Graduation Cap Snack (Print)

Fun, festive caps using crackers, cheese, and fruit strands for quick party bites.

# Components:

→ Base

01 - 12 square crackers (e.g., Wheat Thins, water crackers)
02 - 12 square slices of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, or American, about 1.5 inches square)

→ Tassel

03 - 12 long strings of black licorice or dried fruit strips (mango, apricot, or fruit leather, cut into thin strips about 3 inches long)

→ Assembly

04 - 12 small dots of cream cheese or hummus (for adhering)
05 - 12 small candy pearls or raisins (optional, for tassel button)

# Method:

01 - Place a square cracker on a serving platter.
02 - Top each cracker with a slice of cheese, aligning edges to form the cap shape.
03 - Secure one end of a licorice string or dried fruit strip to one corner of the cheese slice using a small dot of cream cheese or hummus, letting the tassel drape over the edge.
04 - Place a small candy pearl or raisin at the end of the tassel, securing it with additional cream cheese or hummus.
05 - Repeat the process with remaining ingredients and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're absolutely adorable and instantly recognizable, making them the perfect centerpiece snack that guests actually want to eat
  • No cooking required means you can assemble them right before the party without stress or heat in the kitchen
  • Everyone loves them because they're playful without being gimmicky—they taste good and look impressive
02 -
  • The adhesive is more important than you'd think—too little and your tassel will slip off mid-party, too much and it becomes visible and changes the appearance, so practice getting your dab size perfect on the first couple
  • Cheese at room temperature is far more forgiving to work with than cold cheese straight from the fridge, which can crack when you try to position it; let it sit out for five minutes first
03 -
  • Use black fruit leather instead of licorice if you have guests who don't eat licorice but still want that classic graduation cap look—the appearance is identical but the flavor is completely different
  • If your cream cheese is too stiff, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and it becomes spreadable enough to use as glue while still maintaining enough structure to hold everything in place
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