Description
Gourmet crackers party sandwiches blend creamy spreads with delicate layers of premium ingredients. Elegant appetizers promise sophisticated flavor combinations perfect for sophisticated social gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (about 30) buttery round crackers (Ritz or Club)
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (50 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- Thinly sliced deli ham or turkey
- 2 tbsps mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Thin cucumber slices
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Chopped fresh herbs (parsley, dill, or chives)
- Crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Mixing: Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl, whipping until smooth and creamy with a uniform texture.
- Layering Foundation: Meticulously align crackers across a clean workspace, creating a systematic grid for precise sandwich construction.
- Cheese Application: Spread the prepared cheese blend evenly across each cracker, ensuring complete and consistent coverage that reaches every edge.
- Protein Placement: Delicately arrange thin ham or turkey slices atop the cheese layer, slightly overlapping to create a seamless meat coverage.
- Crisp Enhancement: Position fresh, crisp lettuce leaves over the meat, introducing a vibrant textural element to the mini sandwich.
- Sandwich Completion: Crown the layered creation with a second cracker, gently pressing to secure the mini sandwich’s structural integrity.
- Presentation Refinement: Optional garnish with a light dusting of paprika or finely chopped herbs to elevate visual and flavor profiles.
- Serving Preparation: Transfer completed party sandwiches to a chilled serving platter, arranging them attractively to entice guests and maintain their pristine appearance until consumption.
Notes
- Cheese Mixture Mastery: Blend ingredients at room temperature for smoother, more uniform consistency, preventing lumpy texture and ensuring easy spreading.
- Cracker Selection Strategy: Choose sturdy, crisp crackers that can withstand moisture without becoming soggy, like butter crackers or water crackers with firm structure.
- Layering Precision: Apply cheese spread in thin, even layer to prevent overpowering meat and lettuce; aim for balanced flavor profile in each bite.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cheese mixture and assemble sandwiches up to 2 hours before serving, storing covered in refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent crackers from getting soft.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 29
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg