Dec 03 2009
Holiday Appetizers 101: Crabmeat Bites.
This appetizer includes three of my most favorite ingredients:
Cheese
Butter
Seafood
There is no going wrong here. The perfect combo, right? If it had some bacon in it, I’d be in heaven.
My mom has been making these crabmeat bites for as long as I can remember – probably 15 years or more?
And while she is chronically late to every party we attend, and this appetizer usually arrives at dinner time, it still gets eaten in record speed. Everyone loves them!
(And over the years, her lateness has gotten better. Though I am still scarred from being late everywhere I went as a child, and now arrive to my destination an annoying 15 minutes early. This does not bode well if you are trying to be ‘fashionably late,’ which I didn’t even realize was cool until … now.)
It’s a simple start by throwing everything in a saucepan.
I usually don’t use canned crabmeat and prefer the more ‘fresh’ variety. This canned crab is what we have always used for this dish and I didn’t intend on switching things up here. It tastes too good.
The ingredients combine and melt together to create the spread.
I used the light, multigrain english muffins, because that is what we normally eat. They have 8 grams of fiber. (Not that my husband needs more.)
However, they were a bit chewy. My mom always uses regular, white english muffins and they toast up very nicely. If you’re making this for a party, I would suggest using the regular ones. For taste’s sake.
Once the cheese, butter and crab has melted, it gets spread on each side of the english muffin, and topped with paprika.
Of course, I use smoked paprika, since I have this insane, unruly love affair with it. My mom uses regular paprika, and it tastes great, too!
They go into the oven to crisp up and get all bubbly.
Cut them into tiny triangles – perfect for finger food!
They will get gobbled up quickly, but cutting them into four’s leaves more room for sharing. Sometimes I have eaten an entire english muffin pre-cut. I know that probably shocks the heck out of you, given how … regimented I am.
Crabmeat Bites
1 jar Kraft Old English Cheese Spread
1 stick butter
1 small can of crabmeat
12 english muffins
a few dashes of paprika
Preheat oven to 350.
In a small saucepan, combine butter, cheese and crabmeat until melted together. Allow it to thicken a bit.
Slice english muffins in half and lay on a baking sheet. Spread crabmeat mixture on muffins and sprinkle each with a dash of paprika.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and muffins are crisp. Once cooled, cut into four’s (triangles) and serve.
Doesn’t this look like perfection? I promise if you make these, they will be highly requested from here on out.
Has Christmas come early at work? With people bringing in cookies, treats, and gift baskets, holiday weight gain can start earlier than anticipated. Make it a December to Remember, and try this at-home cardio workout when you are pressed for time.
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That is so easy and it looks great!
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Oh I love crab meat!!!
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You always post great recipes. I have a few from you that I kept on a word document that I have to try. Thanks a lot
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That looks soo good. It’s true seafood, butter, and cheese is a great combo! I will definitely try this recipe.
Thanks!
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these look so easy & SOO good. Def trying them out at a get together this season
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Yummy!! You are making this very hard for me because we’re throwing a football party this weekend and I can’t decide which appetizers to make! I think I’m definitely going to throw this into the mix, it sounds so good!
Question: I have never purchased Old English Cheese. Does that just come from the regular grocery store?
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Oooh delicious! Must make these for the boyfriend…he agrees with you on your 3 favorite things…cheese, butter and seafood!
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These look so delicious, what a great appetizer idea!
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Those look wonderful and seem like perfect pre-dinner party appetizers! I may be using this recipe for a little holiday get-together I plan on having. Will let you know how they turn out if I do! Thanks for sharing.
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You had me at “Cheese, butter, and seafood!”
*waving* I’m back!
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I know how you feel. My parents were always late to every party, and now I am following in their footsteps. I like to tease my wife about a wedding where we got in and sat down RIGHT before the groom walked down the isle. She tries to tell me we were late… HA.
My Dad LOVES that cheese spread. Maybe I will have to make some of that for him! It sure looks great!
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that sounds really good– i looove seafood!
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I LOVE all the ingredients!! This might be the winning app for the in laws…
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Mmmm….I use Kraft Old English is a cheesy dip I make for tortilla chips, or just as a spread on a sandwich. THIS looks delicious!
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I don’t know what that cheese spread is- where is it found at the store?
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OH MY GOSH….those look heavenly!!!
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Yummy!! Another winning recipe for sure! I LOVE anything with crab in it=)
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i didnt even know they sold crab in cans! wow, you learn something new everyday
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Wow! Those look delish! I love anything crab
!
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Yum, and that is all I have to say. I’m from Maryland, crab anything rocks!
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Yes please! This is like a crab-pizza-focaccia bread and looks so sinfully good!
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so simple!! I love dishes like that that only call for 4 simple ingredients because you can make them for yourself and then the same dish for a dinner party!!
great idea jess <3
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SO CUTE!!!!!
Those look like the absolute perfect party appetizer!!!!!
so so cute, Jess!
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i just showed this to my fiance.
and he proceeded to have a long stream of conscious talk about english muffins. “i bet that’d be good on other things. well, it’s probably good on english muffins. i like english muffins on egg mcmuffins. i don’t know if i’ve had them on other things. maybe i have. yeah, i’ve had them with jam. i think i like them”
i think that means i can make him this. but i’m afraid to bring it up and hear about english muffins again.
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i’m usually in charge of the mini bagels for xmas eve (mini bagels with a spread of mayo, cheese, and red & green pepper) but i might have to switch it up bc i want to eat my screen right now!
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[...] Crab Appetizers [...]
I can’t find the Old English cheese spread anywhere. Do you have any other suggestions? I have 1 more store I need to check. It is like cheez whiz?
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[...] order to make the crab appetizers I need Kraft Old English Cheese Spread. I have been to Walmart, Kroger, Target and Marsh in hunt [...]
[...] love FOOD! The crab appetizers I made were the hit I must say. (Mike just whispered in my ear…I wish I had more of those crab [...]