New Years Clock Countdown (Printable)

A vibrant party platter featuring crackers, olives, and cheese cubes arranged as a festive clock face.

# What You Need:

→ Crackers and Breadsticks

01 - 24 round crackers
02 - 8 breadsticks (optional, for decoration)

→ Cheeses

03 - 7 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
04 - 7 ounces 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 (12 inches diameter, optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place the round crackers evenly in a circle along the edge of the serving board, representing the numbers on a clock face, with 12 at the top and 6 at the bottom.
02 - Alternate one black olive and one green olive atop each cracker to simulate clock numbers.
03 - Position the cherry tomatoes centrally on the board to serve as the clock's midpoint.
04 - Skewer cheddar and Swiss cheese cubes using toothpicks and arrange them as the clock hands, both pointing to midnight (12 o'clock).
05 - Incorporate breadsticks and optional garnishes such as parsley or rosemary sprigs to fill gaps and enhance presentation.
06 - Present immediately, inviting guests to enjoy as the countdown to midnight progresses.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter that arrives on the table looking like you spent hours when it actually took twenty minutes—nobody needs to know your secret
  • Kids and adults alike get genuinely excited about eating from a clock face, making it perfect for mixed-age celebrations
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled thirty minutes before guests arrive, so you're not stressed in the kitchen when the countdown begins
02 -
  • Pit your olives beforehand—nothing kills the festive mood like someone biting into an olive pit and making that face. Just trust me on this one.
  • Assemble this no more than an hour before serving; crackers start softening once olives sit on them, and you want that satisfying crunch when people eat
03 -
  • Secure the toothpick clock hands by anchoring them in small blocks of cream cheese positioned at the center instead of relying on cherry tomatoes alone—they'll stay put through the whole evening
  • Serve this on a wooden board rather than ceramic; the wood stays cooler and keeps the cheese from getting sweaty under party lighting
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