Diamond Inlay Appetizer (Print-Friendly)

Creamy cheese ring encases a rich caviar or tapenade center for sophisticated gatherings.

# What You'll 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 (for pescatarian option)
06 - 1.5 oz black olive tapenade (for vegetarian option)

→ Garnish & Serving

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

# How To Make It:

01 - In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, and salt; blend until smooth and fluffy.
02 - Place a round ring mold or cookie cutter about 3 inches in diameter on the serving platter.
03 - Use a small spoon or piping bag to create a thick, even ring of the cream cheese mixture inside the mold, leaving the center empty.
04 - Gently spoon black caviar or olive tapenade into the center, smoothing it to form a diamond shape.
05 - Carefully remove the ring mold to display the clean diamond inlay.
06 - Sprinkle with finely chopped chives or dill for color and freshness.
07 - Present immediately with crackers, blinis, or toasted baguette slices.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks impossibly fancy but takes just 15 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of panicking in the kitchen.
  • The contrast between cool, tangy cream cheese and the rich pop of caviar or briny tapenade is genuinely addictive on the first bite.
  • It adapts instantly—use caviar for elegant dinners or tapenade for casual gatherings, and suddenly you have two completely different appetizers.
02 -
  • Cream cheese temperature matters more than you think—if it's cold, no amount of stirring gives you the fluffy texture caviar deserves; if it's warm, everything separates and looks greasy.
  • The mold has to come off cleanly, which only happens if your cream cheese layer is thick enough and cold enough to hold its shape without the mold's support.
  • If you're using caviar, assemble just before serving because cream cheese absorbs moisture from the caviar and loses its pristine look within 20 minutes.
03 -
  • If your ring mold sticks, run a thin knife around the inside edge before lifting it away, or briefly warm the outside of the mold with your hands.
  • For an extra-dramatic presentation, use a diamond-shaped mold instead of a circle, or carefully carve a diamond shape with a sharp knife once the ring is set—it's easier than it sounds.
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