Garden Gate Cheese Lattice (Printable Version)

Thin cheese slices woven with crispy crackers create an elegant and colorful lattice platter.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Cheeses

01 - 3.5 oz sharp cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
02 - 3.5 oz Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
03 - 3.5 oz Gouda cheese, thinly sliced

→ Crackers

04 - 5.3 oz rectangular whole-grain crackers, cut into long strips about 0.4 inch wide
05 - 3.5 oz sesame crackers, cut into strips

→ Garnishes (optional)

06 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 tbsp poppy seeds
08 - 1 tbsp honey (for drizzling)

# How to Make It:

01 - Place a clean rectangular serving board or platter on the work surface.
02 - Lay cheese slices and cracker strips in alternating horizontal rows across the board, leaving slight gaps between pieces.
03 - Starting at one end, gently weave vertical rows of cheese slices and cracker strips over and under the horizontal rows to form a lattice, alternating cheese and cracker types for visual contrast.
04 - Neatly trim any excess from the edges to create a clean finish.
05 - Sprinkle with chopped chives and poppy seeds; drizzle honey over the lattice if desired.
06 - Present immediately, encouraging guests to break off portions directly from the lattice.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks intimidatingly beautiful but takes just 20 minutes to create, making you look like a culinary artist without the stress
  • You can prepare it entirely ahead of time, meaning you'll actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • The combination of textures and flavors works for nearly every palate—cheese lovers, cracker enthusiasts, and people who just want something elegant to nibble on
02 -
  • Room temperature cheese is your friend—if your cheese is straight from the fridge, it will be brittle and crack. Give it 15 minutes on the counter before you start, and your weaving will be infinitely easier and more forgiving.
  • The thickness of your cuts matters far more than you'd think. A mandoline is worth its weight in gold here, but even with a knife, consistency matters. Uniform slices mean uniform behavior during weaving.
  • Humidity in the air affects how your cheese behaves—on damp days, everything sticks together a bit more, which can be your friend or your nemesis depending on your technique. On dry days, pieces might shift more, so work a bit faster and with slightly more intention.
03 -
  • Invest in a good mandoline or ask your butcher to slice the cheese for you—this single decision will elevate your entire experience from frustrating to flowing
  • Create a template by lightly sketching lines with a toothpick on your platter before you start—this gives you invisible guides that keep your lattice perfectly aligned without any visible marks
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