I Serve This Retro “Cheese Spread” at Every Holiday Party (It’s a 75-Year-Old Recipe)

Attend any Midwestern holiday party—particularly one at my Wisconsin home—and there are a few musts: cold beer, a fluff salad (ambrosia is a popular one with my fam), and a cheese and cracker assortment complete with Merkts cheese spread. This cheese is fuss-free, flavorful, and a nostalgic favorite among friends. 

Why People Love Merkts Cheese

Packaged cheese spreads are so beloved because they’re flavorful and easy to serve. There’s no need to break out the cheese knives or cutting board; you simply pop open the top, grab your favorite spreader, and open a bag of pretzels.

Despite not coming in a block, this spread is truly cheesy. It’s made with Wisconsin cheese, cream, whey, and a few extra ingredients—depending on the type you choose. Merkts offers four flavors: sharp cheddar, beer cheese, almond Swiss, and port wine. To me, port wine is the tastiest of them all. This ribbon of magenta adds a mild dark fruit flavor that elevates any cheese tray.

How To Serve Merkts Like a Midwesterner

To serve cold pack cheese spread like a true Midwesterner, take off the lid and add it to your regular party cheese board. Do not, I repeat, do not decant it into a fancy serving dish. Seeing that signature Merkts script on the side of the tub is part of the charm. Sturdy crackers are a must for spreading (or dunking into) this cheese. Pretzels are also more than welcome. To make this cheese tray complete and extremely Midwestern, be sure to include some petite dill pickles in a small dish nearby.

You can also think outside the tub with Merkts. Shape the cheese spread into a ball and roll it in toasted nuts or herbs, and you’ve got a shortcut retro cheese ball perfect for the holidays. This almond and Swiss variety particularly lends itself to this preparation.

Merkts can also be used as a spread on a sandwich or burger. A generous schmear of the beer cheese variety is the perfect match for a homemade smash burger.

Anyway you slice—or spread—it, Merkts and its kin are a must-try for Midwesterners and the Midwestern at heart. Look for this iconic cheese spread in your grocery store's deli department or near the other cheeses.

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