Roman Colosseum Snack Platter (Printable)

Circular crackers and olives create a playful, Italian-inspired snack centerpiece with optional cheese and herbs.

# What You Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 3.5–4.2 oz round or oval crackers (about 40–50 pieces)

→ Gladiators

02 - 1 cup (about 5.3 oz) mixed olives (green and black, pitted)

→ Garnishes

03 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
04 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional, for drizzling)

→ Accompaniments (optional)

05 - 1.8 oz cubed cheese (aged provolone or mozzarella)
06 - 1.8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved

# How-To:

01 - Select a large, round serving platter or board to serve as the foundation representing the Colosseum.
02 - Place crackers upright or slightly overlapping in concentric circles along the edge of the platter, building two to three layers to mimic tiered seating.
03 - Pile the mixed olives at the center of the platter to symbolize gladiators in the arena.
04 - Optionally, scatter cubed cheese and halved cherry tomatoes around the olives for additional color and flavor.
05 - Sprinkle chopped parsley over the olives and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil if desired.
06 - Present immediately as an engaging and visually striking centerpiece for guests.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks impressive enough to make guests think you spent hours preparing when it actually takes minutes.
  • Everyone gets to interact with it, building their own bites instead of just eating what's handed to them.
  • The combination of salty olives, crispy crackers, and bright parsley tastes like you actually know your way around an Italian kitchen.
02 -
  • Make this no more than an hour before serving or your crackers will start absorbing moisture from the olives and lose their snap—timing matters more than you'd think for something this simple.
  • Pitting your olives ahead of time saves your guests from wrestling with stones mid-conversation, which is a small kindness that changes the whole experience.
03 -
  • Arrange your crackers the night before if you want to save time on party day—they won't spoil and you'll feel calmer knowing that part is done.
  • Keep the olives slightly chilled in their brine until the last moment, then drain and pat dry so they look glossy and intentional rather than wet and forgotten.
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