Derby Party Pimento Cheese (Print Version)

Southern-style pimento cheese finger sandwiches with creamy cheddar, mayo, and pimentos for easy entertaining.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese Mixture

01 - 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
02 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
04 - 1/4 cup jarred diced pimentos, drained
05 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
08 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Sandwich Assembly

10 - 24 slices thin white sandwich bread, crusts removed
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and mayonnaise. Beat with a hand mixer or stir vigorously until smooth and creamy.
02 - Add diced pimentos, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated.
03 - Lay out the bread slices. If desired, lightly spread one side of each slice with softened butter to prevent sogginess.
04 - Evenly spread pimento cheese mixture on half of the bread slices, approximately 2 tablespoons per slice. Top with remaining bread slices to form sandwiches.
05 - Using a sharp serrated knife, trim off crusts if not already done and cut each sandwich into thirds or quarters to make finger sandwiches.
06 - Arrange on a platter, cover with a damp paper towel, and refrigerate until serving, up to 4 hours.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You can make them hours ahead and just pull them from the fridge when guests arrive, which means less stress and more time actually enjoying people.
  • The flavor is deeply savory with just enough pepper to keep things interesting, and they disappear faster than you'd think possible.
  • Sharp cheddar and pimentos create something more sophisticated than basic cheese spreads, but the whole thing takes maybe twenty minutes of actual work.
02 -
  • Freshly grated cheese makes an enormous difference; pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that keep it from combining into something smooth and creamy.
  • If your cream cheese isn't softened, the whole mixture will be lumpy and frustrating, so let it sit out for fifteen minutes first.
03 -
  • Use a serrated knife and cut with a gentle sawing motion rather than pressing down hard; this keeps the bread from getting squished and falling apart.
  • If you make the cheese mixture in advance, it actually tastes better because the flavors have time to meld together, so don't hesitate to prep it the night before.
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