Mary Berry Cheese and Olive Bites Recipe

Mary Berry’s Cheese and Olive Bites are a punchy, savory snack that combines a sharp cheddar pastry with the briny snap of a green olive. Ideally the mature cheddar should be finely grated to ensure it integrates seamlessly into the flour for a uniform, golden crust.

Mary Berry Cheese and Olive Bites Recipe Ingredients

• 6 oz (175g) mature Cheddar cheese, grated
• 3 oz (90g) plain flour
• ½ oz (15g) butter, plus extra for greasing
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp mustard powder
• 20 pimiento-stuffed green olives
• Cayenne pepper and parsley sprigs, to garnish

How To Make Mary Berry Cheese and Olive Bites Recipe

1. Create the Dough: Place the grated cheese, flour, butter, paprika, and mustard powder into a food processor. Pulse the mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs and then begins to come together into a dough.
2. Prep the Olives: Drain the olives and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. Any excess moisture will prevent the dough from sticking properly.
3. Wrap the Olives: Take a thumb-sized piece of the dough mixture and flatten it on a work surface. Place an olive in the middle. Wrap the dough around the olive, pressing and rolling it between your palms to make it stick and form a neat ball.
4. Consistency Tip: If the pastry feels too crumbly and refuses to stick, add a few drops of cold water to the mixture and pulse again. Repeat the wrapping process for all 20 olives.
5. Bake: Arrange the wrapped olives on a buttered baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven at $200^{circ}C$ ($180^{circ}C$ fan/Gas 6) for 15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp.
6. Cool and Garnish: Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly on the tray. Serve warm or cold, sprinkled with a dusting of cayenne pepper and garnished with fresh parsley sprigs.

Recipe Tips

• Drying the Olives: This is the most critical step. If the olives are even slightly damp, the cheese dough will slip off during baking rather than forming a tight, crisp shell.
• Cheese Selection: Use the strongest mature Cheddar you can find. The flour dilutes the flavor of the cheese, so a powerful Cheddar ensures the bites remain intensely savory.
• Paprika Variations: For a different flavor profile, you can use smoked paprika (pimentón) to give the pastry a deeper, wood-fired aroma.
• Hand-Mixing: If you don’t have a food processor, you can rub the butter and flour together by hand, then stir in the cheese and spices, though the processor method creates a more cohesive “shell.”

What To Serve With Mary Berry Cheese and Olive Bites

Snack pairings are zesty additions often enjoyed alongside cold drinks during evening receptions. Ideally the cayenne pepper should be dusted very lightly over the warm bites to provide a subtle, smoky heat without overpowering the cheese.

• A chilled glass of dry Sherry or a Gin and Tonic
• A plate of Mary Berry Sun-dried Tomato Crostini
• A selection of salted almonds and cashews
• Slices of crisp apple or pear to cleanse the palate

How To Store Mary Berry Cheese and Olive Bites

• Room Temperature: These bites can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
• Refrigerate: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. To restore the “crunch” of the pastry, pop them back in a hot oven for 3–5 minutes before serving.
• Freeze: You can freeze the unbaked dough-wrapped olives for up to 1 month. Bake them directly from frozen, adding an extra 3–5 minutes to the total cooking time.

Mary Berry Cheese and Olive Bites Nutrition Facts

• Calories: ~317 kcal (per serving)
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Protein: 12g
• Fat: 22g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 1g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving based on 4 servings.

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