Derby Pimento Cheese Sandwiches (Printable version)

Southern-style pimento cheese sandwiches made with sharp cheddar on soft white bread.

# 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
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

# 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, salt, and black pepper to the cheese mixture. 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 complete sandwiches.
05 - Using a sharp serrated knife, trim off crusts and cut each sandwich into thirds or quarters to make finger-sized portions.
06 - Arrange finger sandwiches on a platter, cover with a damp paper towel, and refrigerate until serving, up to 4 hours.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They disappear faster than you can refill the platter, which is always a good sign that guests are genuinely enjoying themselves.
  • The entire spread takes just 20 minutes, leaving you time to actually enjoy your own party instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • Pimento cheese has this magical ability to taste homemade and special without requiring any fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
02 -
  • Drained pimentos are non-negotiable—if you skip this step or forget to squeeze them dry, your cheese mixture becomes watery and the sandwiches will taste spongy instead of creamy.
  • Room temperature cream cheese changes everything about the texture; cold cream cheese will create tiny lumps that refuse to blend smoothly no matter how hard you beat.
03 -
  • A sharp serrated knife with a gentle sawing motion cuts clean fingers every time—trying to use a regular knife or pressing down hard creates smashed, uneven edges that look homemade for the wrong reasons.
  • If your pimento cheese seems too thick after sitting in the fridge, add a tablespoon of mayonnaise and stir it in; the cold thickens everything, so don't panic during assembly.
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