Pumpkin Pie Cheese & Cracker Bites
These adorable pumpkin pie cheese and cracker bites look just like tiny slices of pumpkin pie, but they’re actually made with savory cheese, crackers, and cream cheese. They’re an easy, festive appetizer for Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings.
These adorable pumpkin pie cheese and cracker bites are the cutest little appetizer for your Thanksgiving table. Made with savory cheese, crunchy crackers, and creamy cream cheese, each bite is assembled to look just like a tiny slice of pumpkin pie.
They’re easy to make, require just a handful of ingredients, and are such a fun way to bring a little Thanksgiving charm to your appetizer spread. No baking required!
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Pie Cheese & Cracker Bites
If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving appetizer that is both easy and guaranteed to get people talking, these little cheese and cracker “pies” are it.
They have all the familiar elements of a slice of pumpkin pie, just in a completely savory form. A triangle of cheese becomes the “pie filling,” a crunchy cracker acts as the base, another piece of cracker creates the crust, and a little swirl of cream cheese looks just like whipped cream.
I made these with aged Parmesan for a deliciously sharp, savory flavor, but cheddar would also be a great choice if you want your little pies to have a more traditional pumpkin pie color.
Best of all, they come together in just a few minutes and can be served alongside your favorite Thanksgiving appetizers.
Ingredients
Whole-wheat crackers: I used whole-wheat crackers and sliced them into triangles for the base. If you can find a cracker that is already triangular, you can absolutely use that instead.
Aged Parmesan: Aged Parmesan gives these little bites a deliciously savory, nutty flavor. You can also use cheddar, which works especially well for the pumpkin pie look.
Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese acts as the “glue” that holds everything together and becomes the whipped cream topping.
How to Make Pumpkin Pie Cheese & Cracker Bites
1. Cut the crackers and cheese
If your crackers aren’t already triangle-shaped, carefully cut them into triangles for the base of each bite.
Cut the cheese into small triangles that are slightly smaller than the crackers. You want the cheese to sit neatly on top without extending past the edges.
For the crust, cut additional cracker pieces to create a small rectangular or curved piece that can be attached to the back of each cheese triangle.
2. Assemble the cheese slices
Spread or pipe a small amount of softened cream cheese onto each triangle cracker.
Place a cheese triangle on top and gently press it down so the cream cheese holds it in place.
3. Add the cracker crust
Pipe a small amount of cream cheese onto the piece of cracker you’re using for the crust.
Press it onto the back edge of the cheese triangle so it stands upright and gives the bite the appearance of a little slice of pie.
4. Add the “whipped cream”
Transfer the remaining cream cheese to a piping bag fitted with a small star tip.
Pipe a small dollop onto the top of each cheese triangle. This little finishing touch makes them look just like miniature slices of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream.
5. Serve
Arrange the finished pumpkin pie cheese and cracker bites on a serving platter and serve immediately.
Cheese Options
I used aged Parmesan for these, and I love the slightly nutty, savory flavor it adds. However, you have plenty of options depending on what you have on hand.
Cheddar: A classic choice and especially fun if you want the cheese to resemble orange pumpkin pie filling.
Aged cheddar: Great if you want a sharper, more flavorful bite.
Parmesan: Nutty, salty, and delicious with the cream cheese and crackers.
Colby Jack: A milder option that works well for a crowd.
For the most pumpkin pie-like appearance, choose an orange or golden cheese. For flavor, though, use your favorite!
Tips for Making Them
Use softened cream cheese. Room-temperature cream cheese is much easier to pipe and will work better as the “glue” for assembling the bites.
Keep the cheese slightly smaller than the cracker. This gives each little pie a clean edge and makes the cracker base visible around the cheese.
Use a piping bag for the cream cheese. A small star tip gives the topping the most realistic whipped cream look, but you can also use a small spoon if you don’t have a piping tip.
Choose sturdy crackers. You’ll be cutting and assembling the crackers, so a sturdy cracker will be easier to work with and less likely to break.
Make them shortly before serving. For the best texture, assemble these close to serving time so the crackers stay crisp.
Make These for Thanksgiving
These pumpkin pie cheese and cracker bites are such a fun addition to a Thanksgiving appetizer spread. They’re small enough to grab in one bite, but their little pie-slice shape makes them feel much more special than a traditional cheese-and-cracker appetizer.
Serve them on their own, add them to a holiday grazing board, or arrange them around your other Thanksgiving appetizers for a festive little snack that everyone will want to try.
And if you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, these are a particularly good option when you want something cute, easy, and completely no-bake.
Don’t miss out on these other fun fall recipes!
Ultimate Fall Charcuterie
Hearty Chili With Wild Rice
Homemade Cheddar Bay Swim Biscuits
Meet Claire
Welcome to Claire Bear Bites! Here is where we have the most amount of fun with food. I’m an silly, quirky Aussie living in LA, creating and loving bright, colorful, healthy and delicious plant forward meals.
This deliciously colorful meals are a direct reflection of me and my love for experimenting. Food should make you happy, smile and make you do a weird lil happy dance cause it taste so dang good. Life can be stressful but your food doesn’t need to be! Let’s have fun and eat the rainbow!
Let's get social!
Most Recent Recipes
Subscribe for more!
Pumpkin Pie Cheese & Cracker Bites
These adorable pumpkin pie cheese and cracker bites are a fun and festive Thanksgiving appetizer made with savory cheese, whole-wheat crackers, and cream cheese. They’re assembled to look like tiny slices of pumpkin pie, complete with a cracker “crust” and a piped cream cheese “whipped cream” topping.
Ingredients
- 12 whole-wheat crackers, plus extra for the crust pieces or triangle crackers like triscuits
- 12 small triangles aged Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup softened cream cheese, approximately
- Cheddar cheese, optional substitution
Instructions
- If your crackers are not already triangle-shaped, carefully cut 12 crackers into triangles for the base of the bites.
- Cut the Parmesan into 12 small triangles that are slightly smaller than the crackers.
- Cut additional cracker pieces to use as the crust on the back of each pie.
- Transfer the softened cream cheese to a piping bag or small zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
- Pipe a small amount of cream cheese onto each triangle cracker and place a cheese triangle on top.
- Pipe a small amount of cream cheese onto the cracker pieces you’re using for the crust. Press each piece onto the back edge of a cheese triangle so it resembles a pie crust.
- Pipe a small dollop of cream cheese onto the top of each cheese triangle to resemble whipped cream.
- Arrange on a serving platter and serve immediately.
Notes
Aged Parmesan gives these bites a delicious savory, nutty flavor, but cheddar is also a great option.
If you can find crackers that are already triangle-shaped, use those to save time.( I chose these crackers for the fiber and benefits only)
Softened cream cheese is easiest to pipe and works best for assembling the bites.
A small star piping tip will give the cream cheese topping a whipped cream appearance.
For the best texture, assemble shortly before serving.
Meet Claire
Welcome to Claire Bear Bites! Here is where we have the most amount of fun with food. I’m an silly, quirky Aussie living in LA, creating and loving bright, colorful, healthy and delicious plant forward meals.
This deliciously colorful meals are a direct reflection of me and my love for experimenting. Food should make you happy, smile and make you do a weird lil happy dance cause it taste so dang good. Life can be stressful but your food doesn’t need to be! Let’s have fun and eat the rainbow!