Recipe report: Snacky recipes celebrating the irresistible pull of cheese

As far as snacks, apps and fun savory shareables go, cheese really holds it all together! Try  pepperoni dips, a spicy paneer, a pull-apart pizza (with dairy-free cheese!), a fancy mascarpone tartine or beer cheese nachos to send your customers to testify at the church of cheese. 

This warm, cheesy dip is like a deconstructed pizza, but more fun to eat! Chef Jon Davis uses a demi baguette from his operation, La Brea Bakery, and toasts it up with garlic and hot honey. The dip couldn’t be easier to put together; provolone cheese and pepperoni are layered in an individual cast-iron skillet and popped in the oven until gooey and melted. Get the recipe

This creamy dip blends ranch dressing, pickle juice and habaneros into two types of cheese to create several layers of flavor. It can be served with tortilla chips for dipping, but Chef Brad Bergaus makes potato chip-crusted dippers from paneer cheese to triple the cheesy taste. Get the recipe

This plant-based pizza is made with dairy-free mozzarella shreds and veggie pepperoni. Instead of forming the dough into the traditional circle, Chef Amy Smith of Miller’s Ale house divides it into disks that are shaped to pull apart and dip into marinara sauce. It’s a fun, shareable take on pizza that can go from lunch to tailgate snack to a catered event. Get the recipe

These tartines, a fancy name for crostini or cheese toasts, require only six simple ingredients, and the result is a quick but impressive-looking canape for a holiday table. Chef Tamara Westerhold relies on this easy recipe when she preps for parties through her company, Cherubina Catering. Get the recipe

These loaded nachos are a meal in themselves, piled with cheese sauce, smashed avocados, crema, pico de gallo, salsa verde and grilled steak. At Twin Peaks, chef Alex Sadowsky creates a quick queso by heating a beer-flavored sharp cheddar cheese spread with milk until smooth. The spread melts easily without curdling. For vegetarian nachos, omit the steak. Get the recipe