New Years Clock Countdown (Printable)

Celebrate with a festive platter featuring crackers, olives, and cheese arranged as a countdown clock.

# What you need:

→ Crackers and Breadsticks

01 - 24 round crackers
02 - 8 breadsticks (optional, for decoration)

→ Cheeses

03 - 7 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed
04 - 7 ounces Swiss cheese, cubed

→ Olives and Garnishes

05 - 24 pitted black olives
06 - 24 pitted green olives
07 - 2 cherry tomatoes
08 - Fresh parsley or rosemary sprigs (optional)

→ Extras

09 - 1 small round wooden or ceramic serving board, approximately 12 inches in diameter (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Place the 24 round crackers evenly around the edge of the serving board to represent clock numbers, positioning 12 at the top and 6 at the bottom.
02 - Place one black olive and one green olive alternately on each cracker to mimic clock numbers.
03 - Arrange the two cherry tomatoes in the center of the board to represent the clock’s center point.
04 - Skewer cheddar and Swiss cheese cubes with toothpicks and arrange them as clock hands pointing to midnight.
05 - Optionally add breadsticks and fresh herbs like parsley or rosemary to fill gaps and enhance presentation.
06 - Present the platter immediately and invite guests to snack as you count down to midnight.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of centerpiece that makes guests actually excited to eat—everyone wants to grab an olive or cheese cube from a literal clock counting down to midnight
  • Zero cooking required means you can spend your New Year's Eve relaxing instead of panicking in the kitchen
  • The presentation is so impressive that people assume you spent hours on it, when really you've got maybe 20 minutes invested
  • It naturally encourages mingling as guests gather around to snack and watch the clock hands move toward midnight
02 -
  • Assemble this no more than 2 hours before your party starts—crackers begin to soften once the olives release their moisture, and you want everything to stay crisp and fresh for the countdown
  • If your toothpicks feel flimsy when you're building the clock hands, double them up. Two toothpicks skewered together are exponentially more stable and look intentional rather than wobbly
  • The magic of this platter isn't about perfection—it's about creating a gathering point. A slightly imperfect, handmade clock says 'I made this with care' way more than a sterile, symmetrical one
03 -
  • Score a wooden board with a slight lip or rim—it keeps everything from sliding around and feels more intentional than a flat plate
  • Warm your cheese cubes slightly before assembling (leave them out for 10 minutes) so they're easier to skewer onto toothpicks without crumbling
  • If you're serving more than 8 people, double the recipe and make two clocks—it's easier than trying to make one massive board, and two clocks create beautiful symmetry on a table
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