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Urban Skyscraper Appetizers

Featured in: Quick Weeknight Dinners

This platter features a creative assembly of stacked savory bites inspired by urban skyscrapers, combining rye bread, multigrain crackers, and breadsticks layered with aged cheddar, gouda, and herbed cream cheese. Fresh vegetables like cucumber, bell pepper, avocado, and cherry tomatoes add vibrant color and texture, enhanced by green olives, sesame seeds, and olive oil. Designed for easy preparation and visually impressive presentation, it's ideal for lively social gatherings. Variations include adding smoked salmon or prosciutto for non-vegetarian options, and gluten-free substitutes for dietary needs.

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Updated on Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:33:00 GMT
A colorful plate of Urban Skyscraper Appetizers, offering savory, layered bites for easy entertaining. Save
A colorful plate of Urban Skyscraper Appetizers, offering savory, layered bites for easy entertaining. | forkina.com

A playful, visually striking appetizer platter inspired by urban skyscrapers, featuring a variety of stacked savory bites perfect for cocktail parties or modern gatherings.

This appetizer became the centerpiece of our last cocktail party, impressing guests with its creative stack and fresh flavors.

Ingredients

  • Breads & Crackers: 16 cocktail rye bread squares, 16 multigrain cracker rectangles, 16 breadstick segments (about 2 inches long each)
  • Cheeses: 120 g (4 oz) aged cheddar sliced, 120 g (4 oz) herbed cream cheese, 120 g (4 oz) gouda sliced
  • Vegetables & Garnishes: 1 cucumber sliced into thin rectangles, 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips, 8 cherry tomatoes halved, 2 avocados sliced, 1 small bunch chives cut into 2-inch lengths
  • Extras: 16 pitted green olives, 1 tbsp black sesame seeds, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 1:
Prepare a large platter or wooden board as your cityscape base.
Step 2:
Lay out the cocktail rye bread and multigrain crackers in clusters mimicking city blocks.
Step 3:
Stack slices of cheddar and gouda on some bread/crackers to form skyscraper layers.
Step 4:
Use herbed cream cheese as glue to adhere vegetable slices (cucumber, bell pepper, avocado) between layers or on top for color and height.
Step 5:
Place breadstick segments upright into some stacks for extra verticality and visual effect.
Step 6:
Garnish with halved cherry tomatoes, olives, and chive lengths to enhance the skyline look.
Step 7:
Drizzle lightly with olive oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds salt and pepper.
Step 8:
Serve immediately allowing guests to choose and enjoy their favorite skyscraper bite.
Enjoy these elegant Urban Skyscraper Appetizers, constructed with creamy cheese and fresh vegetable layers. Pin it
Enjoy these elegant Urban Skyscraper Appetizers, constructed with creamy cheese and fresh vegetable layers. | forkina.com

This recipe brings the family together as everyone builds and customizes their own skyscraper bites sharing laughs and stories.

Required Tools

Large serving platter or board, small paring knife, cheese slicer or sharp knife, spatula or butter knife

Allergen Information

Contains: Milk (cheese cream cheese), Gluten (bread crackers breadsticks), Sesame (seeds). May contain: Tree nuts (check cheese/cream cheese labels), Soy (check bread/crackers). Always check ingredient packaging for allergens if serving guests with sensitivities.

Nutritional Information

Per serving: Calories 180, Total Fat 10 g, Carbohydrates 18 g, Protein 6 g

Stacked high, these delicious Urban Skyscraper Appetizers feature cheese, crackers and colorful vegetables. Pin it
Stacked high, these delicious Urban Skyscraper Appetizers feature cheese, crackers and colorful vegetables. | forkina.com

Enjoy a fun and customizable appetizer that delights both the eyes and the palate.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How do I create the skyscraper effect in this platter?

Layer slices of cheddar and gouda on breads and crackers, using herbed cream cheese to adhere thin vegetable slices between layers. Insert breadstick segments upright for added height.

→ Can I prepare this appetizer in advance?

It's best to assemble shortly before serving to maintain freshness and visual appeal, especially to keep vegetables crisp.

→ What are good vegetarian-friendly ingredient alternatives?

The platter is naturally vegetarian-friendly, but you can use different cheeses or add extras like olives and sesame seeds for variety.

→ How can I adapt this for gluten-free diets?

Substitute with gluten-free breads and crackers to accommodate gluten sensitivities without compromising the layered effect.

→ What beverages pair well with these stacked bites?

Crisp white wine or a classic gin & tonic complement the flavors and refresh the palate alongside this savory platter.

Urban Skyscraper Appetizers

A playful platter with stacked savory bites inspired by urban skyscrapers, perfect for cocktail parties.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
0
Total Time
30 Minutes


Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: International

Yield: 8 servings

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Breads & Crackers

01 16 cocktail rye bread squares
02 16 multigrain cracker rectangles
03 16 breadstick segments, approx. 5 cm each

Cheeses

01 120 g aged cheddar, sliced
02 120 g herbed cream cheese
03 120 g gouda, sliced

Vegetables & Garnishes

01 1 cucumber, sliced into thin rectangles
02 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
03 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
04 2 avocados, sliced
05 1 small bunch chives, cut into 5 cm lengths

Extras

01 16 pitted green olives
02 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds
03 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
04 Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 01

Prepare base: Arrange a large serving platter or wooden board to serve as the cityscape foundation.

Step 02

Arrange breads and crackers: Place cocktail rye bread squares and multigrain crackers in clustered groups, representing city blocks.

Step 03

Create cheese layers: Stack slices of aged cheddar and gouda on selected breads and crackers to build skyscraper-like layers.

Step 04

Add vegetable layers: Apply herbed cream cheese between cheese layers and adhere cucumber, red bell pepper, and avocado slices for color and height.

Step 05

Add vertical accents: Insert breadstick segments upright into select stacks to enhance verticality and create visual interest.

Step 06

Garnish toppings: Decorate with halved cherry tomatoes, pitted green olives, and chive lengths to replicate an urban skyline.

Step 07

Finish seasoning: Lightly drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkle black sesame seeds, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Step 08

Serve: Present immediately for guests to select and enjoy varied stacked bites.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large serving platter or wooden board
  • Small paring knife
  • Cheese slicer or sharp knife
  • Spatula or butter knife

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains milk (cheese, cream cheese), gluten (bread, crackers, breadsticks), and sesame seeds.
  • May contain tree nuts and soy depending on ingredient sources.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 180
  • Total Fat: 10 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 18 g
  • Protein: 6 g