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Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter

Featured in: Seasonal Treats

This holiday platter features a delightful arrangement of mild cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda cheeses crafted into a reindeer's face. Pretzel twists form antlers while olives, red bell pepper, and sliced vegetables create eyes and nose accents. Ideal for family gatherings and kids' parties, it requires no cooking and comes together in 20 minutes. The combination of crackers and breadsticks adds texture, making it a visually charming centerpiece that invites fun and festive snacking.

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Updated on Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:26:00 GMT
Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter: a cheerful holiday appetizer with cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda cheeses. Save
Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter: a cheerful holiday appetizer with cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda cheeses. | crumbnest.com

A whimsical holiday platter featuring a variety of cheeses and snacks arranged to resemble a reindeers face&a fun, festive treat perfect for kids parties or family gatherings.

This platter always brings smiles to my family's holiday gatherings& the kids love to help arrange the pieces.

Ingredients

  • Cheeses: 200 g mild cheddar cheese, sliced 150 g mozzarella cheese, sliced 100 g gouda cheese, cubed
  • Crackers & Bread: 20 round whole wheat crackers 8 pretzel twists (for antlers) 6 breadsticks, halved
  • Vegetables & Garnishes: 1 small red bell pepper, cut into rounds (for nose and cheeks) 8 black olives, sliced (for eyes) 1 small cucumber, sliced 1 carrot, sliced into rounds and sticks
  • Other: 2 tablespoons cream cheese (for gluing features)

Instructions

Step 1:
Select a large, round platter as your base.
Step 2:
Arrange the cheddar cheese slices in an oval shape at the center to form the reindeers face.
Step 3:
Place mozzarella slices on each side of the face for cheeks.
Step 4:
Use gouda cubes around the bottom edge for the chin.
Step 5:
Position two pretzel twists or breadstick halves at the top of the head to create antlers.
Step 6:
Place two round crackers above the face as ears.
Step 7:
Adhere olive slices with a little cream cheese to form eyes.
Step 8:
Add a red bell pepper round for the nose, securing with cream cheese if needed.
Step 9:
Use cucumber and carrot slices for added decoration around the face or as a border.
Step 10:
Add any additional veggies or crackers to fill out the platter and serve immediately.
Festive Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter features cheese shaped like a reindeer, with a vibrant red pepper nose. Save
Festive Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter features cheese shaped like a reindeer, with a vibrant red pepper nose. | crumbnest.com

Our family loves sharing this platter& it always sparks joy and creativity at holiday gatherings.

Notes

Serve with hummus or ranch dip for extra flavor. Get kids involved in arranging the platter for extra fun.

Required Tools

Large serving platter, small knife, spreading knife or small spoon are necessary for assembly.

Allergen Information

Contains Milk (cheese), Wheat (crackers, breadsticks), Gluten (pretzels, breadsticks, crackers) and may contain Soy (depending on cracker brand). Double-check all packaged ingredient labels for allergens.

Enjoy this Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter, a visually appealing snack complete with pretzel antlers and olives. Save
Enjoy this Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter, a visually appealing snack complete with pretzel antlers and olives. | crumbnest.com

This cheesy reindeer face platter is a festive hit& perfect for any holiday gathering.

Recipe FAQ

→ What cheeses work best for the platter?

Mild cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda provide color and texture contrasts that bring the reindeer face to life.

→ How can I keep the vegetable pieces stuck to the cheese?

Use a small amount of cream cheese as an edible adhesive to secure items like olive slices and bell pepper rounds.

→ Are there alternatives to pretzel twists for antlers?

Breadstick halves can also be used to mimic antlers if pretzel twists are unavailable.

→ Can this platter be prepared ahead of time?

It’s best to assemble shortly before serving to keep crackers crisp and vegetables fresh.

→ What dips pair well with this cheese and snack arrangement?

Hummus or ranch dip complement the flavors and textures, enhancing the overall snack experience.

Cheesy Reindeer Face Platter

Holiday platter with cheeses, pretzels, and veggies arranged to create a festive reindeer face centerpiece.

Prep duration
20 min
0
Complete duration
20 min
Created by Chloe Martin


Skill Level Easy

Heritage American

Output 8 Portions

Dietary considerations Meat-Free

Components

Cheeses

01 7 oz mild cheddar cheese, sliced
02 5.3 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced
03 3.5 oz gouda cheese, cubed

Crackers & Bread

01 20 round whole wheat crackers
02 8 pretzel twists (for antlers)
03 6 breadsticks, halved

Vegetables & Garnishes

01 1 small red bell pepper, cut into rounds
02 8 black olives, sliced
03 1 small cucumber, sliced
04 1 carrot, sliced into rounds and sticks

Other

01 2 tablespoons cream cheese (for adhering features)

Directions

Phase 01

Prepare base platter: Choose a large, round serving platter as your base.

Phase 02

Form reindeer face: Arrange cheddar cheese slices in an oval shape at the platter’s center to represent the face.

Phase 03

Add cheeks: Position mozzarella slices on either side of the face to create cheeks.

Phase 04

Shape the chin: Place gouda cubes along the bottom edge to define the chin area.

Phase 05

Create antlers: Set two pretzel twists or halved breadsticks at the top to mimic antlers.

Phase 06

Position ears: Place two round crackers above the face to represent ears.

Phase 07

Form eyes: Secure sliced olives onto the platter with small amounts of cream cheese to form eyes.

Phase 08

Attach nose: Place a red bell pepper round at the center of the face for the nose, adhering it with cream cheese if needed.

Phase 09

Add decorations: Arrange cucumber and carrot slices around the face for garnish or as a border.

Phase 10

Finalize platter: Fill remaining spaces with additional vegetables or crackers as desired and serve promptly.

Tools needed

  • Large serving platter
  • Small knife
  • Spreading knife or small spoon

Allergy details

Review each component for potential allergens and seek medical guidance if you're uncertain about ingredients.
  • Contains milk, wheat, and gluten. Potential soy allergen depending on cracker brand. Verify labels carefully.

Nutritional information (each portion)

These values are approximate guides only and shouldn't replace professional medical consultation.
  • Energy: 180
  • Fats: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Proteins: 8 g