Last Updated May 21st, 2023 at 11:52 pm by Lisa
Gorgeous layered Cheese Appetizers with deli-style sliced cheeses and a creamy filling loaded with chopped nuts and dried fruit. Eat them as a snack or fancy finger food hors d'oeuvres!
Keep the simple ingredients on hand for any potluck or holiday party, and assemble up to a day ahead. People will be fascinated by the elegant stacks, and they are so pretty on charcuterie boards...

Easy Layered Cheese Appetizers
The best part of this recipe is you can make these cream cheese appetizers any way you want with different flavors!
- 2 packages of deli-style sliced cheese (20 slices total)
- 8 ounces of cream cheese softened (or buy whipped)
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce Tabasco
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- assorted crackers or pita chips
Cheddar Cheese + Cherry Almond Filling
- ¼ cup almonds finely chopped
- ¼ cup dried cherries finely chopped
Sliced Cheeses: Buy good quality sliced cheeses for this recipe, try sharp cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, Colby jack, or even good white cheddar cheese. Sliced gruyere or Monterey jack would also be really good!
Nuts & Dried Fruit: Try different nuts like walnuts, candy pecans, or macadamia nuts. For the dried fruit try raisins, cranberries, pineapple, or mango. Create a flavor combination just for your party! Be sure to use dry-packed tomatoes, and not the ones packed in olive oil.
Pepper Jack Cheese + Sun Dried Tomato Pine Nut Filling
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- ¼ cup sun dried tomatoes (dry pack, not oil packed)
- 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 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 for this recipe, take a look at my entire recipe post on ideas to dry them at home using either an oven or dehydrator.
Here are some of the most popular finger foods and dips to serve at parties:
-deviled eggs
-cold and hot dips
-salsas
-chips and crackers
-sliced cheeses
-crostini
-mini quiche
-crudites
-canape'
-jalapeno popper dip
-sliced meats
-small sandwiches or sliders
-hot baked hor d'oeuvres
-meatballs
-skewers
More Finger Foods & Easy Appetizers
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 Brie and Bacon Palmiers or make Jalapeno Popper Dip that is habit-forming. Holiday Deviled Eggs are a classic and so loved by all topped with sparkling pomegranate seeds and festive rosemary sprigs.
Create a stunning Thanksgiving charcuterie board filled with your favorite sliced meats, different types of cheeses, crackers, fruit, nuts, and a few festive and sugary holiday treats for hungry guests on turkey day or anytime during the holiday season! You can serve a Shrimp Cocktail with champagne, which makes the party one to remember. Take a look at my collection of 33+ Thanksgiving Appetizers, for the big feast.
You will savor every scoop of this delicious dessert appetizer, Caramel Apple Dip tastes just like caramel apples!
Set up a Fall Crostini Bar and let guests mix and match flavors on toasted baguette slices (easily done on a baking sheet). Take a crostini toast or two, spread these creamy goat cheese appetizers with a whipped goat or feta cheese, add toppings, and enjoy every scrumptious bite.
Festive Holiday Cheese Balls will be the talk of your party. There are 4 flavors; White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Pimento Cheese, Garlic Chives Goat-Cheese, and Cranberry Pecan.
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Easy Layered Cheese Appetizers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened, or buy whipped cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce Tabasco
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- assorted crackers or pita chips
Cherry, Almond, and Cheddar Cheese
- 2 ounce packages deli-style sliced cheese 20 slices 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
More 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!