Diamond Inlay Appetizer (Printable)

A creamy whipped cheese ring with a central caviar or tapenade inlay for refined gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Cream Cheese Layer

01 - 7 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 tbsp sour cream
03 - 1 tsp lemon juice
04 - Pinch of salt

→ Center Diamond

05 - 1.5 oz black caviar (luxury option)
06 - 1.5 oz black olive tapenade (vegetarian option)

→ Garnish & Serving

07 - 1 tbsp finely chopped chives or dill
08 - Crackers, blinis, or toasted baguette slices

# Directions:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl; beat until smooth and fluffy.
02 - Set an 3-inch diameter round cookie cutter or ring mold on the serving platter.
03 - Using a spoon or piping bag, pipe a thick, even ring of the cream cheese mixture inside the mold, leaving the center open.
04 - Spoon the caviar or tapenade into the center and gently smooth to shape a diamond.
05 - Carefully lift the ring mold to display the clean cream cheese ring with the center filling.
06 - Sprinkle chopped chives or dill atop for color and freshness.
07 - Present immediately accompanied by crackers, blinis, or toasted baguette slices.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like it took hours but comes together in the time it takes to chat with a friend.
  • No cooking required means you can make it while handling a dozen other last-minute party tasks.
  • The combination of creamy, salty, and tangy flavors feels decadent without being heavy.
  • Works equally well with caviar for the splurge or tapenade when you want elegance on a budget.
02 -
  • Room-temperature cream cheese is non-negotiable—cold cheese straight from the fridge will refuse to blend smoothly no matter how hard you stir.
  • If you use caviar instead of tapenade, assemble everything in the final five minutes before serving or the caviar will start to weep and look tired.
  • The ring mold should be at least 8 centimeters across or the proportions look off; too small and it's fiddly, too large and the cream cheese ring becomes too thin.
03 -
  • Chill your serving platter for five minutes before building the ring—it keeps the cream cheese from softening too quickly and losing definition.
  • A piping bag fitted with a round tip gives you cleaner control than a spoon, though a spoon works fine if that's what you have in your drawer.
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