Dragon Scale Spicy Appetizer

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 5 oz thinly sliced pepperoni

→ Cheese

02 - 5 oz semi-firm cheese (provolone, mozzarella, or cheddar), sliced into thin rounds or half-moons

→ Bread Base (optional)

03 - 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch rounds or gluten-free crackers

→ Garnishes

04 - Fresh basil or parsley leaves (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F if serving warm or to melt cheese slightly.

02 - Place baguette slices or gluten-free crackers on a serving platter or baking sheet if using.

03 - Starting at one end of each base or directly on the platter, place a semi-circle of cheese with its straight edge aligned to the base edge, then overlap a pepperoni slice over the rounded edge to create a layered scale effect. Continue alternating and overlapping cheese and pepperoni pieces to mimic dragon scales.

04 - Repeat layering until the entire base or platter is covered in the scale pattern.

05 - For warm serving, bake assembled pieces for 5-7 minutes until cheese just melts and pepperoni crisps slightly.

06 - Optionally garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It looks impossibly fancy but requires zero special skills or techniques.
Guests always assume you spent hours on it, and you won't correct them.
The baking is optional—serve it cold if you're short on time.

02 -

Cheese thickness matters more than you'd think—too thin and it tears, too thick and the scales look blocky instead of flowing.
If your cheese is cracking when you slice it, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes first; cold cheese from the fridge is brittle.

03 -

Slightly stiff cheese is your friend; let it warm up just enough to be flexible but not floppy, making the overlaps crisp and intentional.
Buy extra pepperoni and cheese because you'll eat at least a quarter of it before assembly even starts, and that's the tax for cooking.