If you are looking for something extra-yum to add to your next cheese or nibbles platter, I can highly recommend mini cheese balls.
The iconic Cheese Ball used to be a must-have for entertainer’s platter in the 70’s, that along with cubes of cheese and pineapple on toothpicks! As we have progressed through the decades we have adapted a bunch of recipes and have become more adventurous.
These mini cheese balls are perfectly suited to be bite-sized. The mix itself is very adaptable but I’ll share a basic recipe that you can add to it depending on what ingredients are close at hand. Then, roll them in more goodness for extra flavour and to add colour.
I love this recipe as it can use up a variety of left-over cheeses! In fact, I loved them so much I served them as part of my starter platters for my rural wedding!
Once you’ve made the mix best to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so it is more pliable when you roll into balls. Then, once you have formed them and rolled them in your chosen topping, return to the fridge before serving so they don’t melt.
Basic Cheese Ball Mix
Ingredients
- 100g melted butter, hot
- 1 tub of cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup of grated cheese (any flavour or a combo)
- 1 sachet of onion soup mix*
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- dash of Worcestershire cause
- dash of chilli sauce (hot or sweet)
- freshly ground black pepper
Suggestions for additional ingredients
- crumbled feta
- finely chopped gherkin
- *finely chopped red onion or spring onion (instead of the onion soup mix)
- finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp smokey paprika
- finely chopped walnuts
- finely chopped dried fruit
- relish or chutney, to taste (instead of chilli sauce)
Toppings for Rolling
- finely chopped almonds
- finely chopped dried cranberries
- finely chopped fresh tarragon, parsley or chives
Serving sticks!
- Pretzel sticks
- Rosemary sticks
Method
- Melt butter and combine well with cream cheese and grated cheese until smooth.
- Add all other ingredients and combine well. This will be a soft mix so once combined, put in the refrigerator for approx 60 minutes to firm up.
- Take teaspoonfuls of mix and roll in the palm of your hand to create a ball. It may help to water your hands regularly otherwise the mix may stick!
- Roll into your preferred rolling ingredients so they are evenly coated and looking glorious.
- Place back into the fridge until you are ready to serve.
- Just before serving poke a pretzel stick in each. Or, you may choose just to serve as they are on a cheese board with plenty of crackers.
