Graduation Cap Snack (Printable)

Crisp crackers and cheese topped with a licorice or dried fruit tassel for festive gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Base

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

→ Tassel

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

→ Assembly

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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • These look absolutely impressive, but here's the secret—they take just ten minutes from start to table, making you look like a culinary genius without the stress.
  • They're endlessly customizable depending on what you have on hand, so you can make them work for any dietary preference or flavor preference in your crowd.
  • There's something genuinely fun about assembling edible art that makes your guests actually pause and admire their food before devouring it.
02 -
  • The cream cheese or hummus really is essential as adhesive—I once tried making these without any binding agent, and the tassels just slid right off the moment someone picked one up. Never again. That small dab is not optional.
  • Cold cheese is your enemy here. If you take it straight from the package, it won't grip the tassel properly. Let it sit for just a few minutes and suddenly everything holds together beautifully.
  • The shape of your cracker and cheese absolutely matters. Rectangles look like mistakes. Squares look intentional and celebratory. This detail is what separates 'cute snack' from 'wow, you really thought about this.'
03 -
  • Cut your fruit strips or licorice ahead of time and lay them on parchment paper—this makes assembly feel organized and flowing rather than scrambling for materials halfway through.
  • If your adhesive seems too thick, a tiny drop of water mixed into your cream cheese makes it spreadable without changing the holding power.
  • Arrange your finished snacks on a platter with the tassels all pointing the same direction—it creates a cohesive, intentional look that photographs beautifully.
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