This 3-Ingredient Appetizer Is the Best I've Ever Had

If you’re looking for me at a cocktail party or potluck, chances are high I’ll be within arm’s reach of the charcuterie board. There’s something irresistible about being able to build your own bite and try a new combination each time. Bonus: When you employ this strategy, you’re rarely alone in your fondness for fromage and can savor great conversations while you snack your way through the evening.

When I’m the host—or the guest responsible for bringing the board—I aim for a mix of three different types of cheeses, a couple different meats, and a variety of “accessories” like nuts, honey, fruit, jams, and pickles. But if a viral social media video is any indication, I could certainly streamline next time. Turns out, I might need just 3 ingredients to make a snack that’s so epic, “RIDICULOUS does not even do it justice,” according to one cook who recreated this at home.

Let’s give this cheese board-inspired creation a try.

How to Make Maple Bread with Soft Cheese

This trendy and easy appetizer recipe that one social media commenter deems “the best ever” is courtesy of James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and chef Amy Thielen. In 2013, Thielen hosted two seasons of the Midwestern foodway-focused TV show Heartland Table on Food Network. During one episode, after a trip to her favorite cheese shop in Madison, Wisconsin, Thielen headed back to her kitchen to create this snack. More than 12 years later, it’s still raking in rave reviews like “this is the bomb and I serve it as an appetizer all the time!”

Maple Bread with Soft Cheese had a small but mighty following online until TikTok creator @smalltowninfluencer demonstrated this, one of her favorite potluck contributions, this June. To date, that one video has racked up 6.3 million views. I’m so glad I’m among that tally, so the recipe landed on my radar.

Here’s how to make Thielen’s now-viral appetizer recipe:

1. Make the maple bread. In a large skillet over medium heat, add maple syrup, butter, and a pinch of salt. Using tongs, place 4 slices of sourdough bread in the pan. Flip each piece right away to coat both sides in the maple syrup mixture. Cook for about 4 minutes, flipping often, until the bread is toasted and the pan is about dry. Transfer the bread to a plate to cool, then repeat to prepare another batch of maple bread.
2. Add cheese and serve. On top of each slice of bread, smear some soft cheese. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Tips for Making This 3-Ingredient Appetizer

In less than 15 minutes and with just 3 ingredients at the ready (we count butter and salt as freebies since they’re staples in most homes), this sweet and savory snack is ready to share…or keep all to yourself. If you’re feeling tempted to join the club by whipping up these cheese board bites, here are a few secrets for success—and ideas for making this recipe your own.

• Be careful not to burn the bread. “You can go from caramelized to burnt in a heartbeat so pay attention,” one home cook warns. Although you do want the bread to be well-coated in maple butter and toasted, don't take the golden suggestion too far. Due to the sugar in the syrup, the bread will harden as it cools. When it's lightly golden brown, remove the bread from the pan. If you don’t feel like fussing over a skillet, brush both sides of bread slices with melted butter and maple syrup, then bake it on a wire rack-lined baking sheet at 350°F for 10 minutes. Flip the slices, and bake until lightly golden brown; about 5 minutes more.
• Mix things up. Thielen calls for a “small disk of washed-rind cheese, such as Camembert.” This creamy, earthy, often mushroomy cheese can be polarizing for some, so if you’re not a fan or want to stick with something a bit safer to share at parties, swap in another spreadable cheese like brie, goat cheese, ricotta, cream cheese, or this outrageous 3-ingredient Parmigianno-Reggiano Mousse. While we’re discussing variations, honey definitely works in place of maple syrup if you prefer.
• Invite some guest stars. The short but mighty ingredient list for Maple Bread with Soft Cheese certainly isn’t lacking in flavor. Still, you don’t need to stop there. Consider adding a thin slice of prosciutto, a thin layer of jam, jelly, or preserves (I think fig jam would be dreamy here!), or finish each piece with a sprinkle of chopped toasted nuts.
• Don’t wait for happy hour. One commenter captured my heart with a tip to use this recipe as a way to start the day strong. They made a couple large slices of this for breakfast, and paired it with a side of sausage. Swoon.

The Verdict on Maple Bread with Soft Cheese

Sweet and salty; crunchy and creamy; each bite of this 3-ingredient appetizer is supremely satisfying. In addition to how scrumptious this is, I adore how quick and easy Thielen’s recipe is to recreate. Plus, it can be scaled up or down to accommodate a party of one or 100.

Although the foundation sets the stage for dozens of riffs, there’s no need to mess with this easy yet elegant recipe. I have a feeling that after a couple upcoming holiday gatherings, I’ll have the formula memorized. 

Before holiday party season, since this is far simpler and more affordable to recreate than a full cheese platter, I think I might “put in the reps” by testing this out for a few weekday breakfasts next week with a few different soft cheeses. That way, I can  ensure I’m bringing my best bite to the party—and eat the delicious research all the while. If being “RIDICULOUS” is wrong, I don’t want to be right.