Serengeti Sunset Apricots Gouda

# What You Need:

01 - 12 dried apricots, deep orange and plump

02 - 7 oz smoked Gouda cheese, sliced into thin rectangles

03 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives

04 - 1 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds

05 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

01 - Place parchment paper or a serving platter on your work surface.

02 - Arrange dried apricots horizontally in a row, slightly overlapping to form the first band.

03 - Place a layer of smoked Gouda slices directly above the apricot band, edges touching and slightly overlapping apricots.

04 - Continue layering apricots and smoked Gouda, creating at least three bands of each to evoke a sunset horizon.

05 - Gently press each layer to maintain neat, aligned bands for a dramatic presentation.

06 - Sprinkle chopped chives, toasted pumpkin seeds, and freshly ground black pepper if desired.

07 - Serve immediately using a sharp knife for clean slices or provide cocktail picks for easy handling.

01 -

Takes fifteen minutes but looks like you spent the entire afternoon fussing with it.
No cooking required, which means you can make it while guests are already arriving and still feel composed.
The contrast between sweet apricot and smoky cheese hits differently every single time you bite into it.

02 -

The presentation should be done close to serving time because the apricots will start to soften and shift if they sit too long, especially if your kitchen is warm.
If you can't find smoked Gouda, smoked cheddar works beautifully and sometimes even leans into the sunset colors more than the Gouda does.

03 -

The sharper your knife, the cleaner your slices will be, and clean slices make everything look more intentional and less like you were hacking away at it.
If the kitchen is warm, chill your cheese slices for ten minutes before arranging so they stay crisp and don't wilt into the apricots.