Sharp Cheese Bread Bites
These cheese bread bites are the ultimate indulgence. They're made by coating pieces of white bread in butter and imperial sharp cheddar cheese then baking them until they're wonderfully crispy on the outside and soft inside. Bring these out at a party and they'll disappear in seconds!
Serve these bread and cheese bites with our bacon deviled eggs, sesame pineapple sausage bites, and hot spinach artichoke dip for a delicious appetizer party!
This recipe was originally published in 2011. We've updated the post with some new photos, and more information but we've left the delicious recipe exactly the same.
Cheese Bread Bites
Everyone who's had these sharp cheese bread bites agrees that they are the best appetizer ever. It's a big statement, but it's true.
They're served warm and wrapped in crispy cheese and are buttery soft in the center. It's truly shocking to see how quickly they disappear from a plate.
And since they can be made ahead of time and baked from frozen, they make the ideal appetizer for family holiday celebrations or when friends stop by for a visit.
What is Imperial Sharp Cheddar Cheese
MacLaren's Imperial Sharp Cheddar Cheese is a famous Canadian cheese with a crumbly texture and wonderfully sharp flavor. Its recognizable red container can be found where other basic cheeses are located in your grocery store – don't look in the deli or fancy cheese section for this one!
What is a good substitute for sharp cheddar cheese?
Unfortunately, McLaren's Imperial Cheese is only available in Canada. But you can substitute it with another type of processed cheese spread.
Merkts Sharp Cheddar Cheese Spread is another crumbly yet creamy cheese that can be used instead.
How to make cheese bread bites
Making these cheesy bread bites is a little time-consuming, but they're not difficult to make.
- Start by carefully cutting most of the crust off of an unsliced loaf of white bread. Then, cut it into 1 ½ inch squares. If you have trouble cutting the bread without squishing it, pop the loaf into your freezer for a half hour for it to firm up a little.
- Once the bread is cut into chunks, spread them out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and put them into your freezer until they are frozen.
- Now mix the McLaren's Imperial Cheese with butter and spread this onto the frozen bread pieces. Put the cheese-coated bread back into the freezer.
- When you're ready for a savory treat, bake the bites from frozen for about 15 minutes.
The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
Tips for making the best sharp cheese bread bites
- Start with unsliced bread. This recipe won't be the same if you try to use thin sliced bread. Working with slightly frozen bread makes it easier to cut into cubes.
- Freeze the bread cubes before spreading the cheese and butter mixture onto them. If they start to thaw, return them to the freezer.
- Bake them from frozen. It might be tempting to bake them right away, but freeze them first for the best results.
Popular easy appetizer recipes
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Sharp Cheese Bread Bites
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf unsliced white bread
- 1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
- 230 gram container of Imperial Sharp Cheese, at room temperature
Instructions
- Carefully cut most of the crust off of the bread. Gently slice bread into thick (two-bite sized) squares. Put the bread pieces onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze them for 1 hour.1 loaf unsliced white bread
- Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sharp cheese.1 cup salted butter, 230 gram container of Imperial Sharp Cheese
- Remove bread from the freezer and spread the butter and cheese mixture on all sides of the bread cubes. Return the bread to the freezer for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the bread bites in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are starting to turn brown.
My Grandmother would make these using Mancini’s Italian Bread (A Pittsburgh Staple) and Old English Cheddar Spread ( made by Kraft) the whole house would smell like a cheesy Bakery. As kids, this was better that popsicles any day of the week. I’m making some today for my wife who has never had them. So don’t think it’s out of reach since the cheese is from Canada. We have a similar cheese here in the lower 48. My name is Bill, feel free to comment.
What a great story! ANd I totally agree … these bread bites are way better than a popsicle!!
I finally found this recipe which is similar to one I made years ago and lost the recipe. My recipe used port wine cheese spread which is easy to find here in the United States. I believe the measurements are the same. I am going to make them for Christmas day. They were so good. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you!
After much searching on the internet, it seems that Mac Laren’s Imperial Sharp Cheddar Cheese is only sold in Canada. Have I missed something?
Sadly it is something that is only available in Canada. In the post, we’ve suggested using Merkts Sharp Cheddar Cheese Spread if Mclaren’s is not available where you live.
My mother used to make these in the early 60’s for parties. She would use Kraft Old English cheese spread and 1 stick of butter and they were wonderful. I’m going to make them this year for Thanksgiving.
I suppose this will all become clear to me once i make these little devils-which is today— but just curious to know- once you’re ready to bake some – do you pop them in the oven straight from the freezer or do you defrost a bit first?????? THANKS!
You can bake them from frozen. 🙂
Hi! Salted or unsalted butter? ?
I only use salted butter in all of my cooking. So much more flavor!
Yum! I’ve been wanting to try these for a while now. Super easy and quick to put together.
Absolutely fabulous!
I have not yet tried these but I feel like this is the closest recipe to something I was served at a cocktail party 10 years ago…I can not wait to see if it’s close. How long do you think they would keep in the freezer if you fully froze them on parchment then moved them to a ziplock bag?
I think they would last a few months if properly sealed. 🙂
When I make these I melt the cheese & butter together with a little cayenne pepper. Dip the frozen bread cubes in melted mixture. Return dipped cubes to wax paper lined cookie sheet. Put back in freezer until cheese is frozen then pop them into bags. When you want them just take out the amount you want & pop them in the oven. Great make he’d!
Good idea to melt the butter and cheese together. I’ve never done it that way before. I’m really curious to see if it changes the outcome. I bet it’s much easier to prepare that way! Going to have to try it myself. 🙂
OK, I stumbled across the recipe here because I had a recipe from an old Kentucky cookbook which tells you to melt the cheese and butter in a double boiler.
Well, I’ve tried…you can’t do it…cheese and butter will not incorporate. You can put it in a blender, mixer, Cuisinart…it will not meld into a consistent liquid.
If someone has some insights, please share, in the mean time, the technique in this recipe seems a LOT easier…can’t wait to try it!
I’ve never tried the version of melting the butter and cheese but the recipe as written works great. You just have to make sure that both the Imperial Sharp Cheese and the butter are both at room temperature so they are soft enough to blend together. 🙂
Upon further reasearch my understanding is that “Imperial Cheese is more of a cheese spread…the recipe I had tried called for grated block cheddar which will definitely not melt into anything remotely dip-able or spreadable…however grated cheddar probably WOULD work with the recipe as presented here. Back to the test lab and thanks for the reply!
Upon further reasearch my understanding is that “Imperial Cheese is more of a cheese spread…the recipe I had tried called for grated block cheddar which will definitely not melt into anything remotely dip-able or spreadable…however grated cheddar probably WOULD work with the recipe as presented here. Back to the test lab and thanks for the reply!
That’s right! It is a different kind of product that blends well with butter. I’d love to hear if you find a way to use regular cheddar in this recipe!
When dipping the bread cubes into melted cheese and butter, do you then freeze the bread and dip it again? A cup of butter seems like a lot compared to the 230 grams of Imperial cheese. Can butter be reduced?
OMG. This is my ‘go to’ appy, amazing!! Every time I make it, I’m asked for the recipe!!! You cannot stop at one!!!
That’s so great to hear! It’s been a few years since I’ve made it and I seriously need to change that!!
I have been thinking about this recipe for about 14 years now – never had the original – never forgot how good these were – can’t wait to make them – thank you soooooooo much!!!!!!
You are so welcome! I dreamt about them for years too before finally finding the recipe. So happy you’ll be able to enjoy them again after all these years!
What is imperial cheese? Is it shredded cheddar? Or a cheese spread? This looks amazing and perfect for a superbowl party! Thanks 🙂
Hi Ann,
Imperial cheese is a cheese spread. I found it for sale online here: http://www.canadianfavourites.com/MacLaren_s_Imperial_Sharp_Cold_Pack_Cheddar_Cheese_p/maclarens001.htm
Not sure what you could use as a substitute, maybe goat cheese? Might be worth trying just a couple as an experiment before making a whole batch. If you end up making them, let me know how they turn out 🙂
Imperial cheese comes in a red container (Costco sells them in 2 packs) found in your specialty cheese section of most grocery stores. it is a spreadable very sharp cheddar cheese. My parents always have some in the house, it is called “Grandpa cheese” by all the grandkids.
Wow, these look amazing! I have a brother who is 46 but eats like a 6 year old and these would appeal even to him! Will definitely be on my Christmas Eve table! I was unsure of what “Imperial Cheese” was, but then I saw you’re Canadian. Lucky for me I live on the border and am planning a shopping trip to St. Catherine’s Ontario on Wednesday–it’s the stuff in the red container? Thanks again for the great recipe, love your blog…Merry merry!
Hey Lori,
It is the stuff in the red container. In case something changes and you don’t end up coming up to Canada, here’s a link to a place I found online to buy it http://www.canadianfavourites.com/MacLaren_s_Imperial_Sharp_Cold_Pack_Cheddar_Cheese_p/maclarens001.htm
Have an excellent Christmas!
Hello Kristen……..Lisa sent me your site, how very cleaver of you…..it is wonderful…..the recipes and pictures are great. Is so nice to know that you and Lyndsay have fond memories of our Christmases together. I really miss them. Merry Christmas and hoping you have a lovely holiday
Love………..Wilma
Hi Wilma,
Wow this is such a nice surprise! I have lots of fond memories of our Christmases together; playing trivial pursuit and your amazing cheese bread being some of the highlights 🙂 I hope you’re doing great and that you have a fabulous Christmas!
Im seriously considering going to the grocery store right now for the ingredients
Lyndsay,
You should! These little guys are so good!!