If you read this blog regularly, you’ll know that I have a slight obsession with grilled cheese sandwiches. I even threw myself a grilled cheese themed birthday party. It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I had a grilling station, different kinds of bread, a bunch of add-ins and, of course, a chip bar. Turns out that a lot of my friends hadn’t made grilled cheese before!
Everyone had a great time making their ultimate grilled cheeses, but near the end of the party, one of my friends had a serious question for me.
Big R:Uh, Steph, this is great and all, but where’s the fried cheese?
Me:What fried cheese?
Big R:On the invite, it said it was a fried cheese party.
Me (laughing):It said GRILLED CHEESE.
Big R (whips out the invite and takes a closer look):Oh, oh yeah, it does. Damn it, I was so excited. I thought there was going to be fried cheese!
I have to admit, a fried cheese party sounds pretty epic. I may have to do that one year!
These guys aren’t fried cheese, but they made me pretty happy while I was making them and even happier while I was eating them. Mini triple layer grilled cheeses are definitely decadent, cute and fun. Everything I love in a snack.
Some tips: keep your heat on medium to medium-low and be patient –you don’t want your bread to burn before your cheese melts. I like using shredded cheese because I find that it melts more evenly,but feel free to use whatever you’re used to.
On butter vs. mayo: lately I’ve been hearing people talking about grilling their grilled cheeses with mayo instead of butter. I gave it a go but I definitely prefer butter. Grilled mayo kind of was strange to me – maybe because I grew up on buttered grilled cheeses.Not that the mayo was bad, just different. But, on the topic of different, sometimes I like to mix a bit of miso into my butter when grilling. It adds an extra layer of delicious umami.
Mini Grilled Cheese Cakes Recipe
makes as many as needed
- bread of choice, cut into rounds (I used this biscuit cutter)
- room temp butter or mayo (I prefer butter)
- miso paste, if desired (if using, mix with butter in a 2 to 1 ratio)
- shredded cheese of choice (I used cheddar)
- flat leaf parsley, to garnish
Butter the outsides of your bread. Heat a pan over medium low heat. Add the bread, butter side down and top with cheddar. Place another round of bread on top and top with more cheddar. Place a third piece of buttered bread on top, butter side facing up. Grill until cheese is melted and bread is golden and then flip. Repeat as needed, top with flat leaf parsley if using and enjoy immediately.
*If you’re wondering what to do with the rounds of bread you’ve cut out, try out my grilled egg and cheese or cut them up and use them in a savory bread pudding.
35 Comments
July 28, 2014 at 8:04 am
OHMAGAWWDDDDD these are so adorbs and delicious looking! Also, nice trick about the miso butter, can’t wait to try it! And yay for butter! I’m not that into the mayo grilled cheeses either.
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molly yeh says:
July 28, 2014 at 9:40 am
this. is. amazing.
and that grilled cheese party, can i copy you??!!! that is unreal.
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July 28, 2014 at 9:42 am
Just how cute are these!?! Amazing.
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July 28, 2014 at 9:47 am
OMG!! These look so dangerous…like, eat 10 dangerous. YUM!
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cynthia says:
July 28, 2014 at 9:52 am
I need these in my life RIGHT NOW. (I feel like I’m a broken record whenever I’m on your blog, but I can’t help it! Everything is always an OMG!) These are amazing. I want forty. (They’re mini, so pretty sure that’s totally doable.) I 100% agree with you on butter v. mayo by the way! But MISO BUTTER = mindblown.
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July 28, 2014 at 10:03 am
LOVE! Did you have grilled cheese party cake too? I can see these little bites as layered mass of grilled goodness. When you do the fried cheese party; call me!
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Gabriel says:
July 28, 2014 at 10:20 am
So…what time should I pop by?!… these are soo goodd…im in my desk, drooling, so i should go clean.
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Erika says:
July 28, 2014 at 10:23 am
SO. FREAKING. CUTE. Also, can you slow that gif down?! I want to examine every aspect of this wondrous grilled cheese birthday bar (aka steal some ideas for my upcoming birthday ;)). You’re such a brilliant person.
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steph says:
July 28, 2014 at 10:37 am
Erika! I slowed it down, just for you! I think it’s slow enough – it’s at 1 second per frame :)
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Liz @ Floating Kitchen says:
July 28, 2014 at 10:39 am
Because everything is better in mini form! Love this!
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myriam says:
July 28, 2014 at 11:38 am
adorable!
ps. you should totally try fried cheese! fried parmesan rinds are deeee-licious.
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tara says:
July 28, 2014 at 3:56 pm
These look SO good! I’ve been wanting to test the butter vs. mayo theory, but haven’t had the right kind of white bread/cheese to make an epic enough grilled cheese.
I’d be bummed if I thought there was going to be fried cheese, too. Now I want to eat fried cheese…
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Tieghan says:
July 28, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Yes, butter for the win!! These are amazing and I love the photos! So cute…and delicious!
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July 28, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Amazing photos!!! Where is my grilled cheese party invite?!
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Steph says:
July 29, 2014 at 7:54 am
Ooh, thanks for the tip on the miso butter! Will try that next time! Yum!!!
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PassTheKnife says:
July 29, 2014 at 11:42 am
These are the cutest sandwiches, and what a great idea for a birthday party!
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Derek says:
July 29, 2014 at 3:00 pm
Last time I made a grilled cheese sandwich I was out of butter so I used a bit of bacon fat. I may not use butter again….
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July 29, 2014 at 3:14 pm
heehee these are so awesome, i can see them being a hilarious hit at a midnight wedding buffet!! DUDER i threw rich a grilled cheese birthday party a few years ago too – but dang yours looked EPIC!!! i don’t think i can get behind mayo grilled cheese, but obviously i wouldn’t turn it down… hehe… xo
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J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats says:
July 29, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Wait you need to make different ‘frostings’ for the grilled cheese cakes and then pipe them on top! Liiiike pesto with ricotta??? Or….ok that was my only idea but I’m working on it ;)
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Dala Al-Fuwaires says:
July 29, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Miso mixed with the butter is the most interesting, intriguing combination. Must try! Thanks for the great idea :)
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Sabrina says:
July 30, 2014 at 10:31 am
Mmmmmmmm and WOW !
These bad boys are so cut and look delicious.
It’s a very good idea. Great job Stephanie !!
I love your blog hihi :)Reply
July 30, 2014 at 11:44 am
your stuff is always to cute! you make the everyday fancy… grilled cheese have never been so elegant
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Carol at Wild Goose Tea says:
July 30, 2014 at 3:13 pm
Oh this are flat out adorable. Adorable to kids. Adorable with soup or salad for a ladies luncheon.
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Zach says:
August 2, 2014 at 12:16 am
You have an extraordinary blog. Your photography is gorgeous and your content and copy are equally appetizing. Grilled cheese is such a childhood nostalgia for me. It’s not “fancy food,” but brightens my day nonetheless. Thanks for this interpretation.
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Sophie says:
August 4, 2014 at 3:16 pm
I’m turning 30 this year and I WANT THAT PARTY! You are so clever, that is the cutest and most-delicious spread I’ve ever seen!! (I was actually thinking of doing a waffle party……. but your idea is quickly becoming a favorite!) Loving these mini-stacks of cheesy goodness, Steph. You are the grilled cheese queen!
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Amybeth Hurst, Portland, ME says:
August 5, 2014 at 7:16 am
Wow, those look fantastic! I have to try that next time my friends with kids/grandkids are coming. Thank you! Amybeth Hurst, Portland, ME
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Leah Davis says:
August 5, 2014 at 12:49 pm
oh my gosh – what I wouldn’t give to have these as a snack right now. Delicious!!
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Hana says:
September 2, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Looove this idea!! Who doesn’t love a good grill cheese? Especially so now that fall is fast approaching. And I think we can all agree that “miniature” minimizes guilt :)
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Bec says:
September 25, 2014 at 4:26 am
Oh my gosh.. these are the cutest/best things ever. A classic grilled cheese is my go to comfort food. White bread and all, nailed it!
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