Andy Montoya
Cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make a variety of snacks, from simple combinations to more creative recipes. For those who enjoy the simplicity of cheese and crackers, there are ways to elevate this classic pairing, such as adding sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning to emulate pizza flavors. For a quick and easy option, cheese crisps or crackers can be made with just shredded cheese, or with a few additional ingredients like flour, cornstarch, salt, butter, and water. These can be baked at home and offer a crunchy, salty, and cheesy flavor. Another simple snack idea is to pair bite-sized chunks of cheese with fruits like grapes or apples, or to warm bread cheese in the microwave and drizzle it with maple syrup. For those who enjoy a more substantial snack, cheese puffs, potato cheese bites, or loaded tortilla chips with nacho toppings and melted cheese can be a delicious option.
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What You'll Learn
Fill puff pastry with Brie and fruit preserves
Baked Brie in puff pastry with fruit preserves is an elegant choice for a get-together that is easy to prepare. It is also a great snack for the holiday season.
To make this snack, you will need the following ingredients:
- Puff pastry
- Brie cheese
- Fruit preserves of your choice (e.g. apricot, raspberry, fig jam)
- Optional: nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts, pistachios), honey, herbs (e.g. thyme, rosemary), egg wash
First, preheat your oven to 400°F. Then, roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to prevent sticking. Spread the fruit preserves in a circle in the center of the puff pastry. You can spread the preserves directly on top of the cheese or all over the pastry to get a taste of the preserves in almost every bite.
Next, place the Brie directly on top of the preserves. You can leave the rind on or off, depending on your preference. If you like, you can add some extra toppings at this stage, such as nuts, honey, or herbs. Then, fold the corners of the puff pastry over the Brie, forming a neat package. Use your hands to gently press the edges against the Brie and neaten up the sides. You can also trim off any excess dough and use it to create decorative shapes to add on top of the wrapped Brie, securing them with egg wash.
Once you are happy with your pastry package, transfer it to a baking sheet or pie plate. Brush the pastry all over with beaten egg to give it a golden finish as it bakes. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
Finally, let the baked Brie cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. This gives the hot cheese time to firm up a little. You can serve it with crackers, bread, fruit, or a variety of dippers such as apples, pears, or grapes. Enjoy!
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Make mozzarella sticks
Homemade mozzarella sticks are easy to make and taste much better than store-bought. You can fry, bake, or air-fry them, and they can also be frozen for later.
To make mozzarella sticks, you will need the following ingredients:
- String cheese or block-style mozzarella
- Flour (all-purpose)
- Eggs
- Milk
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Vegetable oil or another neutral cooking oil
First, prepare three bowls. In the first bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. In the second bowl, whisk an egg with a bit of water. In the third bowl, mix panko and Italian seasoning.
Next, take a piece of string cheese or mozzarella and dip it into each bowl in the following order: first flour, then egg, then flour again, and lastly the panko mixture. Make sure your fingers are okay with getting a little messy!
After coating the cheese, freeze the sticks for about an hour. Freezing allows the coating to solidify and get sturdy, so the cheese doesn't melt everywhere when fried.
To fry the mozzarella sticks, heat vegetable oil or another neutral cooking oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Carefully place the frozen mozzarella sticks into the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
You can also bake or air-fry the mozzarella sticks. For baking, use a cooking spray instead of oil and bake at 390°F for 7-9 minutes or until golden and crisp. For air-frying, spray the air fryer basket with a non-stick spray and follow the same cooking time and temperature as baking.
Serve your homemade mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping, and enjoy!
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Ham, egg, and cheese muffins
Ingredients:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Salt and pepper
- Ham (diced or sliced)
- Cheese (shredded or crumbled)
- Optional: Vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, or bell peppers
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a muffin tin with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Stir in the diced ham and shredded cheese. You can also add any vegetables you prefer.
- Using a measuring cup, fill the prepared muffin tin with the egg mixture.
- Bake the muffins for 15-30 minutes, depending on your oven temperature and desired level of doneness.
- Allow the muffins to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan.
- Serve immediately, or let them cool to room temperature before storing.
Storage:
These ham, egg, and cheese muffins can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply place a muffin on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 15-40 seconds until warmed through.
Feel free to experiment with different types of ham, cheese, and vegetables to create your own unique variation of these tasty and nutritious muffins!
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Air-fry herbed cheese-stuffed peppers or mushrooms
Ingredients
- Peppers or mushrooms
- Cheese
- Herbs (e.g. basil, parsley, cilantro)
- Other fillings of your choice (e.g. beans, sweetcorn, pesto, rice)
Steps for Peppers:
- Cut the peppers in half and remove the seeds. You can keep the stalks on for presentation and to prevent the filling from falling out.
- Prepare your chosen fillings and mix them thoroughly. For example, you could use a combination of bulgur wheat, black beans, and sweetcorn, or rice with pesto and herbs.
- Stuff the pepper halves with the filling and top with grated cheese.
- Place the peppers in the air fryer basket and cook at around 360°F (182°C) for about 7-10 minutes, until the cheese is crispy and the filling is hot.
- Serve as they are or with a light salad, crispy potatoes, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables.
Steps for Mushrooms:
- Remove the stems from the mushroom caps and chop them finely.
- Mix the chopped stems with shredded cheddar cheese, herbs, and any other desired fillings or seasonings. You can add breadcrumbs, butter, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.
- Fill each mushroom cap with a heaping spoonful of the stuffing mixture.
- Preheat the air fryer to around 360°F (182°C) and place the stuffed mushrooms inside without overcrowding.
- Air-fry for about 6-12 minutes, depending on the size of the mushrooms, until the filling is lightly browned and the cheese is melted.
- Sprinkle with scallion greens and let cool for a few minutes before serving.
You can prepare the filling for both the peppers and mushrooms in advance, making it a quick and convenient snack option.
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Baked cream cheese-stuffed mushrooms
Ingredients:
- Fresh mushrooms (white button, cremini, or baby bella mushrooms)
- Cream cheese
- Smoked cheddar cheese (or smoked gouda, or regular gouda)
- Parmesan cheese
- Roasted red peppers (or chopped sun-dried tomatoes)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Butter
- Parsley (optional)
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
- Onion powder (optional)
Method:
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel. Carefully break and separate the stems from the mushroom caps. Finely chop the stems and set the caps aside. Heat some butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped mushroom stems and cook for about 5 minutes.
Next, mix in the softened cream cheese, shredded smoked cheddar, diced red pepper, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir everything together until well combined and the cream cheese has melted. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly.
Now, it's time to fill the mushrooms. Generously spoon the cheese mixture into the mushroom cavities. It's okay if the filling overflows a bit, as this will give the Parmesan cheese something to stick to. Press each stuffed mushroom into grated Parmesan cheese, coating the tops.
Arrange the stuffed mushrooms on a greased baking sheet, cheese-side-up. They should fit snugly in the pan but will shrink during baking. If preparing ahead of time, you can stop here and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Finally, bake the stuffed mushrooms in the preheated oven for 15-30 minutes. They are done when the tops are puffed and golden, and the mushrooms are dark and soft. The baking time will depend on your oven and the size of the mushrooms.
Your baked cream cheese-stuffed mushrooms are now ready to be devoured! They are best served warm and can be a delicious addition to any party or get-together. Enjoy the earthy flavors and creamy goodness of this classic appetizer!
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Frequently asked questions
An easy and delicious snack option with cheese is keto cheese crisps. All you need to do is arrange small heaps of shredded cheese on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until golden brown. Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
You can make homemade cheese crackers with just six ingredients: cheese, flour, cornstarch, salt, butter, and water. Mix the ingredients to form a dough, chill it for about 45 minutes, roll it out, cut into desired shapes, and bake.
Yes, a quick and tasty option is to cut a mild cheese like Brie into bite-sized chunks and cover them in your favourite hot sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot or Tabasco.
Cheese pairs well with fruits like grapes or apples. You can also try warming bite-sized pieces of a mild cheese like Juustoleipa (or Bread Cheese) in the microwave and drizzling them with maple syrup.
Potato cheese bites or cheese on toast are quick and easy snack options. You can also add shredded cheese to spicy instant noodles or make a simple cheese sandwich with your favourite type of cheese.
