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A retro Christmas appetizer straight from my Nonnie’s kitchen. Just biscuits, butter, and crumbles of blue cheese. Nothing fancy—and yes, I know blue cheese can be controversial—but somehow everyone loves these. Even the picky eaters. And they truly couldn’t be easier to make.
I’ve been talking about this recipe for pretty much the entire life of the website. I shared a variation once in a cookbook, and if you look back, this cranberry appetizer I posted in 2012 was another adaptation inspired by it.
But to this day, I’ve found that nothing beats the original. It’s so retro—definitely the kind of recipe that feels like it came straight from the 1960s—but it’s absolutely delicious.
I’ve tried adding things, swapping ingredients, even using homemade biscuits, and the facts are the facts: you have to stick to the basics. This recipe just works best exactly as it is.
So today, we’re going back to the basics.
This recipe comes from my Nonnie. She made it every single Christmas without fail. If the blue cheese appetizer wasn’t out on the counter shortly after everyone arrived on Christmas night, something was very wrong.
My Nonnie knew exactly how to make the holidays feel special. This little appetizer is just one of her sneaky secrets.
These are the details
Ingredients
- canned biscuit dough – I recommend flaky layers or using crescent rolls
- salted butter
- crumbled blue cheese – the packaged kind (make sure it’s not fancy!)
To make it fancy
- honey
- sea salt
- dried or fresh rosemary
- dried cranberries
What you need from the kitchen
For this recipe, you’ll need a pie plate (two cute options, 1 and 2) or something similar in size. That’s about it!
The Steps
Step 1: Crack Open the Biscuits
I recommend using canned biscuits. It’s not my usual style of cooking, but today we’re sticking to complete simplicity. It’s the holidays—everything will be fine.
I like to use Pillsbury Flaky Layers, but crescent rolls work too.
And if I had a Trader Joe’s nearby, I’d absolutely test their biscuits as well—but sadly, we don’t!
Step 2: Assemble
Cut each biscuit into quarters and arrange them in a pie plate or similarly sized baking dish.
Pour over one stick of melted salted butter, then sprinkle generously with crumbled blue cheese. Be sure to use the blue cheese straight from the package—the least fancy kind. This is the secret.
Step 3: Bake
Bake for about 10 minutes, just until everything is bubbling and lightly golden.
Do not overbake—this appetizer is best soft, buttery, and melty.
Make It Pretty
Nonnie would sometimes add a little parsley, but most often she served this straight from the oven with cocktail napkins and toothpicks on the side.
I love adding a pinch of dried rosemary and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt—that’s my favorite twist. When my mom makes this, she sometimes adds dried cranberries.
Toothpicks or tiny forks work best. But growing up, toothpicks went to the wayside, and everyone just started to dive in with their hands, bite after bite.
I’m already looking forward to making this again on Christmas. It’s one of my family’s favorite foods and a tradition that always reminds me of my Nonnie. And when it comes to Christmas, I’m forever trying to recreate the magic she created for all of us for so many years.
I truly love this time of year!
Looking for more easy holiday recipes? Here are a few more to try!
Crispy Prosciutto and Cheese Sliders
Sweet and Savory Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Puff Pastry Twists
Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates
Pull Apart Roasted Garlic Pizza Dip Sliders
Whipped Goat Cheese with Warm Candied Bacon and Dates
Lastly, if you make 3 Ingredient Blue Cheese Appetizer, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
3 Ingredient Blue Cheese Appetizer
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 164 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated biscuit dough
- 1 stick salted butter
- 5 ounces crumbled blue cheese (not fancy)
- dried rosemary or parsley optional
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Rub a 9-inch pie plate with soft butter.2. Cut each biscuit into quarters and arrange inside the pie plate. Pour melted butter over biscuits. Top with blue cheese.3. Bake 10-15 minutes. Top with herbs if desired.Make it Fancy: add honey and sea salt. Use dried cranberries for festive color.
This post was originally published on December 15, 2025
This tasted good but the blue cheese didn’t really melt. I followed the recipe exactly.
Hi Marica,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! The blue cheese doesn’t necessarily melt like a mozzarella cheese would, it should be soft and warm. I hope this helps! Happy New Year!🥂🎆
The only issue with this recipe is a 10 ounce can of biscuits is only 5 biscuits, so cut into 1/4ths is only 20 pieces of biscuits and this is suppose to serve 8 people. That would be around 2 bites per person! I used a 16 ounce can (8 biscuits) and didn’t change any of the other amounts in the recipe and it turned out great. I also baked it a little longer as I wanted it browned on top.
Hey Lucy,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your notes on what worked best for you, so glad it was a winner!
This was so bad it ended up in the trash.
Hi Kelly,
Very sorry to hear this. If there is anything that I can help with, please let me know!
This was abysmal.
Made for Christmas. Family loved it
Thanks so much, Robyn!! Love to hear this recipe turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it!
Great recipe. I think those people who had problems with the recipe used the 10 oz. can of biscuits that this published recipe calls for. In her Instagram video, Tieghan said she used Pillsbury Grands Biscuits. That product is 16.3 ounces and is what I used. I did not have the problem of way too much butter. Maybe this published recipe needs to be changed to reflect the larger can of biscuits.
Hey Sue,
Big thanks for making this recipe and sharing back. So glad it hit the spot!
Happy Holidays!
We bumped up the temp to 375 and baked it a few minutes longer. It was delicious and not a bit greasy. It was devoured immediately and everyone wanted the recipe!
Hey Sherry,
Big thanks for making this recipe and sharing back. So glad it hit the spot!
Happy Holidays!
A perfect easy recipe. Took almost no prep and gave us a delicious Christmas lunch. Blue cheese deliciousness!
Hey Jon,
Awesome! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it turned out nicely for you!
Merry Christmas!🎄🎁
If adding cranberries, are those added as a topping after baking? Or do you throw them on and bake them in? Thank you!!!
Hey Kathleen,
Those are added as a topping after baking. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Holidays!
This turned out so soggy & greasy for me despite even baking it longer.
Hi Erika,
Thanks for trying this recipe and your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed!
How would you do this if you were making ahead to bring to a party? Assemble and then bake once there? Or bake at home and reheat? Thanks!
Hi Elisa,
I would assemble and then bake at the party, that will work nicely for you!
I hope you love this recipe!
Can it be stored overnight on the counter or does it need to be refrigerated?
Hey Luther,
I would pop it in the fridge:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy Holidays!
I have made this before and it’s amazing. Even for those that don’t love bleu cheese love it. I am thinking of making it more festive with the honey and cranberries as you suggested. When do you add those? At the end as toppings?
Hey Jess,
Happy Friday!! I’m so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment! Yes, I would add at the end after removing from the oven.
Have a wonderful holiday season!🎄
Love this recipe!! We saw it in your cookbook a few years ago and have been making it ever since. It’s always a crowd pleaser and everyone asks for the recipe! I feel like it will always be a staple at our family gatherings for years to come
Thanks so much, McKenna! Love to hear this recipe is always enjoyed, I appreciate you making it so often:)
Happy Holidays!🎁🎄
I love blue cheese, but the amount of butter made everything so greasy & soggy. Not what I was expecting!
Hi Kayla,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear it was not enjoyed!