or board, Small paring knife, Cheese slicer or sharp knife, Spatula or butter knife
Allergen Information
Contains Milk (cheese cream cheese), Gluten (bread crackers breadsticks), Sesame (seeds). May contain Tree nuts (check cheese cream cheese labels) Soy (check bread crackers). Always check ingredient packaging for allergens if serving guests with sensitivities.
Nutritional Information
Calories 180, Total Fat 10 g, Carbohydrates 18 g, Protein 6 g per serving
Pin It This recipe brings a modern twist to traditional appetizers making any event feel special and creative.
Recipe Questions & Answers
- → What breads work best for the layers?
Cocktail rye bread squares, multigrain crackers, and short breadstick segments create ideal bases and vertical accents for layering.
- → How do I keep the layers stable?
Use herbed cream cheese as a gentle adhesive between layers to maintain structure and add flavor.
- → Can I prepare this ahead of time?
Assemble just before serving to keep ingredients fresh and crisp, especially the vegetable slices.
- → What garnishes enhance the cityscape effect?
Cherry tomatoes, pitted olives, and chives add pops of color and texture resembling a vibrant skyline.
- → Are there meat alternatives included?
Thinly sliced smoked salmon, prosciutto, or turkey breast can be added to selected stacks for a non-vegetarian version.
- → How should this be served?
Arrange on a large platter or wooden board and drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper before serving.