Artistic Sundial Cheese Platter (Printable version)

Elegant cheese wedge with nut clusters and balsamic glaze creates a striking centerpiece.

# What you need:

→ Cheese

01 - 1 thick wedge (about 5.3 oz) aged hard cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged Gouda, or Manchego)

→ Balsamic Glaze

02 - 3 tbsp high-quality balsamic glaze

→ Nut Clusters

03 - 1/3 cup roasted almonds
04 - 1/3 cup roasted walnuts
05 - 1/3 cup roasted pecans
06 - 1/3 cup roasted hazelnuts
07 - 2 tbsp dried cranberries (optional)

→ Garnishes (optional)

08 - Fresh grapes or figs
09 - Edible flowers or microgreens

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the wedge of hard cheese upright in the center of a large round serving platter, with the pointed end facing outward like a sundial gnomon.
02 - Drizzle a thick line of balsamic glaze extending outward from the cheese wedge to mimic a sundial shadow.
03 - Distribute 12 small clusters of mixed nuts evenly around the cheese wedge, forming a circle to represent the hours on a clock face; tuck dried cranberries into some clusters for visual accent.
04 - Optionally, embellish the platter with fresh grapes, figs, or edible flowers to enhance color and elegance.
05 - Provide cocktail picks or small forks to facilitate easy sharing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually spent fifteen minutes on a platter.
  • Hard cheese and roasted nuts taste like they were meant to be together, especially when that balsamic shadow brings everything into focus.
  • Everyone eats it, no complicated flavors to debate, just honest, satisfying simplicity.
02 -
  • Temperature matters: pull your cheese from the fridge about 20 minutes before serving so the flavors aren't muted and the texture softens just slightly, making it more pleasant to eat.
  • The balsamic must be glaze-thick, not vinegar-thin, or it'll run everywhere and look sloppy instead of artistic—reduce it yourself if you're buying straight vinegar, simmering gently until it coats a spoon.
03 -
  • If you want the balsamic to stay in a tight line instead of spreading, chill the platter for 10 minutes before drizzling—the cold slows the glaze's flow.
  • Source your nuts from places with good turnover so they're truly fresh and fragrant, which elevates everything else on the board without any extra effort.
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