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 Festive Mini Cheese Ball Appetizers



With four options to choose from, everyone will find a flavour to enjoy. WARNING: These are addictive and may be a go-to recipe year round. 



Ingredients:

Cheese Ball Appetizers 

250g cream cheese, softened

1 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

½ tsp garlic powder

For serving: pretzel sticks


Toppings

Savoury

2x slices double smoked bacon

3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese

Herb & Walnut

3 tbsp chopped walnuts

3 tbsp minced basil

3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese

1x garlic cloves, grated

Cranberry Almond

6 tbsp dried cranberries

3 tbsp chopped slivered almonds (substitute pecans if preferred)

Panko Bread Crumbs & Cheese

½ tbsp olive oil

¼ cup panko breadcrumbs

3 tbsp minced chives

3 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese


Servings: 20-24 mini cheese balls

Preparation: 20 minutes 

Total Time:  30 minutes 

Kitchen Equipment: serving platter, food processor or blender


Instructions:

  1. To a bowl add softened cream cheese, grated cheddar cheese and garlic powder. Mix well to combine. 

  2. Divide cream cheese mixture into 4 small bowls. You will have one bowl per type of mini cheese ball.
  3. Prepare the other ingredients for each type of cheese ball:
    1. Savoury
      1. Cook the bacon until crispy. Then pulse in a blender or food processor to get small ‘bacon bits.’ You can also chop with a knife if you don’t have a blender or food processor.
      2. Mix 3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese into one of the cream cheese bowls. Then scoop out 5-6 heaping tablespoons of this mixture; form into a ball with your hands and roll in the bacon bits. *Tip: Dampen hands with a little water if mixture is sticking when trying to roll into mini cheeseballs or put mixture in the fridge for a few minutes before rolling.

    2. Herb & Walnut
      1. To one of the cream cheese bowls stir in 1 ½ tbsp of minced basil, grated clove of garlic and 3 tbsp of shredded parmesan cheese.
      2. Mix the remaining minced basil and chopped walnuts together in a bowl.
      3. Then scoop out 5-6 heaping tablespoons of this mixture; form into a ball with your hands and roll in the walnut-basil mixture.
    3. Cranberry-Almond
      1. In a food processor pulse 6 tbsp of dried cranberries to smaller pieces. If this doesn’t work, try chopping with a knife.
      2. To one of the cream cheese bowls stir in 3 tbsp of the chopped dried cranberries.
      3. Mix the remaining chopped dried cranberries and 3 tbsp chopped slivered almonds together in a bowl.
      4. Then scoop out 5-6 heaping tablespoons of this mixture; form into a ball with your hands and roll in the dried cranberry-almond mixture.

    4. Panko Bread Crumbs & Cheese
      1. To a small frying pan add ½ tbsp olive oil and stir in ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs. Cook until breadcrumbs start to brown, stirring occasionally, about 3-5 minutes. Set aside.
      2. To the final cream cheese bowl, stir in 3 tbsp minced chives and 3 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese.
      3. Then scoop out 5-6 heaping tablespoons of this mixture; form into a ball with your hands and roll in the panko breadcrumbs mixture.
    5. Finally, serve with crackers or pop a pretzel stick in the top of each for easy serving.


Recipe Pro Tips: 

  • Make these ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Take out 30 minutes before serving to warm to room temperature.