Picket Fence Snack Platter (Printable)

A colorful snack platter with crackers encircling a mix of nuts, berries, and optional honey drizzle.

# Ingredient list:

→ Crackers (The Fence)

01 - 20–24 rectangular or oval whole wheat crackers (such as Melba toasts or water crackers)

→ Garden Mix

02 - ½ cup raw almonds
03 - ½ cup walnut halves
04 - ½ cup shelled pistachios
05 - ½ cup dried cranberries
06 - ½ cup fresh blueberries
07 - ½ cup fresh raspberries
08 - ¼ cup chopped dried apricots

→ Optional Garnishes

09 - 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup for drizzling
10 - Fresh mint leaves

# How to Make It:

01 - Select a large, flat serving platter or wooden board suitable for presenting the snack.
02 - Place the whole wheat crackers upright, side by side, around the perimeter of the platter forming a continuous picket fence. Angle inward slightly to maintain stability if necessary.
03 - In a medium mixing bowl, gently mix the almonds, walnuts, pistachios, dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, fresh raspberries, and chopped dried apricots until evenly combined.
04 - Spoon the nut and berry blend into the center of the arranged crackers, allowing it to remain somewhat loose and abundant for visual appeal.
05 - Lightly drizzle honey or agave syrup over the nut and berry mixture if desired to enhance sweetness.
06 - Add fresh mint leaves atop the mixture for added color and aroma. Serve immediately, inviting guests to scoop from the center using the crackers.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks effortlessly fancy but takes barely ten minutes to assemble, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of hiding in the kitchen.
  • The crackers act as edible vessels so everyone can build their own flavor combinations, from nutty bites to berry-forward mouthfuls.
02 -
  • If you assemble this more than thirty minutes before serving, the crackers will start absorbing moisture from the berries and lose their snap—the fence will soften. Timing matters more than you'd expect for something so simple.
  • Shelling pistachios yourself costs more time but creates a prettier, more cohesive look than a mix of shelled and unshelled, which was a lesson I learned the hard way at a dinner party.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts lightly in a dry pan for five minutes before assembling if you want deeper flavor and maximum crunch—it's an invisible change that people feel even if they can't name it.
  • Assemble everything up to an hour before guests arrive, but hold the berries and mint until the last possible moment, so they stay bright and don't weep into the other elements.
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