Alpine Village Cheese Houses (Printer-friendly)

Mini cheese houses with almond roofs rest on creamy crackers for festive appetizer fun.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheese Houses

01 - 7 oz firm cheese (cheddar, gouda, or swiss), cut into sixteen 3/4-inch cubes
02 - 32 sliced almonds for roofs plus extras for garnish

→ Snowy Landscape

03 - 16 pale or white crackers (water or rice crackers preferred)
04 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened for snow effect

→ Decoration (optional)

05 - Small bunch fresh chives, cut into 1/2-inch pieces for trees or bushes
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced for doors or windows
07 - Poppy seeds or sesame seeds for added detail

# How to Make It:

01 - Spread a thin layer of softened cream cheese evenly on each cracker to simulate snow.
02 - Place a cheese cube on top of each cream cheese-coated cracker, pressing gently to adhere.
03 - Arrange two almond slices on each cheese cube to form a pitched roof, slightly overlapping for best effect.
04 - Use chive pieces and diced red bell pepper to embellish each house with trees, doors, or windows as desired.
05 - Sprinkle poppy or sesame seeds over the assembled village for extra detail.
06 - Arrange all cheese houses on a large serving platter for display and serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They look like edible art but take less time than you'd think to assemble.
  • Kids and adults both find them irresistible, making them the perfect icebreaker snack.
  • You can customize the details endlessly with whatever vegetables or garnishes you have on hand.
02 -
  • Assemble these no more than an hour before serving because the crackers will gradually soften as they absorb moisture from the cheese and cream cheese—speed matters here more than with most appetizers.
  • Let your cream cheese sit at room temperature until it's genuinely soft, or it'll tear the cracker when you spread it; a few minutes out of the fridge makes a huge difference.
03 -
  • Prep your ingredients (cut cheese, slice almonds, dice peppers) before you start assembling, so you can work quickly and keep the crackers from getting soggy.
  • If you're making these for a crowd, assemble the base and cheese houses an hour ahead, then add the decorative details (chives, peppers, seeds) just before serving so everything stays fresh and visually vibrant.
Go Back