Cheesy, gooey and absolute delicious. These crispy Babybel cheese bites are so yummy and a perfect snack. Its golden, crispy shell and warm, gooey, cheesy centre makes it an easy crowd-pleasing snack.
Perhaps you put these red cheese roundels in your child’s lunch box, perhaps even in your own, and they are perfectly delicious to eat as they are, but dip them in a beaten egg and panko bread crumbs and you have created a delicious snack that is both crunchy and gooey.
These little bites are a fun, elevated twist on mozzarella sticks or other bread crusted cheese, and make them even more satisfying by adding pesto or sambal olek to the middle for an extra flavour sensation. Great snacks do not have to be complicated, with just a few ingredients and a quick fry, you have got melty cheese bombs that are crispy, creamy and downright addictive. Serve them hot and watch them disappear.
How to assemble your Babybel cheese bites
Start by unwrapping your Babybel cheese. I am using the classic red Babybels, but you can try the same with the other flavours, as well as other bite sized cheeses.
Decide if you want to make plain cheese bites or add a flavour in the middle.
If you decide on adding flavour, then cut the cheese roundels lenght wise, like you would cut a hamburger bun. Add your preferred flavour and put the two halves together again, then continue with the steps of dipping the cheese in flour, egg and panko to create the crust, before pan frying until hot and gooey.
Check out the recipe card below for full details and measurements.
Fillings
To add some more flavour to your cheese bites, cut the Babybel in half, lengthwise and add what you have in your cupboard. I like a pesto for a fresh version, and sambal olek for the heat.
If you prefer to leave the cheese as is, you can always add roasted sesame seeds to the panko crust to introduce a slightly more nutty flavour to your cheese bites. Other flavours you can add to your panko crumbs are paprika, oregano or chili flakes.
Substitutes
I have used the classic red Babybel for this recipe. It is the only ones I have readily available where I live. However if you have access to the other flavours, go ahead and try them. If you cannot get a hold of Babybel at all, then try other bite sized cheeses and let me know in the comments below how you get along.
Freezable
If you want to make these cheese bites ahead of time, go head and complete the recipe until they are ready to fry in the pan. Then instead, freeze flat and you will have these easy cheese bites ready in the freezer to pop in to your pan straight from frozen.
Batch cooking tips
These cheese bites are perfect to batch cook because you do not need to fry them right away. They do not get soggy if you leave them to finish a bunch of them at the same time. For making them ahead of time, coat the cheese with flour, eggs and breadcrumbs, freeze flat and when solid frozen you can add them to a freezer bag, ready to pop in to your pan straight from frozen. Perfect for when you want to make a head a whole bunch of them for a party snack.
Variations
For other cheesy small bites and side orders, try my whipped feta dip in many flavours.
For other perfect party food, try my pull apart pizza or my spinach and feta börek.
Crispy Babybel cheese bites
Ingredients
- 5 babybel
- 50 ml flour
- 1 egg
- 50 ml panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp oil
Optional extra
- Green pesto
- Sambal Olek
- White sesame seeds
Instructions
- Take the cheese out of its casing.
- Put the flour on a plate
- Crack the egg in a bowl and stir with a fork to mix the white and yolk.
- Pour the panko bread crumbs on a plate.
- Cover the cheese in flour, then dip in the egg.
- Put the cheese in the panko bread crumb and cover the whole cheese with bread crumbs.
- Put oil in a frying pan and let it get proper hot before adding the cheese.
- Let it brown on one side, about three minutes, before flipping them over and let brown on the opposite side.
- Let drain on a piece of kitchen towel before serving.
- Serve warm and gooey as a small snack.