cheese balls three ways
Is it New Year’s Eve yet? Because I made these cheese balls during a mild case of the sads-after-Christmas and I may or may not have eaten my way through half of each before the holiday for which they are appointed ? that’d be New Year’s Eve, FYI. Christmas was for cookies (ALL. THE. COOKIES).
Oy. I mean really, can we back up a bit and discuss how many dang cookies I ate this past week? Um, let’s not actually. You would be appalled/impressed.
Anywho, cheese balls. I don’t know why and/or how this cheese-loving girl has gone all her life without having made one from scratch. Yeah haiiii I’m the one who’s been eating those store-bought cheese balls all these years. Hiding my head in shame as I swipe another cracker into one of these HOMEMADE cheese balls.
And by homemade, I mean I shaped some stuff into a ball and called it an appetizer. EASY/YUMMY/INSTANT APPETIZER TIMES.
Oh yes, that cheese ball right there tastes like chocolate chip cookie dough. Clearly I cannot stop with the cookies.
I hope you all had wonderful Christmases. Ours certainly was — we spent the week before Christmas with my family in the Chicago suburbs eating, drinking, playing games, eating, relaxing, visiting with friends, eating and opening presents. Also eating. And on actual Christmas, we spent the afternoon with Elliott’s family opening more presents and guess what else? Eating.
Christmas morning, however, was extra-special because it was just the three of us and our own mini family unit Christmas gathering time. We ate cheesy omelets and crispy bacon and listened to Christmas music and opened presents while Avery tossed around scraps of wrapping paper and ribbons. It was perfect.
And then suddenly, it was all over. And that’s when I decided it was time to make cheese balls.
These appetizers weren’t entirely random/out of the blue. It’s become a bit of a tradition for Elliott and me to make and eat a bunch of appetizers on New Year’s Eve, pile on the cozy blankets and PJs and slippers and sit on the couch until 10 p.m. when we both pass out. This isn’t too different from our normal routine, actually, except for the appetizers. It’s not like we eat cheese balls every day, ya know.
I decided to go for two savory options and one dessert-ish option (to appease both the sweet and salty tooths in this household): Goat cheese-scallion and bacon-cheddar-horseradish, and then chocolate chip cookie. All three are spectacular (which I know on account of all the aforementioned pre-New Year’s Eve cheese ball eating), but my fave is surprisingly the bacon-cheddar-horseradish one, which is a perfect blend of salty and tangy and spicy and cheesy and yum. Except the goat cheese-scallion one is really good too, with its creamy, onion-y flavor. Butbutbut the chocolate chip cookie one tastes like a dream — a cookie dough ball dream.
So yeahhhhh, none of these really stand a chance of making it to Wednesday.
PrintCheese Balls Three Ways
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 3 cheese balls 1x
Ingredients
For the chocolate chip cookie cheese ball:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans (toasted, if desired)
- Graham crackers and sliced apples, for serving
For the goat cheese-scallion cheese ball:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Crackers and sliced vegetables, for serving
For the bacon, cheddar and horseradish cheese ball:
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
- 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 slices cooked bacon, cooled and crumbled
- 1/4 cup toasted chopped walnuts
- 2 tablespoons diced pimientos
- Crackers and sliced vegetables, for serving
Instructions
For the chocolate chip cookie cheese ball:
- In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in sugars. Stir in chocolate chips. Use wet hands to shape mixture into a ball and cover tightly in plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours to set. Just before serving, roll cheese ball in chopped pecans. Serve with graham crackers, sliced apples, etc.
For the goat cheese-scallion cheese ball:
- In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, beat all ingredients except parsley just until combined. Use wet hands to shape mixture into a ball and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours to set. Just before serving, roll cheese ball in chopped parsley. Serve with crackers, sliced vegetables, etc.
For the bacon, cheddar and horseradish cheese ball:
- In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, beat all ingredients except bacon, walnuts and pimientos just until combined. Use wet hands to shape mixture into a ball and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Chill at least 4 hours to set. Just before serving, in a small bowl combine bacon, walnuts and pimientos. Roll cheese ball in bacon-walnut-pimiento mixture. Serve with crackers, sliced vegetables, etc.
AWWW Avery looks SO cute!!! So glad you had a great Christmas.
Don’t worry, I ate an impressive amount of cookies too….and I will continue impressive amounts of eating with these cheese balls! Pinned!
Confession: I’ve never made a homemade cheeseball either! I grew up on the awful (awesome?) storebought port wine cheeseballs, but I know all three of these would put that premade stuff to shame.
That scallion one looks amazing!
I just adore that picture of Avery opening the present. 🙂
I will forever think of cheeseballs when we hosted a girls get together/geift exchange and one lady thought it was suitable to give a cheeseball rather than a gift! I mean. I am all for cheeseballs but to give it rather than bring to share are two different ball parks. Maybe if she brought these lovely three it would have made up for it?!
Avery looks so cute!!! I love watching babies pretend to open presents. Also how have I never eaten a cheese ball?!?
I applaude you for making all these cheeseballs. Perfect for NYE parties
Eat all the cheese balls!! And pass out in a cheese ball coma! That’s pretty much what we do, and have for years. Who wants to share their cheese ball anyway? (P.S. Avery is adorable, but she’s growing up too fast. Just saying.)
When cutie pie, Avery gets old enough she be proud you are her mother. Cooking cheese balls at Christmas/ New years time? A new years Snack feast? You are genius!
I have only just got the concept of cheese ball platters after tasting an awesome one this year. The flavors in your recipes are mouthwatering!
Oh my goodness! She is just so stinkin’ sweet. Miss those baby days. Soak ’em up and enjoy them. Sounds like a merry Christmas to me!
And who can resist a good cheese ball? I’m surely can’t!
These look so good and OMG, Avery is 100% ADORABLE!
Confession: I stopped drooling and reading once I saw the adorable baby!! She is just too cute 🙂 OK now I can go back and get these recipes. Chocolate chip I hear?
Ahhh cuteness overload!! Avery is such a gem!!
Also, these cheese balls – yumyumyum!
I love that cheeseballs are becoming popular again. I mean, why shouldn’t they?? It’s an excuse to eat massive quantities of cheese and crackers. I wish I had that Bacon, Cheddar, Horseradish number right now. Holy yum! Also, these photos are GORGEOUS!
I am all about the cheese ball. Just love em! Love your versions too! What a doll Avery is!
Avery is so cute! Swoon! These cheese balls sound so good and I would have to make all three!
Looks delicious! I think you have to eat lots of cookies at Christmas 🙂
She is just too cute for words! Love all these ideas and they would awesome party trays.
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Meg — Lol! That story kind of makes my day. 😉
Julie — RIGHT? I must be feeding her too many cheese balls. 😉
Your photography is so stunning, tack sharp, crystal clear….I love it! Sooooo beautiful! Pinned!
And your daughter…what a cutie 🙂
I have only recently been introduced to the cheese ball. These versions look and sound incredible!
I’ve see many cheeseball variations… but never a choc chip cheeseball! What a genius (and delicious) idea. Definitely going to be trying it out!
I love these, what perfect appetizers for NYE! Avery is too cute :).
I loved reading along your 2014 adventures! What a fun year! And finally today I got the kid picture and also got another idea (Cheese Balls). All are Great!!!!
What would NYE be without ALL THE CHEESE BALLS. I mean, it would just be sad. Would it be wrong of me to just bite into one of these instead of scoop?
Oh man, I do love a good cheese ball! I used to make a chocolate chip one back when I first started “cooking” that was always a party hit, but I never went savory. These look fantastic!!
Love the pictures of Avery! How adorable! And just so you know, you have me seriously contemplating making a cheese ball for breakfast. These look so good!
Wow I am in cheese ball heaven over here. Each one of these looks/sounds ridiculous/heavenly. And I cannot believe Avery is standing! How did that happen so fast??? So happy you had such a wonderful Christmas; hope your New Years is just as great!
I love me some cheeseball and the goat cheese one would probably be my favorite. I found your recipe on my Bloglovin feed and I’d love it if you would share it at my Tuesday link party, Tickle My Tastebuds . Here is the link http://bit.ly/1vphHp4
Cheers,
Lori
Avery is adorable! And those cheese balls. I’m dying for the goat cheese one! So yum!
I like that you made 3 kinds! Appetizers and cozy blankets sound like the perfect NYE. Happy New Year!
I just can’t decide how I want my ball of cheese this year! Decisions, decisions! Welp, looks like I’m making all three of these! 😉 Happy New Year, m’dear!
OMG. Sums up the fabulousness of these recipes and of YOU. I want to make each one today!
I’m in love with all these cheese balls! Forget the bubbly NYE is all about the cheese. Your daughter is about the cutest thing on earth, btw. Happy New Year to all of you!
Sally — Awww, you are too sweet! Wish we could share cheese balls together today! 🙂
Your daughter is sooooooo dang cute. She makes me smile. Baby’s first Xmas is so special. Yep, Christmas is COOKIES. I skated by pretty well this year. But appetizers have been snagging me. Great job with the cheese balls. A most Happy New Year to you and your mini-family.
Avery is the cutest little thing!!!! I could eat her (that sounds wrong)–but is my first reaction to those photos! 😉
Love these cheese balls! I can’t believe I’ve never made one before. What the heck.
Avery is just gorgeous! The cheese balls look absolutely amazing! Congratulations on a fantastic year, and best wishes for a wonderful 2015 filled with lots of delicious food!
I am all for a good cheese ball! I love all three ways you dolled them up. And the baby. The baaaaaby. Goodness, such a cutie. I’m so happy you guys had a great Christmas (loved the family photo in the last post), and Happy New Year, girl. xo
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I made the bacon one for an NYE party and everybody LOVED it! Wayyyyy better than the cheese balls from the store!
Jenna — Oooh, yay! I’m so glad! Yay for yummy cheese balls! 🙂
My New Year’s Eve cheese spread suddenly seem inadequate!