3 Quick & Easy Cheese Appetizers

These 3 quick & easy cheese appetizers will become staples when you’re entertaining at home. Add them to your entertaining menu for cocktail parties or happy hour. These are fantastic easy party appetizers for girls night in too. There’s just no end to the occasions when you can serve up these tasty cheese hors d’oeuvres. 

These 3 quick & easy cheese appetizers will stand the test of time and you’ll be serving them for all your home entertaining.

I’m sharing three of my favorite quick & easy cheese appetizers that are the perfect items to serve at a cocktail party, a happy hour, or for a charcuterie & cheese party. I first displayed them in unique ways as part of a wine & cheese bar.

These are not really “recipes,” but more like easily assembled lite bites. They take minimal time, effort, and ingredients, which makes them perfect for cocktail parties and happy hour! You can make all three versions for a single party, or pick and choose as you like. They are all small in size but big on flavor!

Cheese is a classic party appetizer and these hand held bites will please all your guests.

First up are these Italian style canapes that use goat cheese as the perfect base. These are savory, and I like to make two versions using either roasted red pepper, or diced tomatoes.

Italian Style Canapes

• 1 Italian or French baguette, sliced about 1/2 inch thick
• Goat Cheese at room temperature
• Prepared Pesto
• Diced Roma tomatoes and/or jarred roasted red peppers

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees while slicing the baguette. Lay the slices on a baking sheet and cook for about 5 minutes, until slightly toasted.

While bread is toasting, remove roasted red pepper from jar, pat dry with a paper towel, and slice into thin strips.

Remove bread and spread with Goat cheese, then pesto, and top with diced tomatoes or roasted red peppers. Serve and enjoy!

Customize these brie bites to the season or holiday for a more festive party menu

• Fall I like to use Pear or Fig preserves.
• Christmas I use Cranberry sauce.
• Spring use Apricot or Raspberry preserves.
• Summer use Strawberry preserves.
• For a little heat use Pepper Jelly 

For these brie bites I used fig preserves, apricot preserves, and raspberry jalapeno jam. I like the look of the different colors on the plate together, and a variety of flavors is always a plus. For more brie appetizers don’t miss my brie party appetizer cups and my baked brie topped 3 ways.

Brie Bites

• 1 package filo cups
• Small wheel or triangle of brie
• a variety of Preserves or jams {apricot, pepper jelly, fig, pear, cranberry, etc}

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, and remove the rind from the brie. Cut small pieces from the brie and place inside each cup. Top with a dollop of preserves and bake for 5 minutes or until brie is melted. Remove and let cool slightly, and serve.

This last bite sized nibble is one that goes back to my childhood, and I’ve never seen anyone else prepare it. My dad used to make this when they entertained friends back in the 70’s!, and I always loved it. The combination is unexpected but so delicious. Cheddar cheese is front and center as it’s skewered with pineapple pieces. The balance of sweet and savory is unbeatable, and so refreshing!

Hawaiian Style Bites

• Cheddar Cheese cut into cubes
• Canned Pineapple Chunks, drained and patted dry.

Assemble the two ingredients with cheese on the bottom and pineapple on top and insert a toothpick to secure. Serve at room temperature.

BONUS: Another quick & easy cheese appetizer can be found right here with my wrapped apple appetizer bites. They are another refreshing bite with a little something extra.