Rye Bread Appetizers with
Cream Cheese and Red Onion

These simple yet elegant rye bread appetizers are made with crisp butter-fried rye bread, a creamy cream cheese and crème fraîche topping and finely chopped red onion for a fresh, slightly sharp finish. They’re perfect for holiday buffets, brunch spreads or as an easy Scandinavian-inspired appetizer for any gathering.

Ingredients

Serves 8–10 appetizers

Rye Bread Base

4 slices rye bread
2 tbsp butter

Cream Cheese Topping

100 g cream cheese
100 ml crème fraîche
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Topping

1 small red onion, finely chopped
Fresh dill

Instructions

Trim the rye bread slices into small rectangles or bite-sized appetizer pieces.
Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat.
Fry the rye bread on both sides until golden, crisp and lightly buttery. Transfer to a plate and let cool completely.
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese and crème fraîche until smooth and creamy. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and pipe it onto the cooled rye bread pieces.
Top each appetizer with finely chopped red onion and garnish with fresh dill.
Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving if preferred.

Notes & Pro Tips

Let the fried rye bread cool completely before piping on the topping so the cream cheese mixture stays neat and creamy.
Finely chop the red onion for the best texture and a more elegant finish.
For a milder onion flavor, soak the chopped red onion in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain well before using.
Assemble the appetizers shortly before serving to keep the rye bread crisp.
These rye bread appetizers are perfect for brunch, holiday buffets or as a simple make-ahead party bite.

BACK TO ALL RECIPES