Brick cheese is a delicious, creamy Wisconsin original with a mild, tangy flavor. It melts beautifully and is often used in baked dishes like pizza and casseroles.
However, brick cheese can be difficult to find outside of the upper Midwest.
If you don't have access to brick cheese, don't worry! There are many great substitutes that can provide a similar melt, texture, and tang.
What Is Brick Cheese?
Brick cheese originated in Wisconsin in the late 1800s. It gets its name from the brick-shaped form the cheese is pressed into during production.
True brick cheese is made from cow's milk and aged 2-3 months. It has a pale yellow interior and a shiny, golden rind. The flavor is mild, sweet, and tangy. The texture is smooth and slightly crumbly when cold but melts very well when cooked.
Brick cheese is a go-to for Detroit-style pizza, as it crisps up beautifully around the edges providing that signature caramelized crust. It's also used in baked pasta dishes, panini, and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Key Takeaway: Brick cheese is a Wisconsin original known for its mild, tangy flavor and excellent melting properties. It's commonly used in baked dishes like pizza, pasta, and sandwiches.
Why Substitute for Brick Cheese?
There are a few reasons you may need a stand-in for brick cheese:
- Limited availability: True brick cheese can be hard to find outside of the Upper Midwest. It's not always stocked in mainstream grocery stores.
- Higher cost: Brick cheese is shipped in from Wisconsin, which can make it pricier than local options. Substitutes may be more budget-friendly.
- Flavor preferences: While brick cheese has a mild tang, some people find it bland. Substitutes can provide a sharper, bolder cheese flavor.
- Dietary needs: Brick cheese contains dairy. Non-dairy substitutes like soy cheese or nut-based cheeses accommodate vegan diets.
Experimenting with substitutes for brick cheese can give you options to work with your budget, taste preferences, and dietary needs. But which are the best alternatives?
Top Brick Cheese Substitutes
Here are the top recommended swaps for brick cheese:
1. Muenster
Muenster is often called the best substitute for brick cheese. Like brick, it has a pale yellow interior and orange, washed rind. The texture is smooth and sliceable when cold but melts beautifully when cooked.
The flavor of Muenster is mildly tangy with fruity, nutty notes. It makes an ideal 1:1 replacement in recipes calling for brick cheese.
Muenster is easier to find than brick cheese, as it's made in both Wisconsin and Germany. Check the deli counter at your local supermarket.
2. Havarti
Havarti is a Danish cheese that works well in place of brick cheese. It has a creamy, smooth texture that melts consistently.
The flavor of Havarti is mild, sweet, and acidic. It provides a tangy creaminess similar to brick cheese.
For recipes needing stretched melted cheese like pizza, use Havarti in combination with mozzarella. Havarti can be found near other specialty cheeses at grocery stores.
3. Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack is a perfect choice when you need to replace brick cheese for pizza or cheesy baked dishes. It has excellent melting properties and a mild, buttery flavor.
Aged Monterey Jack provides a more pronounced tanginess and deeper flavor. Mix with mozzarella for the ideal pizza cheese blend. Monterey Jack is easy to find and budget-friendly.
4. Tilsit
Tilsit is a Swiss cheese that makes a great brick cheese alternative. It has a smooth, dense texture and rich, sweet flavor with nutty undertones.
When melted, Tilsit provides a velvety creaminess similar to brick. Use young Tilsit for a mild taste or aged for more tang. Find Tilsit near other imported cheeses at gourmet grocers.
5. Fontina
Fontina is an Italian semi-soft cheese that melts easily. Young Fontina is creamy and mild while aged is intensely nutty and complex.
For a brick cheese substitute, use younger Fontina. It has a mild, buttery flavor when melted. Fontina can be found at higher-end markets or cheese shops.
6. Butterkäse
Butterkäse is actually a German-style brick cheese. It has a smooth, spreadable texture and sweet, buttery taste.
Butterkäse provides the same rich creaminess as brick cheese when melted. It browns beautifully and can be used interchangeably with brick in baked recipes. Find it near the specialty cheeses.
7. Edam
Edam is a Dutch cheese recognizable by its red wax rind. The interior is pale yellow with a firm, dense texture that softens when heated.
The flavor of Edam is nutty, salty, and mildly tangy - not as sweet as brick but similar when melted. Use young Edam for the mildest flavor that works well in place of brick cheese.
8. Gouda
Gouda makes a good substitute for brick cheese thanks to its creamy texture and tangy taste. Young Gouda is mild while aged Gouda is sharp and complex.
Use a young Gouda (less than 3 months old) for baking recipes calling for brick cheese. Its buttery flavor mellows when heated but still provides tang. Try smoked Gouda for a twist.
9. Colby
Colby is an American cheese similar to cheddar but much milder. It has a soft, supple texture and faint tanginess.
When melted, Colby provides a creamy, smooth mouthfeel akin to brick cheese. Combine it with mozzarella or Monterey Jack for an authentic brick cheese substitute. Colby melts uniformly without becoming greasy.
10. Mild Cheddar
Mild cheddar can be used in place of brick cheese, although the flavors are not exactly the same. Brick cheese is sweeter and less sharp.
For best results, use a younger, creamy cheddar. Avoid drier, crumbly varieties or extra sharp cheddar.
The buttery notes in mild cheddar complement brick cheese recipes well. Combine it with mozzarella to help moderate the sharper cheddar flavor.
Key Takeaway: Top substitutes for brick cheese include Muenster, Havarti, Monterey Jack, Tilsit, Fontina, Butterkäse, Edam, Gouda, Colby, and mild cheddar.
FAQs
Can I use mozzarella instead of brick cheese?
You can use mozzarella, but the flavor won't be quite the same. Mozzarella is drier and lacks the sweet creaminess of brick cheese when melted.
For best results, combine mozzarella with a small amount of Monterey Jack, Havarti, or Muenster to replace brick cheese.
What's a good cheese for Detroit-style pizza?
For Detroit-style pizza, brick cheese provides that iconic crispy browned edge. Good substitutes are Muenster, Monterey Jack, or a blend of mozzarella and provolone.
Can I use cream cheese as a substitute?
Plain cream cheese is too soft and wet to properly replace brick cheese. However, you can make a quick brick cheese substitute by mixing equal parts cream cheese and mild shredded cheddar.
Is there a good vegan substitute for brick cheese?
The best vegan brick cheese alternatives are soy-based cheese products like Daiya cheddar style shreds or Chao slices. Nut-based cheeses can also mimic the texture when melted.
Can I replace brick cheese with American cheese?
In a pinch, you can use American cheese slices as a brick cheese substitute. American cheese will provide creamy meltability but lacks the sweet tang of brick. Use high-quality real American cheese, not "cheese product."
Conclusion
Brick cheese adds delicious, melty flavor to so many dishes, especially wonderful buttery, caramelized crust pizza. If you don't have access to brick, substitutes like Muenster, Monterey Jack, and Havarti make solid stand-ins.
The key is to use cheeses with a similar creamy texture and mild, sweet tang as brick cheese provides. Young, semi-soft cheeses tend to melt best. Stay away from drier, crumbly, or strongly flavored cheeses.