Derby Party Pimento Cheese (Printable)

Southern-style pimento cheese finger sandwiches with sharp cheddar and creamy textures for easy entertaining.

# What You'll 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
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

# How-To Steps:

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, salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly incorporated throughout.
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 and cut each sandwich into thirds or quarters to create finger sandwiches.
06 - Arrange on a platter, cover with a damp paper towel, and refrigerate until serving, up to 4 hours.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look fancy enough to impress but take barely twenty minutes, so you can actually enjoy your guests instead of hiding in the kitchen.
  • The pimento cheese is silky and rich without being heavy, and something about those sweet red peppers against sharp cheddar just works.
02 -
  • If your pimento cheese looks separated or broken, you've either mixed it too long or your cream cheese wasn't soft enough; start over with room-temperature ingredients and mix just until combined.
  • The damp paper towel when storing is crucial because it keeps the bread from drying out without making it soggy, which is a balance that actually matters here.
03 -
  • Let your cream cheese sit at room temperature for at least fifteen minutes before mixing, because cold cream cheese creates lumps that no amount of mixing will fix.
  • Use a serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion when cutting, not a straight knife pushed down, because bread is delicate and you want clean edges that look intentional.
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