Checkerboard Terrace Unique Textures (Printable Version)

Four-layered squares combining crunchy, soft, sweet, and salty elements for an engaging flavor experience.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Crunchy Layer

01 - 2.8 oz crushed crisp shortbread cookies or graham crackers
02 - 1 oz unsalted butter, melted

→ Soft Layer

03 - 2.8 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 1 oz powdered sugar
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Sweet Layer

06 - 3.5 oz dark chocolate, chopped
07 - 2 fl oz heavy cream

→ Salty Layer

08 - 2.8 oz salted caramel sauce
09 - Flaky sea salt to garnish

→ Assembly

10 - 16 small raspberries (optional for garnish)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Combine crushed cookies with melted butter and press evenly into a parchment-lined 8x8 inch baking dish to form a thin layer. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
02 - Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth.
03 - Heat heavy cream until simmering, pour over chopped dark chocolate, let stand 2 minutes, then stir until smooth and glossy. Allow to cool slightly.
04 - Use store-bought salted caramel sauce or prepare homemade caramel in advance.
05 - Remove crunchy base from refrigerator and lightly score the surface into a 4x4 grid with a ruler and sharp knife.
06 - Fill 4 squares with cream cheese mixture, 4 with chocolate ganache, 4 with salted caramel sauce sprinkled with flaky sea salt, and leave 4 squares as crunchy base topped optionally with raspberries. Arrange so no two similar textures are adjacent, creating a checkerboard pattern.
07 - Refrigerate the assembled layers for 30 minutes to firm up.
08 - Carefully cut along scored lines to produce 16 individual squares. Serve chilled or slightly chilled.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Each bite surprises you with a completely different texture and flavor, so you never get bored.
  • It looks stunning on a plate without requiring any fancy decorating skills or special equipment.
  • You can prep everything in advance and assemble right before serving, making it perfect for when guests are coming.
02 -
  • The checkerboard only works if you actually chill between assembly and slicing—warm filling bleeds everywhere and ruins the clean squares.
  • Your chocolate ganache needs to cool slightly before assembly or it'll melt through the cream cheese layer and create a sad muddy mess instead of distinct layers.
03 -
  • Chill your baking dish before adding the crust mixture so the butter stays firm and the base sets faster.
  • Use a bench scraper or offset spatula to fill each square neatly without disturbing the surrounding crust, and wipe it clean between uses.
Return to Recipe