If June Cleaver hosted a cocktail party with martinis and passive-aggressive hors d'oeuvres, old-fashionedCheese Dreams would be the first thing out of the oven. These cheesy, melty, crispy-on-the-bottom bites are straight out of Grandma’s recipe box. Fast, easy, and made for devouring in a 1950s swingy dress with a fresh martini in hand.
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🗝️ 3 unarguable reasons to love cheese dreams
- Zero-effort, maximum flavor. Like grilled cheese grew up and learned how to flirt. Try them with tomato soup.
- Freezer-friendly. Make a bunch, only bake a few. Future you will thank past you.
- Vintage charm. They're the Mad Men appetizer no one saw coming..
🧾 What’s in these golden melty bites?
Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and ground cayenne pepper give this cheese toast appetizer a tasty Southern kick.
These easy cheese dreams are almost always the first party appetizer to disappear—and everyone will beg for more!
- Use your favorite flavor of cheddar—an aged white cheddar or smoked 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.
- Use white sandwich bread slices -Now is not the time for artisanal sourdough.
- Sprinkle your cheese dreams with smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or creole seasoning for extra heat!
Be sure to download the free cheese dreams kitchen cheat sheet pdf for tips, storage, faqs, and more.
📖 Recipe
Grandma's Cheese Dreams
Print Pin 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.
Air Fryer Method
- Assemble as directed – Trim, schmear, stack, and frost those little sandwich beauties just like the original recipe says.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes - if your air fryer runs hot, go with 350°F and check at 5 minutes.
- Place the cheese dreams in the basket in a single layer—don’t crowd 'em or they’ll get cranky and soggy.
- Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, or until golden brown and melty. Keep an eye on them—the air fryer works fast, like a 1950s secretary on speed.
- Cool slightly, then serve with martinis, mocktails, or a smirk.
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.
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.
🧀 Can I use dairy-free cheese?
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!
🔪 How to make Southern cheese dreams
- 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 these yummy, vintage cheese appetizers with the rest of the cheese mixture, place an inch apart, and bake.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
If you’re into melty cheese, flaky dough, and snacks that vanish faster than your willpower, these classics are right up your alley.
🧀 Cheese Straws
Southern, salty, and a little sharp—these crispy cheese straws are like the cranky church lady you secretly adore: bold, bracing, and never bland.
🔥 Pimento Cheese Balls
They’re spicy, cheesy, and one eyebrow raise away from being downright indecent.
🐖 Sausage Balls
Old-school and proud of it. Just sausage, cheese, and biscuit mix—because sometimes you don’t need innovation, just another tray of these before Uncle Don eats them all.
🐷 Pigs in a Blanket
Mini hot dogs wrapped in buttery dough like they’re headed to the prom. Serve them with a sassy mustard dip and let the nostalgia wash over you like Aqua Net fumes.
Crunch up or dice your leftover cheese dreams and sprinkle them over salads, or over this old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese—trust me, it’s delicious!
Grandma's cheese dreams are so easy to make! 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.
If you grew up with these (or just wish you had), leave a comment and let me know what you called them in your house!
Don't lose this recipe!
cheese dreams
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