Try this gorgeous finger food Cheese Appetizer with layers of deli-style sliced cheese, a cream filling loaded with chopped nuts and dried fruit.
Grab a few ingredients, and make this recipe the night before your party. You can even use nuts dried fruit you have on hand. It's a fun party food idea for cheese boards...
↑ Cheese Appetizer Video ↑
Cheese Appetizer Ingredients
How To Make Cheese Appetizer Finger Food
- In a mixing bowl, blend the cream cheese, sea salt, and hot sauce. Use a hand mixer to get it fluffy. Or use whipped cream cheese if you don't have a hand mixer.
- Finely chop dried cherries and almonds- important as this helps the mixture spread evenly. Stir in cherries and almonds until well combined. (or other combinations: sun-dried tomatoes and toasted pine nuts or dried cranberries and pecans etc.
- On a 12-inch square piece of foil, place two cheese slices side-by-side. Spread 2-3 tablespoons (very thin layer) of the cream mixture across both cheese slices using a small offset spatula or knife.
- Repeat this four more times. Top with two cheese slices.
- Carefully fold the foil like a package around the cheese stacks, and seal tightly. Tuck in the fridge overnight or for at least 8 hours to chill and set.
- When ready to serve, remove foil, and cut in half lengthwise down the middle of each cheese slice, and then crosswise down in neat ¼ inch slices. Serve chilled with assorted crackers on a platter.
If you want to learn how to make your own sun-dried tomatoes at home, take a look at my entire recipe post on ideas to dry them at home using either an oven or dehydrator.
Just use them dry in this recipe, not the ones packed in olive oil.
Here are some of the most popular finger foods to serve at parties:
-deviled eggs
-cold and hot dips
-salsas
-chips and crackers
-sliced cheeses
-crostini
-mini quiche
-crudites
-canape'
-jalapeno poppers
-sliced meats
-small sandwiches
-hot baked hor d'oeuvres
-meatballs
-skewers
More Finger Foods
Pick 3-4 party appetizers matched with a signature drink and the party is on. Select recipes you can make ahead or have prepped and ready to go. Hot appetizers are always a hit, so be sure to bake some palmiers or make a hot dip. Deviled eggs are a classic and so loved by all.
You can serve a shrimp cocktail with champagne, which makes the party one to remember. Take a look at all of my Thanksgiving appetizers, or set up a crostini bar and let guests mix and match flavors!
And receive a free recipe ebook as our thank you.
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Stacked Cheese Appetizer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened, or buy whipped cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce Tabasco
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- assorted crackers
Cherry, Almond, and Cheddar Cheese
- 2 ounce packages deli-style sliced cheese 20 slices of cheese total
- ¼ cup almonds finely chopped
- ¼ cup dried cherries finely chopped
Sun Dried Tomato, Pine Nuts, and Pepper Jack Cheese
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes dry pack, not oil packed
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, blend the cream cheese, sea salt, and hot sauce. Use a hand mixer to get it fluffy. Or use whipped cream cheese if you don't have a hand mixer.
- Finely chop dried cherries and almonds-this helps the mixture spread evenly. Stir in cherries and almonds until well combined. OR Finely chop sun-dried tomatoes and toasted pine nuts (toast in a pan until just golden with a sprinkle of sea salt) this helps the mixture spread evenly. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts until well combined.
- On a 12-inch square piece of foil, place two cheese slices side-by-side. Spread 2-3 tablespoons (very thin layer) of the cream mixture across both cheese slices using a small offset spatula or knife.
- Repeat this four more times. Top with two cheese slices.
- Carefully fold the foil like a package around the cheese stacks, and seal tightly. Tuck in the fridge overnight or for at least 8 hours to chill and set.
- When ready to serve, remove foil, and cut in half lengthwise down the middle of each cheese slice, and then crosswise down in neat ¼ inch slices. Serve chilled with assorted crackers on a platter.
Notes
Filling Flavor Combinations
- pecans & dried cranberries
- dried cherry & almonds
- sun-dried tomatoes & toasted pine nuts
- macadamia nuts & dried pineapple
- dried blueberries & salted cashews
- dried apricots & pistachios
This is such a wonderful and unique idea for a holiday appetizer! Such wonderful flavors that were a huge hit!
I took this to a ladies happy hour and they all loved it and wanted the recipe.
Isn't it fun? People always ask how you do it!