These pimento cheese tea sandwiches are creamy, tangy and have just a touch of heat.
Made with ingredients you can find in your pantry, they come together in just 15 minutes and can be made ahead for easy entertaining.
Keep reading for make-ahead tips, flavour variations, and step-by-step instructions.
Recipe Highlights
- Servings: Makes about 21 one-inch-wide finger sandwiches
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes prep + assembly time
- Effort Required: Very easy! Mix the spread, assemble sandwiches, and trim crusts.
- Special Equipment: Offset spatula (optional) and a sharp bread knife
- Ingredient Complexity: Pantry staples plus sharp cheddar, cream cheese, and jarred pimentos.
- Dietary Notes: Contains dairy and eggs (from mayonnaise). Substitute with vegan mayonnaise and vegan cream cheese if needed.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
These simple ingredients come together to make a creamy, tangy pimento cheese sandwich that is full of flavour.
- Aged Cheddar Cheese: Sharp aged cheddar provides a tangy flavour that stands out in the filling. Orange cheddar adds a nice colour to the sandwich, but you can substitute it with an aged white cheddar or a mild cheddar.
- Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese gives the filling a rich, creamy texture. Be sure to let it soften to room temperature before mixing. Vegan cream cheese should also work.
- Mayonnaise: This is essential for creating that creamy base. You can substitute light mayonnaise for a lower-calorie option if desired. Sour cream or Greek yogurt can be used instead, but they will taste tangier. Vegan mayonnaise should also work.
- Pimentos: While they are an important ingredient in this recipe, you can substitute them with roasted red bell peppers. The flavour will be similar (I know pimentos can be hard to find in some places).
- Cayenne Pepper: This adds a nice warmth to the sandwich. You can adjust the amount to your taste, or omit it entirely if you prefer.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Provides a savoury richness that balances the cheese and mayonnaise in the filling. If you don't have it or can't find it, leave it out.
- Bread: Soft, thinly sliced white bread is best. You can also use whole wheat or other soft sandwich breads if preferred, as long as the texture is soft.
This recipe has not been tested with all possible substitutions or variations. Making changes may alter the taste, texture, or overall outcome. If you try a different ingredient, please share in the comments!
See the recipe card for the complete ingredient list and recipe instructions.
What are Pimentos?
Pimentos are small, heart-shaped, mild peppers that are typically bright red when ripe.
Known for their sweet, slightly tangy flavour, they are commonly used in Mediterranean and Southern cuisines.
Pimentos are often found pickled or canned, and their versatile taste makes them a popular addition to salads, sandwiches, and dips.
In addition to being a key ingredient in pimento cheese, they are also the familiar garnish in green olives.
The Story Behind This Dish
Inspired by classic Southern pimento cheese sandwiches, these bite-sized tea sandwiches are a tasty addition to any table.
I first served them at an afternoon tea for my mom's birthday, and they've been one of my favourite tea sandwiches ever since.
I love that these sandwiches have bold flavour. They add nice variety to an English tea party menu. I serve them with my smoked salmon tea sandwiches and some sweets for a well-rounded spread.
Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, here are some variations to switch things up:
- Spicy Pimento Cheese: For an extra kick, add more cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños.
- Smoky Pimento Cheese: Add smoked paprika or chipotle powder for a smoky flavour.
- Bacon Pimento Cheese: Stir in crumbled cooked bacon for an extra savoury crunch.
If you like the flavour combination of spicy pimento peppers with creamy cheese, you'll probably enjoy my baked brie with red pepper jelly as well!
Make them Cute: Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes-like hearts for Valentine's Day or stars for a baby shower.
How to Make Pimento Cheese Tea Sandwiches (Step-by-Step)
Making these pimento cheese tea sandwiches is quick and easy! Follow these simple steps to assemble them:
Preparing the Pimento Cheese Spread
Step 1: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Stir until smooth and fully blended.
Tip: If your cream cheese is still cold, use a hand mixer to help blend it smoothly with the mayonnaise.
Step 2: Add the cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, granulated onion, and granulated garlic. Mix well to combine.
Season with black pepper and salt to taste.
Step 3: Add the sharp cheddar cheese and stir to combine.
Step 4: Add the drained pimentos, and stir to combine.
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Assembling the Sandwiches
Step 5: Lay out your slices of bread. Spread a generous amount of the pimento cheese mixture onto one slice of bread (about 1 tablespoon).
Step 6: Place the second slice of bread on top. Use a sharp knife to cut off the crusts. Cut the sandwich into triangles or 1-inch wide rectangles.
Tips for Success
- Use soft, thin bread. This will ensure that the sandwiches are delicate and have a soft bite.
- Don't overfill the sandwiches. A thin layer of pimento cheese filling is enough to prevent the bread from getting soggy.
- Trim the crusts. For a classic tea sandwich look, always trim the crusts before serving.
Make-Ahead
This pimento cheese sandwich recipe can easily be made ahead of your event. Here's how to prepare them in advance:
Make the Cheese Filling in Advance
The pimento cheese spread can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow it to come to room temperature before spreading it onto the bread for the best consistency.
Make the Sandwiches Ahead of Time
If you want to prep the full sandwiches in advance:
- Make the spread and assemble the sandwiches as usual.
- Do not trim or cut them yet. Instead, wrap them in wax paper and place them in the fridge under a damp tea towel (just be sure the towel doesn't touch the bread directly, or it can become soggy).
- Just before serving, unwrap the sandwiches and trim the crusts. Cold bread is easier to cut cleanly!
- Slice the bread into the desired shapes and allow it to come to room temperature before serving.
Pro Tip: To prevent soggy sandwiches, lightly butter each slice of bread before spreading on the filling. This creates a barrier between the bread and the moist filling.
Serve With
Pimento cheese sandwiches are even more enjoyable when paired with a pot of black tea, such as English Breakfast or Orange Pekoe. These classic teas complement the creamy, savoury filling of the sandwiches.
If you want to learn about tea, check out my guide on how to brew loose leaf tea, or explore the different varieties of tea in my guide to loose leaf tea for beginners.
Looking to expand your menu? Browse more tea sandwich recipes to create a well-rounded spread with a mix of flavours and textures your guests will love.
As for a sweet treat, I recommend something with a bit of brightness to balance the richness of the pimento cheese, like my lemon and jam tarts or sweet citrus tarts. The zesty flavour offers a nice contrast to the creamy sandwiches, rounding out your tea party spread.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store any leftover filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It also makes a great dip for crackers or veggies!
Yes, feel free to experiment with other cheeses like Monterey Jack or Gruyère for a different flavour profile.
You can assemble the sandwiches up to a day ahead and store them in the fridge (see my butter tip above!). Let the sandwiches come up to room temperature before serving.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below-I'd love to hear from you!
And if you're planning a tea party or special brunch, don't forget to pin this tea sandwich so you can find it later!
Recipe Card
Pimento Cheese Tea Sandwiches
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup plain cream cheese
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise, (I used Hellman's)
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon granulated onion
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- salt, to taste
- 2 cups sharp aged cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup jar diced pimentos, drained well
- 14 slices white sandwich bread, or whole wheat
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Large Spoon, or spatula, for mixing
- Offset spatula, for even spreading (optional)
- Sharp Bread Knife
- Cutting Board
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Stir until smooth and fully blended.
- Add the cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, granulated onion, and granulated garlic. Mix well to combine.
- Add the sharp cheddar cheese and stir to combine.
- Add the drained pimentos and still to combine.
- Lay out your slices of bread. Spread 1 tablespoon of the pimento cheese mixture onto each slice of bread.
- Place one slice of bread with filling on top of another to assemble the sandwich. Use a sharp knife to trim off the crusts and cut the sandwich into triangles or 1-inch wide rectangles.
Notes
This recipe makes about 21 one-inch-wide finger sandwiches when each whole sandwich is cut into three rectangular pieces. The exact yield may vary depending on the width of your bread.
I recommend planning for two finger sandwiches (per type of sandwich), per person, when hosting a tea party or brunch. Make-Ahead Tips:
- The cream cheese spread can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- Assembled sandwiches can be made the day before. Wrap in wax paper and store in the refrigerator under a damp tea towel (don't let the towel touch the bread directly). Wait to trim and slice the sandwiches until just before serving.
- Cheese: Use sharp aged orange cheddar for a tangy flavour and vibrant colour, or opt for mild cheddar or a cheese blend for a milder taste.
- Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese ensures a rich, creamy texture. Let it soften to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Mayonnaise: Full-fat mayonnaise can be substituted with a lighter version, or vegan mayonnaise.
- Pimentos: Jarred pimentos provide a sweet, tangy flavour. Roasted red peppers can be used as a substitute.
- Cayenne Pepper: Adjust to taste or omit for a milder flavour.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savoury richness to balance the filling. Omit if you don't have it.
- Bread: Soft, thinly sliced white bread is best, but whole wheat or other soft sandwich breads also work.
Please read the full blog post for all of my tips, variations, and recommendations for this recipe.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on specific ingredients and brands used. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Private Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Let us know how it turned out in the comments!About Shareba
Shareba Abdul is a recipe developer and food photographer with a Culinary Arts certificate from George Brown College and 15+ years of experience creating and testing recipes for home cooks. All recipes are tested in her home kitchen. Learn more →
Martha Greene says
How Many loaves of bread will it take to make 70 finger pimento sandwiches?
I have never done this before..please help me!!
Thank you
Martha Greene
Shareba Abdul says
Hi Martha, thanks so much for your question! My recipe makes 21 finger sandwiches (1-inch wide rectangles) from 14 slices of bread. Since you’d like 70 finger sandwiches, you’ll need about 48 slices of bread, which will give you 72 finger sandwiches. That way you’ll have a couple of extras, just in case.
Most loaves of bread have around 20–24 slices, but since the number can vary, I recommend counting the slices in the bag at the store so you can be sure to buy enough. If there are 24 slices in the bag, you will need 2 bags, but if there are less slices per bag you will need more bags. I hope that helps!
Laurie C. says
Hi Ms. Abdul!
I too need to make about 70 -100 finger sandwiches. Would I need to double your recipe? I have never done this before either. I’m hoping that I can either cut them finger style, small squares or triangles. Thank you so much for the step by step details!
Thank you! Laurie
Shareba Abdul says
Hi Laurie,
I'm so sorry I didn't see this yesterday! For some reason I'm not getting notifications when people leave comments on my site right now. I hope it's not too late to give you this information.
For the finger-style rectangles in my recipe, one batch makes about 21 finger sandwiches.
For about 70 finger sandwiches: make 3.5 batches (I’d round up and do 4 batches so you have extras).
For about 100 finger sandwiches: make 5 batches.
Bread estimate (for finger-shaped rectangles): my batch uses 14 slices of bread, so:
70 sandwiches: ~48 slices (about 3 loaves, depending on loaf size)
100 sandwiches: ~70 slices (about 4–5 loaves, depending on loaf size)
If you’d rather cut small triangles or squares, you’ll usually get more pieces per slice, so you may need less bread than the finger-rectangle estimate. A simple way to plan is to decide your shape first, then do one “test slice” to see how many pieces you like per slice, and multiply from there.
I hope that helps!
Shareba
Laurie Carleton says
Hi Shareba! No ma’am, it’s not to late!! OMG!! Thank you for the details! I appreciate this so much! The bridal tea is in a few weeks so I have time to plan and make a batch now to make sure I’m doing it right lol! Again, thank you for your time, guidance and all of the details!!
Laurie C.
Shareba Abdul says
Hi Laurie, oh that's great! I'm glad you have time to prepare. Definitely take note of how many sandwiches you can cut from the loaf you want to use. It's so difficult for me to tell people how much bread they will need because bread loves vary in size. I hope my suggestions are helpful, and that you have a wonderful time at your event 🙂
Riaz says
This recipe was really easy to make! Also the ingredients weren't hard to find at the grocery.
Shareba Abdul says
Thanks! I’m so glad it was easy to make and shop for!
Shareba Abdul says
This is one of the recipes I've had the most time to refine. I've been making it since 2013! The blend of sharp cheddar and pimentos is super satisfying to eat. This recipe works equally well for an afternoon tea party or just a quick tasty snack. I hope you give it a try!