Cheese balls are a popular appetizer or snack made from cheese mixed with various binders, flavorings, and coatings. The cheese mixture is rolled into small balls, chilled, and then coated in nuts, seeds, herbs or other crunchy ingredients before serving.
Cheese balls have a flavorful, dense interior encased in a crisp, tasty exterior coating. They make an easy, crowd-pleasing addition to any gathering or holiday spread.
The History Of Cheese Balls
The origins of cheese balls are unclear, but they likely emerged in the 1950s-1960s in America. During this era, appetizers and finger foods became popular party fare. Creative cooks experimented with new cheesy concoctions to serve guests.
Over time, the classic cheddar cheese ball recipe was born - cream cheese and cheddar cheeses blended with seasonings, chilled, and coated in chopped nuts. It became a staple at parties and holidays.
In the 1970s and 1980s, pre-made cheese balls in jars gained widespread commercial popularity. By the 1990s, they had developed a reputation as an uncool and outdated party snack.
But over recent decades, artisanal cheese balls have made a comeback! With creative new flavors and high-quality ingredients, cheese balls are once again gracing party platters everywhere.
Ingredients for Making Cheese Balls
While recipes can vary, most cheese balls contain a few key components:
- Cheeses - The cheese provides the main flavor and bulk of the interior. Common choices include cream cheese, cheddar, blue cheese, brie, and gouda. The cheeses are softened and then blended together.
- Binders - Binders help hold the cheese mixture together for shaping and give it an airy, fluffier texture. Butter, cream cheese, sour cream, or whipped cream often play this role.
- Flavorings - Herbs, spices, hot sauces, garlic, onions, or other ingredients lend cheese balls more complex flavors. Popular options include chives, parsley, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, etc.
- Coatings - After shaping into balls and chilling, the exterior gets coated in chopped nuts, seeds, dried fruit or herbs to provide crunch. Some examples are pecans, walnuts, almonds, panko breadcrumbs.
- Accompaniments - Cheese balls are served alongside crackers, bread slices, vegetables, and other dippers like pretzels or bagel chips.
How to Make Cheese Balls
While recipes vary, the basic process of making cheese balls includes:
- Softening the cheeses - Allow any block cheeses to come to room temperature to soften. Cream cheese should be softened too.
- Mixing the interior - Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then mix in the other softened cheese(s). Add any binders, seasonings, herbs, garlic, hot sauce, etc. Combine everything very well.
- Chilling - Shape the cheese mixture into a ball (or log shape), wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. This firms it up for the coating step.
- Coating - Unwrap the chilled cheese ball and roll gently in chopped nuts, seeds, or other crunchy coatings until fully covered.
- Serving - Place back in fridge until ready to serve alongside crackers, breads, vegetables etc. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving for the best texture.
Key Takeaway: Making cheese balls involves softening cheeses, mixing flavors, chilling, coating and serving alongside various dippers. The process is quite simple!
Different Types of Cheese Balls
While cheddar cheese balls might be the most classic version, the possibilities are endless when it comes to flavors and styles! Some examples include:
- Blue cheese balls - Blue cheese crumbles lend sharp, tangy flavor. These cheese balls pair well with sweet coatings like chopped dates or honey roasted nuts.
- Jalapeño popper cheese balls - These spicy cheese balls contain chopped jalapeños. They're often mixed with pepper jack cheese and coated in crispy bacon bits.
- Italian cheese balls - Parmesan, mozzarella or provolone shine in these herb-flecked cheese balls. Coatings like prosciutto chips or toasted pine nuts complement them.
- Goat cheese balls - Tangy, creamy goat cheese stars in these cheese balls, often accented with ingredients like roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, basil, lemon, etc.
- Holiday cheese balls - Many seasonal ingredients can be incorporated, like cranberries, peppermint, eggnog, etc. Festive coatings like crushed candy canes also help celebrate.
The options for creative flavors are endless! Cheese balls are very customizable to suit any taste or occasion.
Serving Cheese Balls: Tips and Pairings
- Cheese balls should sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before serving. This allows the interior to soften slightly while the coating remains crispy.
- Provide small knives for spreading the cheese ball onto crackers or breads. Scooping directly with a cracker risks crumbling the coating.
- Round out the flavors and textures by accompanying cheese balls with fresh or dried fruits like grapes, apples or apricots.
- Consider making small cheese ball bites using a mini-muffin tin. These individual portions let guests mingle easily.
- Pair cheese balls with crisp breads and crackers, bread slices, sliced vegetables, pretzel sticks or toasted baguette rounds. Provide an assortment for variety.
- Fruit preserves, chutneys, honeys and jams all offset rich cheese balls nicely when offered as dips or spreads.
- Sparkling wines, hard ciders and wheat beers make excellent cheese ball pairings. Their bubbles and acidity cut through the richness.
Helpful Tips for Making Cheese Balls
Follow these tips for cheese ball success:
- Allow cream cheese and block cheeses to fully soften at room temperature before mixing. Cold cheese won't blend smoothly.
- Use freshly grated block cheeses rather than pre-shredded cheese which contains anti-caking agents that can cause excessive moisture.
- Add seasonings gradually and taste as you go to prevent over-seasoning. Remember that flavors concentrate when chilled.
- Chop nut or seed coatings very finely so they adhere better and make the cheese balls easier to spread.
- Handle cheese balls gently when coating and serve using a spreader to maintain their shape integrity.
- Make ahead without the coating, store chilled up to 1 week, then coat and return to the fridge 1 hour before guests arrive.
Storing and Freezing Cheese Balls
Properly stored, a cheese ball will last 1-2 weeks refrigerated. To extend its shelf life even longer:
- Prepare cheese balls through the shaping stage. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap without any coating.
- Place in freezer bags or airtight containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before continuing.
- Once thawed, add coating and return to fridge 1 hour before serving. Baked or fried coatings may need refreshed after thawing.
Freezing pre-shaped cheese balls prevents quality loss from repeatedly thawing and re-freezing. With some advance prep, you can enjoy homemade cheese balls for months!
FAQs
Can I make cheese balls ahead of time?
Yes! Make your cheese balls 1 week before serving, store them coated or uncoated in the fridge, then coat in nuts (if desired) and serve. You can also freeze shaped cheese balls up to 3 months before finishing and serving them.
What cheese works best for cheese balls?
A combination of cream cheese plus cheddar, blue, brie or gouda works well. The cream cheese acts as a binder while the other cheese provides full, robust flavor. Avoid hard grating cheeses like parmesan which may turn rubbery.
Why might my cheese ball crack or fall apart?
This can happen if ingredients are too cold and hardened before mixing. Allow all cheeses to fully soften first. Using pre-shredded cheese containing anti-caking agents can also cause moisture issues. Handle cheese balls gently after shaping, and serve with a spreader to prevent cracking.
Can I bake cheese balls instead of serving cold?
Yes, baking or frying cheese balls can make for delicious hot appetizers too! Coat the chilled cheese balls with panko or crushed crackers/croutons, then bake until golden brown. Served warm, the interior gets wonderfully gooey!
Conclusion
From holiday gatherings to game day menus, cheese balls have remained a beloved presence on party platters for decades. Their flavorful interiors encased in crunchy, savory-sweet coatings appeal to all types of palates.
Despite their retro roots, artisanal cheese balls have seen a tasty resurgence with creative new flavor combinations and high quality ingredients. They bring the perfect balance of rich, indulgent cheese with crispy textures.