If you're looking for a super easy starter or appetizer to your summer meal, these cheese and pineapple sticks made with just 3 ingredients are the ideal choice!
As a child, I remember cheese and pineapple sticks topped with candied (glacé) cherries being my mother's favourite starter when we had guests invited for lunch. She was always in a rush to prepare complicated main courses and so she wanted to spend as little time as possible on appetizers. Most of the time, she would delegate this very easy "task" to me, although more often than not, I would end up nibbling these along the way.
This starter is super easy and fast to prepare and will disappear even faster. For us these days, it's the perfect nibble for arriving guests, while we're warming up the barbecue. These cheese and pineapple sticks are also great as snacks and are a delicious accompaniment to apéritifs or a glass of light or dessert wine during beautiful summer nights. Quick, Simple, and Cheap!
3-Ingredient Cheese and Pineapple Sticks
For this easy recipe, you will only need 3 ingredients:
- Cheese - I prefer white or yellow cheddar cheese
- Pineapple - fresh or canned
- Candied (glacé) Cherries - these are optional but will contribute to the sweetness and color of the dish
You will also require the following tools:
- Knife - to slice your fruit and cheese
- Toothpicks - to skewer each serving
- Serving Plate - to serve your starter
Tips for Cheese and Pineapple Sticks
This recipe yields 12 small servings. As I said, these do disappear quite fast, so you might want to double the serving, depending on the number of guests and any other accompaniments. Prepare these 2 - 4 hours ahead of your lunch or dinner and chill until guests arrive. I like to start off my meal preparations with these as they taste great when chilled, especially during hot summer days.
The candied cherries are optional, but I love the sweetness and color they bring about, making the canapé even more appealing :). For the pineapple part, I prefer to use fresh pineapple and slice it into cubes, but you can also used canned pineapples. I find cheddar cheese to go very well with both the pineapple and the cherries, but feel free to experiment with any type of cheese (especially hard and bitter types).
Whilst you don't need to be too strict about it, try to slice your cheese and pineapple into approximately equal squares or rectangles. Try not to cut these too thick (about 1 - 2 cm or ½ inch thickness is perfect) to ensure a bite-sized and balanced taste 🙂 The taste will go from most sweet (candied cherries) to sweet and juicy (pineapple) to sharp and slightly bitter (cheddar). Whilst the order of placement is not extremely important, I suggest you place the cheese at the bottom since this is the most solid ingredient, followed by the pineapple in the middle, and the cherries at the top.
If you've tried these Cheese and Pineapple Sticks, let me know your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to rate the recipe! Also, don't forget to follow me on Pinterest, and Instagram to stay updated with any new recipes!
Cheese and Pineapple Sticks
Ingredients
- 80 g cheddar cheese about ⅔ cup
- 2-3 rounds of fresh or canned pineapple
- 12 candied cherries
Instructions
- Cut cheddar cheese and pineapple into 12 equal-sized cubes (½ inch or 1.5 cm in thickness).
- Insert each toothpick into 1 candied cherry, 1 pineapple cube, and 1 cheddar cube such that the cheddar is at the bottom side.
- Chill until serving.
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