Marinated Cheese Ring
Cheese platters are always such an appetizer staple at parties or for special holiday occasions when you need to keep your guests happily munching on some delicious snacks while you get those last-minute preparations done for the main course.
This marinated cheese ring is such an easy and fun way to add a bit of decorative snacking to your holiday appetizer table! And although the cheese makes up the bulk of this platter, let’s not forget about all the delicious additions to this festive-looking wreath too – olives, roasted red peppers, garlic, herbs and artichoke hearts.
The mixture on top of the marinated cheese ring elevates this cheese platter, making it perfect for a fancy party that you can serve with some toasted baguette slices or crackers of your choice! This showstopper appetizer platter will definitely get your guests ooh-ing and aah-ing in no time.
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WHAT OTHER SNACKS GO WELL WITH THIS MARINATED CHEESE RING?
- You can serve this cheese ring platter with additional savory and sweet accompaniments such as slices of prosciutto, toasted nuts, chutney, jams, honey or dried fruit.
CAN I MAKE THIS MARINATED CHEESE RING IN ADVANCE?
- Yes, you can. This platter does require you to have assembled to store in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours prior to serving so that in a way is already making this platter ahead of time.
- However, you can also make your platter the day before. Should you be adding any dry and crunchy additions to the cheese ring such as toasted nuts or the toasted baguettes, you’ll want to omit those and leave to add just prior to serving otherwise these types of ingredients will get soggy.
- Make sure to wrap your marinated cheese ring well in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS MARINATED CHEESE RING
- I recommend using sharp cheddar or mozzarella for your cheese ring although the great thing about marinated cheese rings is that you can pretty much use whatever flavor of cheeses you wish!
- It’s a great idea to include labels for your cheeses. These don’t have to be directly on your cheeses as it can ruin the aesthetics of the cheese platter but you can place it nearby to your cheeses or add a description card of the cheeses used in your platter by the side of the platter for your guests to read. Trust me – labels will save you having to repeat yourself the whole night.
- Avoid serving your cheese platter directly from the refrigerator but instead take it out for an hour to reach room temperature before you serve it to your guests.
- You don’t have to use expensive cheeses for this platter. There are many inexpensive kinds of cheese that taste great. So if you do happen to include an expensive cheese then you can add others that are not so expensive.
- Always think about the flavors of your cheeses selected and make sure to mix them up to keep your platter interesting.
Marinated Cheese Ring
- Slice cold cream cheese into strips and then cut those strips in half.
- On a plate, stand a slice of sharp cheddar cheese up and then a slice of cream cheese, followed by another slice of sharp. Do this pattern around the plate, forming the ring.
- Next fill in the center of the ring with layers of mozzarella pearls, artichoke hearts, green olives, greek olives, and chopped roasted red peppers.
- Create your marinade by combining the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, your chopped herbs and minced garlic. Drizzle your marinade all around the ring and over the center.
- Cover and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours and then serve on toasted baguettes and *optional pepperoni. Use any leftover marinade for a bread dip.
WHAT OTHER SNACKS GO WELL WITH THIS MARINATED CHEESE RING?
- You can serve this cheese ring platter with additional savory and sweet accompaniments such as slices of prosciutto, toasted nuts, chutney, jams, honey or dried fruit.
CAN I MAKE THIS MARINATED CHEESE RING IN ADVANCE?
- Yes, you can. This platter does require you to have assembled to store in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours prior to serving so that in a way is already making this platter ahead of time.
- However, you can also make your platter the day before. Should you be adding any dry and crunchy additions to the cheese ring such as toasted nuts or the toasted baguettes, you’ll want to omit those and leave to add just prior to serving otherwise these types of ingredients will get soggy.
- Make sure to wrap your marinated cheese ring well in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.
More Cheesy Appetizers for Parties
Marinated Cheese Ring
This marinated cheese ring is such an easy and fun way to add a bit of decorative snacking to your holiday appetizer table!
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Ingredients
- 8 oz package of cream cheese cold and sliced
- 15 oz packages of pre sliced sharp white cheddar cheese I used 15oz of the pre sliced cheese. I liked the pre sliced because it saves time and also it is a little taller than the block of white cheddar so that you can have more filling in the center of the ring.
- 8 oz ball of fresh mozzarella pearls
- 1/2 cup of artichoke hearts
- 1/2 cup of green olives
- 1/2 cup of pitted Greek Olives
- 1/4 cup of chopped roasted red peppers
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar
- 1-1/2 TBSP fresh parsley chopped
- 1-1/2 TBSP fresh basil chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- Toasted French bread baguette sliced
- *Optional: Sliced Pepperoni
Instructions
- Slice cold cream cheese into strips and then cut those strips in half.
- On a plate, stand a slice of sharp cheddar cheese up and then a slice of cream cheese, followed by another slice of sharp. Do this pattern around the plate, forming the ring.
- Next fill in the center of the ring with layers of mozzarella pearls, artichoke hearts, green olives, greek olives, and chopped roasted red peppers.
- Create your marinade by combining the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, your chopped herbs and minced garlic. Drizzle your marinade all around the ring and over the center.
- Cover and allow it to sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours and then serve on toasted baguettes and *optional pepperoni. Use any leftover marinade for a bread dip.
Nutrition
Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1015mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1121IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 587mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Where do you find the ‘pre-sliced’ white cheddar?
My grocery store refers to them as cheese cuts. They are usually by the shredded cheeses. 🙂
This is an amazing idea I will definitely be trying it for my dinner party tomorrow. WOW!
I hope you. love it!