Derby Pimento Cheese Sandwiches (Printable Page)

Creamy pimento cheese and white bread make flavorful finger sandwiches for festive occasions.

# What You 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

# 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.
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 uniform 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 come together in 20 minutes flat, which means even last-minute gatherings won't stress you out.
  • The pimento cheese keeps in your fridge for days, so you can assemble them when guests arrive or prep them the night before.
  • Kids and adults genuinely fight over these, and watching a room full of people reach for another one never gets old.
02 -
  • The moment cheese mixture sits in the fridge, the flavors marry and deepen, so if you have even 30 minutes before serving, let it chill and taste the difference.
  • Mayonnaise-based fillings can weep if you let the sandwich sit too long, which is why that butter layer really matters and why the damp paper towel trick keeps everything from drying out instead.
03 -
  • Invest in a sharp serrated knife for cutting; a dull blade will compress the bread and ruin the delicate texture you've worked to preserve.
  • Make the cheese mixture the day before and let it sit overnight—the flavors marry together in a way that makes people taste sophistication in something that took you 15 minutes to assemble.
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