Checkerboard Terrace Sweet Squares (Printable Version)

A 4x4 grid of layered squares balancing crunchy, soft, sweet, and salty flavors for any occasion.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crunchy Layer

01 - 2.8 oz crisp shortbread cookies or graham crackers, crushed
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

→ Soft Layer

03 - 2.8 oz cream cheese, softened
04 - 2 tbsp powdered sugar
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Sweet Layer

06 - 3.5 oz dark chocolate, chopped
07 - 1/4 cup heavy cream

→ Salty Layer

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

→ Assembly

10 - 16 small raspberries (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Combine crushed cookies with melted butter and press evenly into an 8x8 inch parchment-lined baking dish. Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
02 - Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth in a mixing bowl.
03 - Heat heavy cream to a simmer and 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 surface into a 4x4 grid using a ruler and sharp knife.
06 - Fill 4 squares with cream cheese mixture (soft), 4 squares with chocolate ganache (sweet), 4 squares with salted caramel sauce sprinkled with flaky sea salt (salty), and leave 4 squares as crunchy base topped optionally with raspberries. Arrange to avoid adjacent matching textures.
07 - Place assembled dessert in refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm.
08 - Carefully cut along grid lines to create 16 individual squares. Serve slightly chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter—guests genuinely pause to experience each layer and compare their favorites.
  • You feel fancy without the fuss since everything comes together in just over an hour.
  • The checkerboard pattern means no two bites are identical, so you never get bored.
02 -
  • Precise layering matters—if you overfill squares, they merge into each other and you lose the entire visual and textural point.
  • The cream cheese needs to be genuinely soft, or you'll spend forever trying to spread it without tearing the crumb base beneath.
  • Don't skip the grid scoring—it guides your knife and prevents crumbs from dragging through finished layers.
03 -
  • A small offset spatula makes spreading softer layers infinitely easier and keeps your base cleaner than a regular knife.
  • Homemade salted caramel tastes noticeably better than most store-bought versions, but don't stress—quality jarred caramel saves you time and still tastes wonderful.
Go Back