Diamond Inlay Cream Cheese

# 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 (luxury variation)

06 - OR 1.5 oz black olive tapenade (vegetarian alternative)

→ Garnish & Serving

07 - 1 tbsp finely chopped chives or dill

08 - Crackers, blinis, or toasted baguette slices

# Preparation steps:

01 - Blend cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl until smooth and fluffy.

02 - Place an 3-inch diameter ring mold or round cookie cutter on the serving platter.

03 - Using a spoon or piping bag, create a thick, even ring of the cream cheese mixture around the inner edge of the mold, leaving the center empty.

04 - Carefully spoon the caviar or tapenade into the center, smoothing to create a diamond shape.

05 - Gently lift the ring mold to reveal the clean diamond inlay.

06 - Sprinkle finely chopped chives or dill over the top for color.

07 - Serve immediately alongside crackers, blinis, or toasted baguette slices.

# Expert advice:

01 -

Takes just 15 minutes to pull together, so you can spend time on everything else.
Looks restaurant-worthy but uses straightforward ingredients you probably already have.
The cream cheese ring and caviar center feel luxurious without the pretension.

02 -

Cream cheese must be softened before you start, or you'll spend ten minutes fighting lumps instead of creating elegance.
If your caviar is sitting out while you work, it warms and loses that snappy texture; assemble the whole thing in the last two minutes if using the fancier version.
A chilled serving platter makes a real difference; condensation on a warm plate can blur your sharp edges.

03 -