Olympic Rings Appetizer Platter

I'll never forget the moment I decided to create the Olympic Rings platter—it was during the opening ceremonies, watching athletes from around the world come together in perfect unity. I was hosting friends for a viewing party and wanted the food to match that same spirit of coming together. That's when it hit me: what if I could make those iconic interlocking rings not just visually striking, but delicious too? Each ring would tell its own flavor story, yet they'd all work beautifully together on one platter, just like the Olympics brings nations together. What started as a playful idea became one of my most requested appetizers.

I made this for my neighbor's daughter who was obsessed with the Olympics, and watching her face light up when she saw her plate was pure magic. She called it "the prettiest thing I've ever eaten," and suddenly all the careful arranging felt completely worthwhile. That's when I knew this wasn't just about food—it was about creating a moment worth remembering.

Ingredients

• Blueberries: The foundation of your blue ring, offering natural tartness and jewel-like beauty. Look for ones that are plump and deeply colored—they're sweetest that way
• Blue corn tortilla chips: These add that essential textural contrast and remind people this is meant to be fun and celebratory, not just precious
• Blue cheese: A bold choice that prevents the ring from being one-note sweet. Crumble it generously so people know exactly what they're getting
• Toasted walnuts: Toast them yourself if you can—the warmth brings out their earthiness and makes them taste less like an afterthought and more like an intentional choice
• Yellow cherry tomatoes: These are little bursts of pure summer, and halving them makes them easier to eat while keeping their cheerful round shape visible
• Yellow bell pepper: Bright and crisp, it provides the veggie anchor that keeps the yellow ring balanced between fruit and savory
• Pineapple chunks: Slightly tropical, slightly unexpected—the secret to keeping people interested in every single ring
• Toasted cashews: Softer and sweeter than walnuts, they're the golden note that ties the yellow ring together
• Black olives: Use the good ones if you can afford them. There's nothing worse than briny, rubbery olives undermining your whole vision
• Black grapes: They provide sweetness and elegance to the darker ring, making it feel sophisticated rather than heavy
• Black bean hummus: This is your creamy anchor for the black ring, earthy and substantial. Serve it in a small bowl nestled in the center of the black circle
• Pumpernickel bread: Those small rounds become little vessels for the hummus, and their nutty flavor feels intentionally curated
• Cucumber slices: The crispest, freshest option you can find—this is what makes the green ring feel alive and clean
• Green grapes: Sweet and delicate, they prove that the green ring doesn't have to be all vegetables and herbs to feel cohesive
• Edamame: These little green gems bring protein and that satisfying, slightly chewy texture that keeps people reaching back for more
• Fresh basil leaves: This is your green ring's perfume—its secret ingredient that makes people wonder what they're tasting. Don't skip it
• Cherry tomatoes: Ruby-red and classic, they're the most recognizable ingredient on your entire platter, which is exactly why they anchor the red ring
• Red bell pepper: Diced into small pieces so people can easily grab them and taste the sweetness that comes when peppers are truly fresh
• Strawberries: Halved to show off their pretty pink insides, they're the unexpected luxury that makes people smile at the red ring
• Roasted red pepper hummus: This is your second creamy anchor, warm and welcoming, the red ring's gift to anyone wanting something more substantial

Instructions

Prepare your canvas:

Clear your largest platter and find a clear spot on the counter where you can work without interruption. If you're worried about placement, use parchment paper underneath to lightly sketch five interlocking circles with a pencil—think of the Olympic rings, with blue on the left, then red and black above in the middle and right, and yellow and green below. You can refer to this as you arrange, or just remove the parchment once you're happy with the layout. The beauty is that this is flexible—if your circles aren't perfect, that's actually charming.

Prep all your ingredients first:

Wash, slice, dice, and toast everything before you begin arranging. Have small bowls ready for your hummus spreads. This is crucial because once you start building the rings, you don't want to stop and hunt for a knife. Everything should be within arm's reach, prepped and waiting. This is meditation work—the chopping and toasting—so embrace it.

Build the blue ring:

Starting on the left side of your platter, begin arranging blueberries in a circle about 8 inches in diameter. Scatter the broken tortilla chips throughout, add crumbled blue cheese, and finish with the toasted walnuts nestled between the berries. Step back and look at it—this is your reference point for how the other rings should look in terms of density and visual interest.

Create the yellow ring:

Moving to the upper middle, create your second circle so it slightly overlaps the blue ring—this is what creates that interlocking Olympic symbol magic. Layer the halved yellow cherry tomatoes with diced yellow bell pepper, add pineapple chunks for brightness, and scatter toasted cashews throughout. The yellow ring should feel like summer itself.

Construct the black ring:

In the upper right, create your third circle, again overlapping slightly with the yellow ring. Layer sliced black olives, halved black grapes, and pumpernickel bread rounds. Place a small bowl of black bean hummus right in the center of this ring. The black ring is your most sophisticated-looking one, so take time to make it look intentional.

Assemble the green ring:

In the lower left, create your fourth circle overlapping the blue ring. Layer cucumber slices (they should still be crisp and cold), halved green grapes, shelled edamame, and fresh basil leaves scattered throughout. The green ring should look the freshest and most garden-like of all the rings.

Complete the red ring:

Finally, in the lower right, create your fifth and final circle, overlapping the green ring. Layer halved cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, halved strawberries, and finish with a small bowl of roasted red pepper hummus nestled in the center. Step back and admire your work.

Final touches and serve:

Once all five rings are complete and overlapping in that iconic pattern, take a moment to look at it from different angles. Adjust any ingredients that don't quite sit right. If there are gaps that look bare, fill them with a few extra pieces. Serve immediately while everything is still cold and crisp, or cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. The platter should be brought to room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving so flavors are at their brightest.

Save

My favorite moment came when a friend's young daughter tried to carefully take one blueberry and one strawberry from the platter together, creating a tiny red-and-blue connection all her own. She understood immediately what the platter was about—unity, coming together, finding your own path through the whole. That's when I realized this recipe is actually about more than showing off in the kitchen. It's about creating a moment that people remember and talk about long after the party ends.

Making It Your Own

Here's the secret nobody tells you about platters like this: once you understand the structure, you can swap almost anything in and it still works. Don't have blueberries? Use blackberries and add some blue tortilla chips for the color. Don't love hummus? Try cream cheese mixed with fresh herbs, or even a good aged cheddar for the black ring. The formula is simple—three to four substantial ingredients per ring, something creamy in the center if you want it, and always something that keeps it fresh. Think of this template as your starting point, not your prison. The best version of this platter is the one that uses the ingredients your people actually want to eat.

Pairing and Presentation Ideas

This platter deserves to be the star of the table, so give it space and good lighting. Serve it slightly elevated so people can see all five rings clearly. A light white wine like Sauvignon Blanc is perfect alongside it—the acidity cuts through the creaminess of the hummus and cheese, and the flavors feel celebratory without being heavy. I've also served it alongside sparkling water with fresh citrus, which keeps everyone feeling bright and energized. Whatever you choose to drink alongside it, choose something that makes the moment feel special, because that's what this platter deserves.

Customizations and Dietary Adaptations

The beautiful part about this appetizer is how naturally it adapts to different dietary needs without feeling like you're making separate food. Going nut-free? Swap the walnuts and cashews for sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, toasted the same way. Making it vegan? Use a cashew-based cheese for the blue ring and make sure your hummus is tahini-based or made with aquafaba. Gluten-free guests? Replace the pumpernickel bread with gluten-free crackers or simply add more of the other substantial ingredients to the black ring. The key is that no one should feel like they're eating a modified version—the platter should just feel like it was made with them in mind from the start.

• If you're making this for a crowd with mixed dietary needs, set up small separate bowls of nuts and potentially problematic items on the side, letting people add them to their own plates
• The hummus spreads can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for three days, which means you can truly just do assembly on the day of your event
• Keep a small damp towel nearby while you're arranging—your hands will get sticky from the fruit, and wiping them between rings keeps the platter looking intentional rather than sloppy

Save

This platter is proof that food can be art and nourishment at the same time, and that feeding people is actually a form of celebration. Make it whenever you want to remind everyone at your table that they're part of something bigger than themselves.

Recipe FAQ

→ How do I create the interlocking rings layout?

Use a pencil and parchment paper to lightly sketch five overlapping circles on your serving surface as a guide for arranging the ingredients in the desired Olympic ring pattern.

→ Can I make this platter vegan?

Yes. Replace blue cheese with plant-based cheese and use vegan hummus to keep the flavors aligned while maintaining suitability for vegan diets.

→ What are good substitutes for nuts if there are allergies?

Seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds can be used as an alternative to walnuts and cashews to keep the crunch and texture without nut allergens.

→ How should I serve and store the platter?

Serve immediately for best freshness, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Avoid long storage to maintain ingredient textures.

→ What pairings complement this appetizer platter?

A light white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc pairs well, enhancing the fresh and vibrant flavors of the different rings.