Floating Island Cheese Wheels (Printer-Friendly)

Cheese wheel surrounded by blue yogurt dip and grapes creates a stunning party centerpiece.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 1 large wheel of soft-ripened cheese (Brie or Camembert), approximately 17.6 oz

→ Dip

02 - 14 oz plain Greek yogurt
03 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - Blue food coloring (gel or natural), amount as needed

→ Garnishes

07 - 8.8 oz seedless black or red grapes
08 - Fresh herbs (optional, for decoration)

# Directions:

01 - Place the cheese wheel in the center of a large serving platter to form the island.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt. Mix until smooth.
03 - Gradually add blue food coloring to the yogurt mixture, stirring until a deep, lake-like blue color is achieved.
04 - Carefully spoon the blue yogurt dip around the cheese wheel on the platter, forming a lake effect.
05 - Arrange seedless grapes around the edge of the yogurt lake to create a decorative border.
06 - Optionally, garnish the cheese island with fresh herbs or edible flowers for added visual appeal.
07 - Serve immediately accompanied by crackers or bread on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like edible art and tastes incredible, which means less work, more showing off.
  • Everything comes together in 15 minutes, so even when you're running late, you still look put-together.
  • People genuinely remember this dish and ask for it again, which is its own kind of victory.
02 -
  • Add food coloring slowly, because once it's in, you can't take it out, and the color deepens as you let it sit.
  • Use a cheese that's actually soft and spreadable, because a hard cheese wheel will just sit there looking lonely instead of inviting people to dig in.
03 -
  • Make the dip first and let the coloring fully develop while you prep the rest, so you're not rushing when it's showtime.
  • If the yogurt starts separating or looks watery, you've either added too much lemon juice or your yogurt wasn't thick enough to begin with, so drain it through cheesecloth next time.
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