Looking for a great vegan/vegetarian/dairy-free appetizer option for the holidays? Try my easy, fast, delicious "Cheesy" Vegan Tomato Pesto Bites! I partnered with Daiya Foods for this sponsored post - and you can also enter to win a Panini Press plus $75 worth of coupons for Daiya Foods!
Going dairy-free has been fairly easy. However, I've had the hardest time missing real cheese. Do you know how hard it is to be a food blogger and avoid cheese at all of these amazing food events, especially the wine events? There is always, always GOOD cheese! It's crazy difficult, and sometimes I do indulge and then pay for it for the days after.
Daiya Foods
Luckily, there are brands like Daiya Foods, who work hard to constantly improve their plant-based products. Some pizza places even use their Shreds (similar to shredded cheese) as dairy-free cheese options. All Daiya products are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and free of eggs, peanuts, fish, and shellfish. That's quite a feat to create products that are allergen-free!
Recently, I had the opportunity to try the new and improved Daiya Cheddar Style Slices and the Daiya Swiss Style Slices. I was admittedly impressed! They were more flavorful and had less of a processed factory taste than other vegan "cheese" alternatives.
I've enjoyed the slices to be delicious in grilled cheese sandwiches, and have used them to create some delicious party appetizers. I hope you enjoy the recipe I'm sharing today -- and that you enter to win today's Day 9 of my 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways: a panini press and a
"Cheesy" Vegan Tomato Pesto Bites
These are SO super easy to make because I use a lot of shortcuts. You start with wheat bread slices, and you could definitely use gluten-free bread slices if you want.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out bread circles and then cut out Daiya slices with the same cookie cutter. Top the bread slices with one Daiya slice.
Look how cute the Daiya Swiss style slices are: they have holes in them just like regular ol' Swiss cheese slices do!
Then you top each bite with a small teaspoon of pesto. I use store-bought pesto, but you could also use your own homemade pesto made without any cheese. My creamy avocado pesto would be great for this appetizer - just make it without parmesan cheese for a 100% vegan dish!
Finally, top each bite with a spoonful of sun-dried tomatoes. Again, you can totally use jarred sun-dried tomatoes - or you can make your own.
Pop into a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes, just until the Daiya slices have melted. Serve and impress your guests! 
Vegan Tomato Pesto Bites recipe
“Cheesy” Vegan Tomato Pesto Bites
Ingredients
- 8 slices white or wheat bread
- 4 Daiya Cheddar Style Slices
- 4 Daiya Swiss Style Slices
- 1 jar pesto
- 1 jar sun-dried tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Using a circle cookie cutter or pastry cutter, cut out 2 circles from each slice of bread
- Using the same circle cutter, cut out circles from the Daiya slices
- Top each slice of bread with one Daiya circle slice, then top with about a teaspoon of pesto sauce, followed by a teaspoon of sun-dried tomatoes.
- Place each appetizer bite onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, just until the slices have melted.
- Serve immediately.
Enter to Win
ENTER TO WIN: Simply follow the prompts in the Rafflecopter widget below starting with leaving a blog comment. Then you also have several options for additional contest entries.
PRIZE: A Panini Press and $75 worth of coupons for Daiya product (value $115)
DEADLINE: Friday December 16 11:59pm
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Must be 18+ years or older, and have a physical mailing address on the continental US to enter to win.
12 DAYS OF HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS
DEC 1 – ENTER TO WIN: 4-pack of tickets to ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo
DEC 2 – A one-year supply worth of Oregon Fruit Product’s Pourable Fruit + Le Creuset bakeware
DEC 3 – A super cool Truly Pawsome pet subscription box
DEC 4 – Bacon lover’s giveaway package: win Smithfield Bacon for a Year ($416 value)
DEC 5 – Some of my favorite new travel bags and accessories!
DEC 6 – Travel Bliss giveaway package
DEC 7 – Wine & Beer Bliss giveaway package
DEC 8 – Foodie Tech Lover’s Giveaway: Verizon Ellipsis 10 tablet ($299 value)
DEC 9 – Food Bliss Giveaway: Panini Press + $75 worth of Daiya product coupons
DEC 10 – Kid Bliss Giveaway Package
DEC 11 – Savory Food Bliss Giveaway Package
DEC 12 – Sweet Food Bliss Giveaway Package
Be sure to check UrbanBlissLife.com daily to find out the awesome specific prizes that I will be giving away each day! Or, better yet, subscribe to receive daily posts in your email so that you don’t miss a single post!
Laura says
This recipe looks amazing! Great for the upcoming holiday season. I didn't see the link ...is it up yet?
Courtney H says
Can't find the rafflecopter, but this looks delicious. I've made a panini at home before, but kind of rigged it myself using a regular, ridged pan.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Hi Courtney - so sorry about that! Was having some technical difficulties this morning, but the Rafflecopter widget is back up. Thank you for entering the giveaway! :)
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Hi Laura - so sorry about that! Was having technical difficulties this morning. The contest widget is now up! Thank you for entering!
Jodi M says
I would love a panini press!
Have you ever tried dairy free Heidi Ho cheeses? Delicious!
Krista P. says
So excited to see a vegan holiday appetizer recipe! love it!
betsy says
I love a good ham sandwich.
Pech says
Wow I've never seen the Swiss before - this is indeed perfect for my vegan friends and I like the way you put this together with even some red and green holiday color for holiday appetizers this time of year!!
Julie says
Croque monsieur of course :)
Krista Evans says
Those apps looks so good! I've never tried vegan cheese, but this looks great. Love pesto/cheese/tomato combo....I make a great brie with pesto in puff pastry.
Heather Denniston says
These would look so pretty on a table at a party. How fun. I love bite size food!
Mary says
Perhaps it's because you mentioned cheese, but I love love love me a good grilled cheese. Ooey, delicious, warm, toasty, grilled cheese. I don't eat too many sandwiches, but when I do I go big (and they usually involve lots of melted cheese) ;)
Though I'm all about real cheese. These look quite interesting though. And if they melt the way they seem to look on the packaging I'd be all over trying them.
Dana Esker says
Grilled Cheese with tomato
manda says
I like grill cheese.
David says
My favorite sandwich is grilled cheese with ham, with some garlic powder added to the butter.
Christina A. says
I love roasted vegetable sandwiches...sometimes with grilled chicken!
Natalie S says
I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like any kid ha ha
Steven Epstein says
chicken cutlet on garlic bread with sauteed mushrooms, onions and green peppers with jalepeno monterey jack cheese.
Lily says
Brie cranberry apple!
Rachel Travis says
I love a grilled ham & cheese sandwich!
Nicole Vosburgh says
I love pork roll & cheese!
Kelly D says
I like an egg salad sandwich.
aarti dogra says
pesto chicken paninis
Starla says
This is so awesome. My favorite sandwich is definitely a turkey, bacon and cheese Panini on baguette!
Melissa Storms says
I love grilled cheese with bacon and tomato the most.
Kim Cowgar says
Hummus with feta and roasted red pepper on ciabatta or other hardy bread
Barb D. says
I do want to try that recipe. Looks great!
theresa j says
I love a good egg salad sandwich and soft japanese bread
Julie Wood says
My favorite sandwich is roast beef, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes on whole wheat bread.
Steve Weber says
My favorite sandwich is turkey, ham, cheese, pickles, mayo, mustard, lettuce and some jalapenos.
Kayley says
A good ol' grilled cheese is my fave.
julie says
i really love chicken sandwiches
Melissa says
My favorite sandwich is grilled cheese with tomato and basil.
Elena says
My favorite sandwich is BLT
Candice Dyer says
My all time favorite sandwich is a BLT!
Will G says
I love roast beef sandwiches!
Nicole Martin says
ham and cheese is my favorite.
Jim Lipscomb says
My favorite sandwich is inexplicably made from food items that aren't that fun on their own: Corned beef, pumpernickel, saurkraut, thousand island dressing, and the one thing that is good on its own swiss cheese. Yes the reuben takes a mish mosh of not so grand ingedients and turns them into something delicious!
Jessica Naca says
My favorite kind of sandwich is a pesto mozzarella tomato panini!
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
My favorite sandwiches are chicken salad!
marie says
i love chicken sandwiches
heather says
My favorite kind of sandwich is a BLT.
Angela Saver says
My favorite is grilled cheese with sharp cheddar & sunflower seeds!
Rachel says
My favorite kind of sandwich is a California club.
donna says
i love turkey sandwiches
theresa j says
I loveegg salad on japenese bread
kim kihega says
I love Ham and Cheese sandwiches!
cyndi br says
favorite sandwich is a grilled cheese with tomato
Kimmy Ripley says
My favorite sandwich is OLIVE LOAF! Don't laugh and don't hate on the olive loaf! lol
christine lee says
My favorite sandwich right now is a tempeh bacon sandwich, with sauerkraut, cucumbers, a dollop of hummus!
Lauren H says
ham and cheese
Geoff says
I like a mozzarella grilled cheese with tomatoes and pesto.
Tina W says
My absolute favorite is a BLT made with a perfectly ripe Black Krim tomato fresh from the garden.
linda says
i love chicken sandwiches
Lori says
grilled cheese for sure!
gina lopez says
My favorite kind of sandwich is toasted Tomato and Avocado with Daiya Cheese
Jo Ricker says
Chicken (any kind) or steak with lots of provolone and veggies.
Jessica miller says
Grilled Cheese
Jessica miller says
Grilled Cheese Sand which!
Brittnie says
Tempeh Reuben, yummm ??
Carrie McCarthy says
I want a panini press soooooo bad!!!
Jayedee says
My very favorite sammie is coconut "bacon", lettuce and tomato on thick sliced sourdough bread!
Karen Hamberg says
My favorite sandwich is any meat & cheese with lettuce & a good mustard. The mustard must be between the meat & cheese!
Heather D says
I like a good grilled cheese.
Christi says
Ham and cheese!
Christi says
Grilled cheese.
sarah mayer says
I love a tuna sandwich with cheese and lots of veggies.
Mary Cloud says
I love a Hot Ham and Cheese with lots of Mayo