Derby Pimento Cheese Sandwiches (Printable Version)

Creamy pimento cheese layered on thin white bread, crafted into savory finger sandwiches.

# 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, 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

# 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 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, using 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 Advice:

01 -
  • You can make the entire batch in 20 minutes, leaving you free to focus on the important things like what hat you're wearing.
  • The cheese mixture gets better as it sits, so you can prep everything the night before and actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • It's foolproof enough for a first-timer but impressive enough to make people ask for your secret.
02 -
  • Remove your cream cheese from the fridge at least 30 minutes before you start, because cold cream cheese won't blend smoothly and you'll end up with a lumpy mess instead of that cloud-like texture.
  • The serrated knife is absolutely essential—a straight knife will squash these delicate sandwiches, and you'll end up with a sad pile of crumbs instead of proper finger sandwiches.
  • Don't skip the butter layer if you're making these more than an hour ahead, because the filling will eventually seep into the bread and turn it into mush.
03 -
  • Add a tiny pinch of hot sauce or finely chopped fresh scallions to the cheese mixture if you want a subtle wake-up call without overpowering the classic flavor.
  • Invest in a good serrated knife specifically for this—it makes the difference between beautiful presentation and frustration.
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