If you're looking for a platter of finger foods to put out when you have guests, for game night, or to add to the Super Bowl snack table you can't go wrong with this vintage recipe.
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Crispy and full of cheesy goodness, cheese dreams are an addicting finger food everyone loves!
- It’s one of the best easy appetizer recipes for quick snacking on game day or at get-togethers year 'round.
- Make your cheesy dreams a day in advance or freeze ‘em for up to a month in preparation for an upcoming party.
Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and ground cayenne pepper give these mini cheese sandwiches a tasty Southern kick.
I reckon these easy cheese dreams will be your first party appetizer to disappear—and everyone will beg for more!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Use your favorite flavor of cheddar—an aged white cheddar would be a delicious alternative to sharp!
- Don't have Worcestershire sauce? You can swap it with soy sauce, tamari sauce, or miso paste for a different, subtle flavor.
- Swap the white sandwich bread slices with slices of whole grain bread, baguette bread, or even English muffin bread if you’re feeling fancy.
- Top each cheese dream with a thick slice of bacon—because why not?
- Give your savory little gems a pop of color and fresh flavor with a slice of tomato on top.
- Sprinkle your cheese dreams with smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or creole seasoning for extra heat!
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Remove the crusts from white bread slices and cut each into four squares.
- Mix the shredded sharp cheddar and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed. Then, add the heavy cream, large egg, and seasonings.
- Spread one teaspoon of cheese mixture on half of bread squares. Top with the remaining bread squares to create sandwiches.
- Cover the tops and sides of sandwiches with the rest of the cheese mixture, place an inch apart, and bake.
🍴 Equipment
- heavy baking sheet
- sharp knife
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- parchment paper
🥫 How to store leftovers
You probably won't have any cheese dreams left after a party—lucky if you do!
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for a day or two. Pop ‘em in the oven or air fryer for a few minutes to crisp up leftovers and enjoy again.
I don’t recommend freezing baked cheese dreams.
However, you can assemble and freeze unbaked cheese dreams. Flash-freeze ‘em on a baking sheet until solid, then freeze them in an airtight container for up to one month.
Bake frozen cheese dreams straight out of the freezer and increase the bake time by 10 minutes at the most.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Grate your cheese fresh from a block. It will melt much better (and thus be more delicious) than store-bought shredded cheese!
- You only need about a teaspoon of the cheese mixture per sandwich. Use a measuring spoon to ensure you have plenty left to go on top.
- Make sure you place your cheese dreams on a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Otherwise, they’ll stick to the sheet pan and can burn.
- Your cheese dreams are done baking once the cheese melts and the tops turn golden brown and crispy.
- Cheese dreams are best served hot ‘n fresh out of the oven. They lose their crispy texture and the cheese hardens as they cool.
- Crunch up your leftover cheese dreams and sprinkle them over salads or casseroles—trust me, it’s delicious!
👩🍳 FAQs
I don’t recommend it. The anti-caking agents in store-bought shredded cheese prevent it from melting well. Use freshly grated cheese from a block for the best results!
There are so many ways to jazz up your cheese dreams! Try using different blends of hard cheeses like smoked or aged cheddar. Add herbs like rosemary or thyme or spices like smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, seasoning salt, or cajun seasoning.
Yep! You can assemble your tiny sandwiches the day before and refrigerate them in an airtight container until you plan to bake ‘em.
Or, freeze your unbaked cheese dreams for a couple of weeks and bake them right out of the freezer for an extra 10 minutes.
Most dairy-free cheeses don't melt very well. I don't really recommend using it—unless you absolutely have to and want to try this recipe! Otherwise, if you can eat dairy, use it!
📚 Related recipes
- Southern Cheese Straws are the culinary cousins of cheese dreams made from cheesy dough baked to crunchy perfection—they're great!
- Baked Brie Cheese with Apples and Bacon is the perfect addition to any charcuterie board and is a fun appetizer idea for date night.
- Make my homemade 30-Minute Saltine Cracker Recipe from scratch with just five ingredients. They're awesome for snacking and dipping!
📞 The last word
Grandma's cheese dreams are so easy to make! I like them served with a creamy tomato soup meal just about any time.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Grandma's Cheese Dreams
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated from a block
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 16 ounces white sandwich bread slices
- Smoked paprika for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Trim the crusts off the bread and cut each slice into 4 squares.
- Set aside.
- Beat cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended.
- Beat in heavy cream and next 5 ingredients.
- Spread 1 teaspoon cheese mixture on half of bread squares.
- Top each with 1 remaining square.
- Spread the remaining cheese mixture over top and sides of sandwiches like frosting a cake.
- Place sandwiches, 1 inch apart, on a baking sheet that's been covered with parchment paper or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bake at 375°F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Lightly dust tops with smoked paprika if desired.
- Serve hot.
Notes
-
- Use a block of cheese and grate it yourself.
- You only need about a teaspoon of the cheese mixture per sandwich. Use a measuring spoon to ensure you have plenty left to go on top.
-
- Make sure you place your cheese dreams on a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Otherwise, they’ll stick to the sheet pan and can burn.
-
- Your cheese dreams are done baking once the cheese melts and the tops turn golden brown and crispy.
-
- Cheese dreams are best served hot ‘n fresh out of the oven. They lose their crispy texture and the cheese hardens as they cool.
-
- Crunch up your leftover cheese dreams and sprinkle them over salads or casseroles—trust me, it’s delicious!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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