Alpine Village Cheese Houses (Print)

Mini cheese cubes with almond roofs on crackers create a charming alpine village scene.

# Components:

→ Cheese Houses

01 - 7 oz firm cheese (cheddar, gouda, or swiss), cut into sixteen 3/4-inch cubes
02 - 32 sliced almonds for roofs and garnish

→ Snowy Landscape

03 - 16 pale or white round or square crackers (e.g., water or rice crackers)
04 - 2 tablespoons softened cream cheese for snow effect

→ Decoration (optional)

05 - Small bunch fresh chives, cut into 3/8-inch pieces for trees or bushes
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced for doors or windows
07 - Poppy seeds or sesame seeds for detailing

# Directions:

01 - Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese evenly on each cracker to simulate snow.
02 - Place one cheese cube atop each cracker, pressing gently to ensure adhesion.
03 - Arrange two almond slices on each cheese cube, overlapping slightly to form a pitched roof.
04 - Use chive pieces and diced red bell pepper to create trees, doors, or windows on each house as desired.
05 - Optionally sprinkle poppy or sesame seeds over the village for added texture and visual interest.
06 - Arrange all completed houses on a large serving platter for display and enjoyment.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look like edible art but take barely twenty minutes to assemble—your guests won't believe you made them.
  • Everyone gets to eat the landscape they helped build, which somehow tastes better than regular cheese and crackers.
  • Kids and adults both see it as playtime, not just eating, which changes the whole mood of a gathering.
02 -
  • Assemble these no more than an hour or two before serving, or the crackers will absorb moisture from the cream cheese and lose their satisfying crunch—the whole experience depends on that crisp bite.
  • Use cheese that's been sitting at room temperature for ten minutes before cutting; it cuts more cleanly and the cubes hold their shape better than straight-from-the-fridge cheese.
03 -
  • Warm the cream cheese slightly so it spreads like butter, making your base layer quick and even without tearing the crackers underneath.
  • Arrange your village on the platter in loose clusters rather than rows—it looks more organic and feels more like an actual village than a military formation.
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