Okay, so I saw this trend going around about using cheddar cheese in desserts. I was like, “What? That sounds kinda weird, but also… intriguing.” So, I decided to give it a shot and document the whole messy, cheesy journey.
The First Attempt: Cheddar Apple Pie
I figured I’d start with something classic, but with a twist. Apple pie, right? Everyone loves apple pie. But instead of just a regular crust, I decided to add some shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the dough.
Here’s what I did:
- I made a basic pie crust, you know, flour, butter, a little salt, and ice water.
- Then, I took about a cup of shredded sharp cheddar (I went with sharp because I wanted that real cheesy tang) and mixed it right into the dough before chilling it.
- Rolled it out, filled the pie with my usual apple filling (Granny Smiths, cinnamon, sugar, a bit of lemon juice), and topped it with another layer of that cheddar crust.
Baked it like usual, and… well, it was interesting. The crust was definitely different. It had this crispy, almost savory thing going on. The cheese melted and got a little browned and bubbly on top.
The family was split. My husband, who’s always up for anything, thought it was pretty good. “Salty and sweet,” he said, with a mouthful. My kids, though? They were skeptical. My daughter picked at the crust, trying to avoid the cheesiest bits. My son just straight-up refused to try it.
Experiment Number Two: Cheddar Cheesecake Bites
I wasn’t ready to give up yet. I thought, maybe apple pie was too… traditional. Maybe I needed something smaller, something where the cheese could be more integrated. So, I went for cheddar cheesecake bites. These are basically mini cheesecakes.
Here’s the process:
- First I mixed the cream cheese, I mixed in some sugar, eggs, and a touch of vanilla.
- Then, finely grated some extra sharp cheddar and folded that in very gently. I used a bit less this time, maybe half a cup.
- I used some cookie to make a bottom crust for them.
- Baked into small portions.
These were better, I think. The cheddar was more subtle, kind of blending into the creamy texture of the cheesecake. It added this little salty note that was actually pretty nice with the sweetness. My kids even ate them, so that’s a win!
The Verdict?
Cheddar in desserts? It’s not for everyone. It’s definitely a bit…out there. But, if you’re feeling adventurous, it’s worth a try! I’m not sure I’ll be making cheddar apple pie again anytime soon, but those cheesecake bites? Those might become a regular thing.
The whole experience was fun, though. It’s always good to mess around in the kitchen and try new things, even if they don’t always work out perfectly. And hey, at least I got a good story out of it!
