Whimsical nuts and cheese (Printable)

An elegant maze of assorted nuts and seeds surrounding a soft cheese wheel, ideal for gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 1.4 oz raw almonds
02 - 1.4 oz roasted cashews
03 - 1.4 oz shelled pistachios
04 - 1.4 oz pecan halves
05 - 1.4 oz hazelnuts

→ Seeds

06 - 1 oz pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
07 - 1 oz sunflower seeds
08 - 0.7 oz black sesame seeds
09 - 0.7 oz white sesame seeds
10 - 0.7 oz flaxseeds

→ The Prize Cheese

11 - 6.3 oz wheel of soft-ripened cheese (e.g., Brie, Camembert, or vegan alternative)

→ Optional Accents

12 - 2 tbsp dried cranberries or cherries
13 - 2 tbsp fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary)
14 - 1 tbsp honey or agave syrup

# How-To:

01 - Lightly draw a winding labyrinth pattern on a large, flat serving platter or board using a pencil if desired for guidance.
02 - Place single-file lines of assorted nuts and seeds along the labyrinth path, alternating types to create color and texture contrast.
03 - Continue arranging the nuts and seeds to form a spiral or winding path toward the platter's center.
04 - Set the soft-ripened cheese wheel at the center of the labyrinth as the focal point.
05 - Decorate the cheese with fresh herbs and drizzle honey or agave syrup over it, if desired.
06 - Scatter dried cranberries or cherries in the remaining areas to enhance visual appeal and flavor.
07 - Provide small forks or cocktail picks for guests to navigate the labyrinth and reach the cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It doubles as both appetizer and edible conversation starter that guests actually want to photograph.
  • You get to arrange it however you want, so no two versions look the same.
  • The nutty, cheesy combination hits every craving at once without requiring actual cooking.
02 -
  • Toast any raw nuts lightly beforehand if you want deeper flavor, but be aware this changes their visual brightness.
  • Room temperature cheese spreads infinitely better than cold cheese straight from the fridge, so pull it out about 30 minutes before your guests arrive.
  • Arrange this as close to serving time as possible because nuts can absorb moisture from the air and look slightly duller after sitting for hours.
03 -
  • Keep your nut and seed portions in separate small bowls while arranging so you're not constantly reaching back to the counter.
  • If your cheese starts looking disheveled mid-party, a simple fix is to gather the surface with a warm knife and smooth it gently—guests won't notice, but it resets the presentation.
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