Creamy Olive Penguins
These delightful Creamy Olive Penguins are not only fun for kids to assemble, but they also make for an eye-catching and tasty appetizer for holiday gatherings or family celebrations. With their charming appearance and creamy filling, these little penguin delights are sure to bring smiles to all faces, young and old. Perfect for parties, playdates, or just as a creative snack, you'll find your children eager to help in the kitchen with this easy and engaging recipe.
18
Servings
N/A
Calories
5
Ingredients
Ingredients
large ripe black olives
18 (pitted, washed)
cream cheese
8 ounces (softened)
carrot
1 (about 6 inches long and 1 inch in diameter; sliced)
small ripe black olives
18 (pitted, washed)
frill toothpicks
18 (for assembly)
Instructions
1
Begin by preparing the large ripe black olives; cut a slit lengthwise from top to bottom in each olive to create an opening for the filling.
2
Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese into each olive, filling it generously. This will serve as the penguin's white belly.
3
Next, take the carrot and slice it into 1/4-inch thick rounds. From each slice, carve out a small notch on one side to represent the penguin's feet. Set the cut-out pieces aside to form the beaks.
4
For the small black olives, create a small slit in the center of each one and insert the pointed end of the carrot piece to act as the penguin's beak, adjusting it to sit snugly.
5
Using a frill toothpick, carefully stack the penguin by first attaching the head (small olive), then the body (large olive), followed by the feet (carrot slice), ensuring that the beak, cream cheese filling, and notch for the feet are aligned perfectly.
6
Repeat the assembly process for all penguins, ensuring good presentation with each creation.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Creamy Olive Penguins?
Creamy Olive Penguins are a creative and fun appetizer made from black olives, cream cheese, and carrots, designed to look like tiny penguins.
What ingredients do I need for this recipe?
You will need large ripe black olives, cream cheese, a carrot, small ripe black olives, and frill toothpicks.
How many penguins does this recipe make?
The recipe is designed to make 18 individual Creamy Olive Penguins.
What kind of olives should I use for the body?
The recipe calls for 18 large ripe black olives that have been pitted and washed.
How is the penguin's belly created?
The belly is created by cutting a lengthwise slit in a large black olive and filling it with about 1 teaspoon of softened cream cheese.
How do you make the penguin's feet?
The feet are made by slicing a carrot into 1/4-inch rounds and carving a small notch out of each slice.
What is used to make the penguin's beak?
The beak is the small carrot piece that was notched out from the carrot slice used for the feet.
How do you attach the beak to the penguin's head?
Create a small slit in the center of a small black olive and insert the pointed end of the carrot piece to act as the beak.
How are the penguins assembled?
Using a frill toothpick, stack the small olive head, the large cream cheese-filled olive body, and finally the carrot slice feet.
Is this recipe suitable for children?
Yes, this is a kid-friendly recipe that is fun for children to assemble and eat.
Can kids help in the kitchen with this recipe?
Absolutely! The recipe is described as an easy and engaging activity for children to help with.
What type of carrot is recommended?
A carrot that is about 6 inches long and 1 inch in diameter is recommended for the best results.
Why is it important to soften the cream cheese?
Softening the cream cheese makes it much easier to spoon into the olives without tearing them.
What purpose do the frill toothpicks serve?
Frill toothpicks hold the head, body, and feet together while adding a decorative touch.
Are these penguins good for holiday parties?
Yes, their charming appearance makes them an eye-catching appetizer for holiday gatherings or family celebrations.
How thick should the carrot slices be?
Carrot slices should be approximately 1/4-inch thick to provide a stable base for the penguins.
Should the olives be pitted?
Yes, both the large and small black olives should be pitted before assembly.
How much cream cheese should I put in each olive?
You should use approximately 1 teaspoon of cream cheese for each large olive to create a generous filling.
What are the tags associated with this recipe?
Tags include kid friendly, appetizer, party food, creative cooking, fun food, olives, holiday treats, and family activity.
Can I use different types of olives?
While black olives give the traditional penguin look, you could experiment, though black olives are best for the visual theme.
Is this a vegetarian appetizer?
Yes, these Creamy Olive Penguins are vegetarian as they only contain vegetables and dairy.
What should I do with the notched-out carrot pieces?
Save the small notched-out pieces to use as the beaks for the penguins.
How should I align the penguin parts?
Ensure that the beak, the cream cheese filling (belly), and the notch in the feet are all aligned perfectly for the best presentation.
Can I make these for a playdate?
Yes, they are described as a perfect creative snack for playdates.
How do you prepare the large olives for filling?
Cut a slit lengthwise from top to bottom in each large olive to create an opening for the cream cheese.
How many ounces of cream cheese are required?
The recipe requires 8 ounces of softened cream cheese.
What is the total ingredient count?
There are 5 main ingredients: large olives, small olives, cream cheese, carrot, and toothpicks.
Can I prepare these in advance?
Yes, you can assemble them ahead of time, but they should be kept refrigerated until serving.
Does the recipe include nutritional information?
No, nutritional data like calories, fat, and protein are not specified in this raw recipe data.
What is the primary category for this dish?
The primary category for Creamy Olive Penguins is 'Kid Friendly'.