A charming cheese board with owl crackers, various cheeses, fresh fruits, and nuts for easy entertaining.
# What You'll Need:
→ Owl Crackers
01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
05 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold, cubed
06 - 1/2 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 1/4 cup cold water
08 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds for decoration
09 - 12 whole black peppercorns or sliced black olives for owl eyes
→ Cheeses
10 - 3.5 oz Brie, sliced
11 - 3.5 oz aged Gouda, sliced
12 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
13 - 3.5 oz blue cheese, crumbled
→ Fruits & Nuts
14 - 1 small bunch seedless grapes
15 - 1 small apple, thinly sliced
16 - 1 small pear, thinly sliced
17 - 1/2 cup dried apricots
18 - 1/2 cup walnuts
19 - 1/2 cup roasted almonds
→ Garnishes
20 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
21 - Edible flowers (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together flour, salt, black pepper, and thyme in a bowl. Add cold cubed butter and rub with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in finely grated cheddar cheese. Gradually mix in cold water to form a soft dough. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 15 minutes.
02 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut out owl shapes using a cookie cutter or knife. Decorate with sesame seeds for feathers and black peppercorns or olive slices for eyes.
03 - Arrange shaped crackers on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
04 - On a large wooden board or platter, arrange slices and crumbles of cheese in separate sections. Distribute cooled owl crackers evenly among the cheeses. Add clusters of seedless grapes, apple and pear slices, dried apricots, walnuts, and roasted almonds. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and edible flowers for a woodland aesthetic.
