Thanksgiving Leaf Fall Snack (Printer View)

A colorful autumn board featuring leaf-shaped cheeses, dried fruits, crackers, and nuts for festive gatherings.

# Components:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz sharp cheddar cheese
02 - 5.3 oz gouda cheese
03 - 5.3 oz brie cheese

→ Crackers

04 - 7 oz whole wheat crackers
05 - 5.3 oz multigrain crackers

→ Dried Fruits

06 - 2.8 oz dried apricots
07 - 2.8 oz dried mango
08 - 2.1 oz dried cranberries
09 - 2.1 oz dried figs

→ Nuts

10 - 2.1 oz pecan halves
11 - 2.1 oz walnuts

→ Fresh Fruits & Garnishes

12 - 1 small apple, thinly sliced
13 - 1 small pear, thinly sliced
14 - Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

# Method:

01 - Use small leaf-shaped cookie cutters to cut cheddar, gouda, and brie slices into assorted leaf shapes.
02 - Press the same cutters gently into large crackers and dried apricots, mango, and figs to form leaf shapes; set aside small scraps for snacking or garnish.
03 - Scatter the leaf-shaped cheeses, crackers, and dried fruits randomly across a large wooden board or platter to create a cascading fall leaves effect using warm brown, red, and orange tones.
04 - Fill the spaces with nuts, dried cranberries, and thinly sliced fresh apple and pear, fanning them out to add texture and vibrant color.
05 - Decorate with rosemary sprigs for an aromatic touch. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes just 40 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of hiding in the kitchen
  • Everything is finger food, so people naturally mingle and chat while they snack, creating those perfect party moments
  • The leaf shapes transform ordinary ingredients into something Instagram-worthy without any actual cooking required
02 -
  • Cheese temperature matters more than you'd think. Room temperature cheese spreads under pressure, but cold cheese cuts clean and holds its shape like magic
  • Those cheese scraps and edges you're cutting away? Don't throw them out. Pile them in the center or offer them as a bonus. People love having something to graze on while they're admiring the board
  • If you're making this more than an hour ahead, keep the board uncovered in the refrigerator. A cover traps moisture and makes everything soggy and sad
03 -
  • Press your cutter straight down without twisting. Twisting pushes the cheese off-center and creates uneven edges. Straight pressure, gentle wiggle, lift with confidence
  • If your dried fruits are too hard to cut, soften them slightly by steaming them over a hot kettle for thirty seconds. Just enough warmth to make them pliable without cooking them further
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