Southwest Mesa Cheese Stacks (Printable Version)

Stacked crackers and cheese layers with peppers and seeds evoke striking Southwest mesas.

# Ingredient List:

→ Crackers

01 - 24 assorted crackers (multigrain, wheat, rye, or seeded; various shapes and sizes)

→ Cheeses

02 - 3.5 oz cheddar cheese, sliced
03 - 3.5 oz pepper jack cheese, sliced
04 - 3.5 oz Monterey Jack cheese, sliced
05 - 1.75 oz smoked gouda, sliced
06 - 1.75 oz blue cheese, cubed (optional)

→ Garnishes

07 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
09 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
10 - 1 tablespoon toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

# Steps:

01 - Prepare all cheese slices so they are slightly smaller than the crackers to facilitate neat stacking and enhance presentation.
02 - On a large serving platter, alternate layers of crackers and cheese slices, varying the cheese types and stack heights between 3 and 7 layers to resemble flat-topped mesas.
03 - Within each stack, mix different cheese varieties to provide visual interest and contrasting flavors.
04 - Insert slices of red bell pepper, cilantro leaves, and jalapeño between some layers or atop the stacks to simulate vegetation and add color.
05 - Sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds around the base of each stack to emulate a desert floor texture.
06 - Serve immediately, or cover loosely and refrigerate until ready to present.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It arrives looking like edible art, which means your guests will be impressed before they even taste it.
  • Nothing gets cooked, so you can make this while wearing whatever you want and still look like you know what you're doing.
  • Every bite tastes different because you're layering multiple cheese personalities together, each one playing off the others.
02 -
  • Let your cheeses sit out for five minutes before assembling—cold cheese won't grip the crackers the way you need it to, and your stacks will feel unstable and betrayed.
  • Crackers that are too thick won't stack with grace; too thin and they'll snap the moment someone picks up their tower, which is embarrassing for everyone involved.
03 -
  • If your stacks feel wobbly, you haven't cut your cheese slices small enough—trim them until they're noticeably smaller than the crackers and the whole thing will suddenly feel stable and intentional.
  • Bring your cheeses to room temperature before assembly; this makes them more pliable and less likely to crack or behave like they're mad at you.
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