mmm, cheese
December 10, 2018 8:33 AM Subscribe
Please share with me your favorite cheeseball recipe.
It's finally time to start putting my mother back into the holidays, and one of her favorite holiday treats was the cheeseball. While I'm not at all above Hillshire Farms (I've been working my way through a cheddar and almond ball from Aldi throughout Snowmaggedon 2018), if I can make something a little nicer/tastier/with better ingredients, that would be stellar.
There's no food restrictions; even if someone suggests something that doesn't work for my family, someone else's crew may really enjoy it. So please share with me your favorite cheeseball / spreadable cheese / melted cheese thing that goes on crackers recipe.
(And a merry everything to you and yours!)
It's finally time to start putting my mother back into the holidays, and one of her favorite holiday treats was the cheeseball. While I'm not at all above Hillshire Farms (I've been working my way through a cheddar and almond ball from Aldi throughout Snowmaggedon 2018), if I can make something a little nicer/tastier/with better ingredients, that would be stellar.
There's no food restrictions; even if someone suggests something that doesn't work for my family, someone else's crew may really enjoy it. So please share with me your favorite cheeseball / spreadable cheese / melted cheese thing that goes on crackers recipe.
(And a merry everything to you and yours!)
Best answer: I finally got this recipe from my 72 year old co-worker before she retired. She brings this in every holiday party and it gets devoured: 16 oz. regular cream cheese (other kinds make it too soft) 1 jar each of Kraft 5 oz. Old English cheese and Roka Blue cheese spread, 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. Mix with a blender and serve with your favorite sturdy cracker. If you're feeling fancy, shape it into a ball and stud with 1 cup of your favorite chopped nuts like pecans or almonds.
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 8:49 AM on December 10, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by IndigoOnTheGo at 8:49 AM on December 10, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: My favorite is the classic dried beef cheese ball. It is a total grandma recipe but it is so good.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:50 AM on December 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:50 AM on December 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Pimento cheese is a southern classic. I don't generally like it, but I love this recipe from a favorite restaurant.
Here it is copied and pasted in case the link doesn't work (the website is sometimes clunky):
Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
1/2 medium sweet white onion, such as Vidalia, grated.
1 cup diced pimentos, with juice.
1 teaspoon ground cayenne.
4 ounces cream cheese, softened.
1/4 cup best-quality, full-fat mayonnaise, preferably Hellmann's.
6 cups (1 pound) freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese.
Directions
In a medium bowl, mix the onion, pimentos, and cayenne until well combined. Add the cream cheese and mayonnaise and stir until the mixture is smooth and all the ingredients are incorporated. Add the cheddar and mix until just combine, keeping the texture a little chunky. The pimento cheese will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks (if it lasts that long).
posted by lucy.jakobs at 8:59 AM on December 10, 2018 [2 favorites]
Here it is copied and pasted in case the link doesn't work (the website is sometimes clunky):
Pimento Cheese
Ingredients
1/2 medium sweet white onion, such as Vidalia, grated.
1 cup diced pimentos, with juice.
1 teaspoon ground cayenne.
4 ounces cream cheese, softened.
1/4 cup best-quality, full-fat mayonnaise, preferably Hellmann's.
6 cups (1 pound) freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese.
Directions
In a medium bowl, mix the onion, pimentos, and cayenne until well combined. Add the cream cheese and mayonnaise and stir until the mixture is smooth and all the ingredients are incorporated. Add the cheddar and mix until just combine, keeping the texture a little chunky. The pimento cheese will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks (if it lasts that long).
posted by lucy.jakobs at 8:59 AM on December 10, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I have a variation of IndiegoOnTheGo’s recipe. This was my mom’s recipe and it is in demand at every gathering:
1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese
1 jar of Kraft Old English cheese
1/3 lb. of blue cheese (I use Pt Reyes)
Worcestershire sauce (I don’t measure, just dump some in)
Grated yellow onion (again, I don’t measure but probably put in 1T)
Mix it all up and let sit in the fridge for an hour.
Roll the ball in 1/2 cup of pecans, toasted and chopped.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
posted by Gusaroo at 9:04 AM on December 10, 2018
1 8 oz. brick of cream cheese
1 jar of Kraft Old English cheese
1/3 lb. of blue cheese (I use Pt Reyes)
Worcestershire sauce (I don’t measure, just dump some in)
Grated yellow onion (again, I don’t measure but probably put in 1T)
Mix it all up and let sit in the fridge for an hour.
Roll the ball in 1/2 cup of pecans, toasted and chopped.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
posted by Gusaroo at 9:04 AM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: Our family's cheeseball recipe, which gets compliments everywhere I take it, is the same as the one IndiegoOnTheGo posted also, except we use one jar of Kraft Old English spread and 1 jar of Kraft Pimento Spread.
posted by terilou at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2018
posted by terilou at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: I like the one-base-three-variants approach for cheese balls, because that way there's something for every guest! I really like the cheddar/cranberry option from this trio and the goat/herb/lemon and bleu/pomegranate/walnut options from this trio, but you can mix it up! (I prefer the base from the first link, personally, and it totally works across the options.)
posted by halation at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2018
posted by halation at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: Behold, the One True Cheese Ball
This cheese ball is tasty, but also has structural integrity. I have used this to make a Cheese Dalek in the past.
(Thank you, joycehealy, for asking this question. I will be making the hell out of all the cheese balls on this page)
posted by baniak at 10:07 AM on December 10, 2018 [3 favorites]
This cheese ball is tasty, but also has structural integrity. I have used this to make a Cheese Dalek in the past.
(Thank you, joycehealy, for asking this question. I will be making the hell out of all the cheese balls on this page)
posted by baniak at 10:07 AM on December 10, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Not a real recipe but a list if things I put together to make cheese logs (easier to cut and put in crackers.) I am required to make this every year for friends or disappointment ensues.
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar (or 3 cup if you prefer)
8 to 12 oz crumbled blue cheese
Some cayenne
Some dried mustard powder
Some Worcestershire sauce
Maybe some smoked salt and ground pepper.
Taste it and adjust to your liking.
Mix together and form into "suggestive" sized "logs". Roll in dried parsley flakes or finely chopped pecans or whatever strikes your fancy.
Chill. Take out 1 hr in advance for best eating. Freezes ok. Any leftovers is killer on noodles or salad.
posted by mightshould at 10:30 AM on December 10, 2018
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar (or 3 cup if you prefer)
8 to 12 oz crumbled blue cheese
Some cayenne
Some dried mustard powder
Some Worcestershire sauce
Maybe some smoked salt and ground pepper.
Taste it and adjust to your liking.
Mix together and form into "suggestive" sized "logs". Roll in dried parsley flakes or finely chopped pecans or whatever strikes your fancy.
Chill. Take out 1 hr in advance for best eating. Freezes ok. Any leftovers is killer on noodles or salad.
posted by mightshould at 10:30 AM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: Olive Cheese Spread
I jar Kraft Old English spread + 1 8 oz block cream cheese + 1 stick butter + chopped pimento stuffed olives (left off amounts, so you can adjust it to your olive tolerance/love)
We eat it as spread on french bread slices or Triscuits, but you could totally mold it into a ball.
Hot Blueberry Dip
8 oz block of cream cheese
8 oz white cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 tea nutmeg
1 heaping cup fresh blueberries
Mix cheeses & nutmeg; fold in blueberries, gently, so they don't break. Bake in an oven-safe dish for 30-40 minutes at 375°, until cheese is melted and blueberries are bursting. Serve with crostini or crackers.
posted by sarajane at 11:18 AM on December 10, 2018
I jar Kraft Old English spread + 1 8 oz block cream cheese + 1 stick butter + chopped pimento stuffed olives (left off amounts, so you can adjust it to your olive tolerance/love)
We eat it as spread on french bread slices or Triscuits, but you could totally mold it into a ball.
Hot Blueberry Dip
8 oz block of cream cheese
8 oz white cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 tea nutmeg
1 heaping cup fresh blueberries
Mix cheeses & nutmeg; fold in blueberries, gently, so they don't break. Bake in an oven-safe dish for 30-40 minutes at 375°, until cheese is melted and blueberries are bursting. Serve with crostini or crackers.
posted by sarajane at 11:18 AM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: so easy. so delicious.
https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/pineapple-and-ham-cheese-ball/
Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained well
2/3 cup finely chopped ham
2 green onions, sliced
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions:
-In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, seasoned salt and pineapple until well mixed.
-Add ham and green onions and stir to combine.
-Place mixture on a piece of plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap up and use it to shape the mixture into a ball. Wrap the plastic wrap in a ball and refrigerate for at least one hour.
-Before serving, roll cheese ball in the pecans. Serve with crackers.
posted by seemoorglass at 1:15 PM on December 10, 2018
https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/pineapple-and-ham-cheese-ball/
Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained well
2/3 cup finely chopped ham
2 green onions, sliced
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions:
-In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, seasoned salt and pineapple until well mixed.
-Add ham and green onions and stir to combine.
-Place mixture on a piece of plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap up and use it to shape the mixture into a ball. Wrap the plastic wrap in a ball and refrigerate for at least one hour.
-Before serving, roll cheese ball in the pecans. Serve with crackers.
posted by seemoorglass at 1:15 PM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: The Nutsnacker is my favorite kind of cheese spread.
I never mess around with the big fancy almond-pinecone bit--if you feel like it, sprinkle some chopped toasted almonds on the top of the cheese in its nice bowl, but if you have vulnerable teeth and would prefer not to have nutty little surprises, by all means omit them.
(I also tend to joozh up the Worcestershire sauce and the blue cheese, mostly because the blue cheese comes in a larger container and what the heck else am I going to do with it, but I do like things tangy.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:16 PM on December 10, 2018
I never mess around with the big fancy almond-pinecone bit--if you feel like it, sprinkle some chopped toasted almonds on the top of the cheese in its nice bowl, but if you have vulnerable teeth and would prefer not to have nutty little surprises, by all means omit them.
(I also tend to joozh up the Worcestershire sauce and the blue cheese, mostly because the blue cheese comes in a larger container and what the heck else am I going to do with it, but I do like things tangy.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:16 PM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: I made a cheese ball for the first time this year and didn't really follow a recipe too closely.
Most recipes seem to hinge on a cream cheese base with some of your favourite cheese grated in, plus finely diced shallots, green onions etc.
Add flavor profiles you enjoy - garlic powder, onion powder, jalapenos, hot sauce, whatever.
The things that really sets your cheeseball apart, in my opinion, are twofold:
1 - The outside coating should be crunchy and delicious (see below recipe)
2 - If you can mold your cheeseball into some funky shape, people will find it adorable.
For example - I made this Valerie Bertinelli Cheese Ball football for a Grey Cup party at the end of November and people would NOT stop talking about it. You could easily make a festive hedgehog shape or something else Chrismassy that would ensure your ball is the talk of the town!
posted by JenThePro at 2:25 PM on December 10, 2018
Most recipes seem to hinge on a cream cheese base with some of your favourite cheese grated in, plus finely diced shallots, green onions etc.
Add flavor profiles you enjoy - garlic powder, onion powder, jalapenos, hot sauce, whatever.
The things that really sets your cheeseball apart, in my opinion, are twofold:
1 - The outside coating should be crunchy and delicious (see below recipe)
2 - If you can mold your cheeseball into some funky shape, people will find it adorable.
For example - I made this Valerie Bertinelli Cheese Ball football for a Grey Cup party at the end of November and people would NOT stop talking about it. You could easily make a festive hedgehog shape or something else Chrismassy that would ensure your ball is the talk of the town!
posted by JenThePro at 2:25 PM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: Not just one recipe, but: Great Balls of Cheese! I got this book from the library and love the recipes in it.
posted by AliceBlue at 2:43 PM on December 10, 2018
posted by AliceBlue at 2:43 PM on December 10, 2018
Best answer: A friend of mine used to bring a ham and olive cheese ball to church potlucks that was out of this world. Sadly, she passed away before I could get the recipe. (I am also just sad that she died, never mind the recipe. But I sure would have liked to have had it!)
This recipe seems very similar.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:57 PM on December 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
This recipe seems very similar.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:57 PM on December 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These all look awesome and I will be making the hell out of all of them too, to quote baniak. Best answers all around. Thanks y'all.
I'll leave this open a few more days in case other cheesy souls wander by. :)
posted by joycehealy at 10:44 AM on December 11, 2018
I'll leave this open a few more days in case other cheesy souls wander by. :)
posted by joycehealy at 10:44 AM on December 11, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also this is a Dip but excellent dessert cheese.
posted by Ftsqg at 8:47 AM on December 10, 2018