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Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + Cabernet

Are you a wine connoisseur or a newbie? Either way, wine and cheese pairings are one of the best parts of life. Enjoy these Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites with a glass of Black Box Cabernet at your next social gathering. 

April, May and June are party heavy months. Think baby showers, graduations, bridal showers, weddings, etc. These Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites, covered with balsamic glaze, are perfect for any occasion! They come together in less than 20 minutes, even though they look like they took a lot of work. The cheddar cheese pairs deliciously with a Cabernet– specifically Cabernet Sauvignon by Black Box!

We’re getting married in November,  and I’m having three friends who are having babies, so my mind is currently filled with ideas for showers and parties. I thought it would be fun to try out a party appetizer and it was a huge success. 

Imagine taking bite of a crispy + sweet + salty cheddar apple toast along with a sip of Cabernet. <3. 

Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + CabernetHoneycrisp apples are used in this dish because of their sweetness and crispiness. I found them on sale the other day for $1.50 a pound (which seems expensive for apples but for honeycrisp its a good deal, haha). First, they’re sliced into pieces. I use an apple cutter which makes things go faster, and creates uniform shapes. 

I cut each of those slices in half again to make them thinner. Then, they were microwaved with some water to soften the slices. Meanwhile, I poured myself a glass of wine to enjoy while cooking! 

Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + CabernetI used a thin French baguette for this recipe– you want it to be about 3″ in diameter or less, so it’s the perfect size for people to take 2-3 bites. Handheld is the objective here– so you can hold your appetizer in one hand and a glass of wine in the other! 
 Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + CabernetEach bread slice is topped with 2-3 slices of apple, topped with a square of cheddar cheese! Cheddar is a harder and sharper cheese, and it can handle the strength of red wines. Cabernet Sauvignon is often fruity (and less dry) and complements this familiar cheese’s flavor. And if you’ve never tried the cheddar + apple combo, you’re in for a special treat. Sweet + savory all in one. 

Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + CabernetAnd… after! Just look at that melty cheese. On goes a balsamic glaze drizzle! I used a pre-made balsamic glaze that I found at the store.  

Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + CabernetYUM! Each bite is filled with sweet apples, salty cheddar cheese, and crispy French bread. In between bites it’s a good idea to also take a sip of wine. Really let those flavors mellow together in your mouth. 

I’ve been a big fan of Black Box wines for years. Boxed wine is actually very handy, especially when you love wine but you don’t want to drink a whole bottle all at once. My fiance isn’t a big wine drinker, so it’s usually just me who wants to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. I  hate opening an entire bottle, because then it goes sour before I can drink it all. Or, I end up drinking the whole bottle (guilty!) which doesn’t need to happen too often.  

Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + CabernetBlack Box Wines can go anywhere– it’s a plastic bag inside a cardboard box, so it isn’t heavy and it’s not breakable. The pour spout makes it really easy to fill up your glass. I’ve tried several varieties, and their Cabernet is my favorite! They’ve won over 50 Gold Medals for their quality. 

You really are getting premium quality wine, at half the price of bottled wine. They’re also eco-friendly. Both the bag and box are recyclable and significantly reduces waste versus glass bottles! And if you’ve been following the blog for the past couple weeks, you know that I’ve really gotten into putting a stop to waste. 

One box equals four 750ml bottles, and it lasts up to 6 weeks. The price is fantastic– about $18-20 which brings the cost to just $4 per “bottle” of higher quality wine. This cost is up to 40% less than comparable bottled wines. If you’re planning a party in the future– consider using boxed wine instead of bottled! You’ll save so much money! 
 Wine Pairings: Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites + Cabernet

Here’s the recipe to make the Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites! 

Mini Cheddar & Apple French Bread Bites
Yields 20
Print
Ingredients
  1. 1/2 Tbsp butter
  2. 1 thin French baguette
  3. 4 large honeycrisp apples
  4. Cheddar cheese block
  5. Pre-made balsamic glaze
  6. Black Box Wines Cabernet Sauvingnon, for serving
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Butter a large baking sheet.
  3. Core and slice the apple into thin slices. Add to a bowl and cover halfway with water. Microwave for four minutes, or until soft. Drain and let cool.
  4. Meanwhile, slice the baguette into thin 1/2 inch slices (about ~20). Line up onto the baking sheet. Slice the cheddar cheese into small thin squares.
  5. Top each baguette with 2-3 slices of apple and one slice of cheddar cheese.
  6. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the bread is crisp.
  7. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve with a glass of Cabernet. Cheers!
Zen & Spice https://zenandspice.com/

 

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3 Comments

  1. This would easily be dinner for me one night :)

  2. Oh my! I love me some wine and cheese. I’d have it for dinner every night if I didn’t have a husband to feed. :) I’ve heard great things about Black Box Wines.

  3. These sound sooo good! Perfect for a girls night—which I’ll be looking forward to sometime after baby is born!

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