New Years Clock Countdown (Printable)

A festive platter featuring crackers, olives, and cheese cubes arranged to mimic a New Years clock countdown.

# What You'll 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 pitted black olives
06 - 24 pitted green olives
07 - 2 cherry tomatoes
08 - Fresh parsley or rosemary sprigs (optional)

→ Extras

09 - 1 small round wooden or ceramic serving board, approximately 12 inches in diameter (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Place the round crackers evenly in a circular pattern at the edge of the serving board to represent clock numbers, positioning 12 at the top and 6 at the bottom.
02 - Top each cracker with alternating pitted black and green olives to simulate the clock's hour markers.
03 - Place the cherry tomatoes at the center of the board to create the clock's central point.
04 - Skewer small cubes of cheddar and Swiss cheese onto toothpicks and arrange them on the board to represent the clock hands pointing to midnight.
05 - Optionally place breadsticks and garnish with parsley or rosemary sprigs to fill gaps and enhance visual appeal.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to enjoy while counting down to midnight.

# Recipe Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's the kind of clever party trick that looks like you spent hours planning, but honestly takes twenty minutes and makes everyone feel like you're a creative genius.
  • There's something magical about arranging food into a real clock face—it gets people talking and laughing instead of just mindlessly eating from a bowl.
  • Every element is something people actually want to eat, so it's not just decoration; it's genuinely delicious and satisfying.
02 -
  • Arrange your crackers on the board before you add anything else—once the olives are on, it becomes much harder to adjust positions without causing a little avalanche.
  • If your olives keep rolling off the crackers, let them sit for a minute after placing them. They'll settle and stay put much better than if you rush. Patience with olives is a learned thing.
  • Cut your cheese cubes roughly the same size so they look intentional when skewered. Wonky sizes look accidental; uniform sizes look designed.
03 -
  • If you want the platter to last through most of the party, keep backup olives and cheese in small bowls nearby so you can refresh the clock as people snack from it.
  • The cherry tomatoes in the center can be swapped for a small battery-operated candle if you're going for extra ambiance—just remove it before people start eating, obviously.
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