Description
Savory Cheese Ball Bites bring classic party appetizer magic into perfectly poppable form. Creamy cheese, crunchy nuts, and zesty herbs create irresistible bite-sized delights you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Dairy:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup (30 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Herbs:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped green onions (optional)
Coating Options:
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- ¼ cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)
- ¼ cup crumbled bacon
- ¼ cup everything bagel seasoning
Optional for Serving:
- Mini pretzel sticks or toothpicks
Instructions
- Craft a creamy flavor foundation by blending cream cheese, cheddar, and Parmesan in a spacious mixing vessel. Infuse the mixture with aromatic garlic powder, smoky paprika, and freshly cracked black pepper. Fold in finely chopped green onions for a subtle sharpness, ensuring all components harmonize into a uniform texture.
- Refrigerate the zesty mixture for 30-45 minutes, allowing it to firm up and develop more concentrated flavors. The chilling process helps maintain structural integrity when forming bite-sized spheres.
- Prepare an array of complementary coatings in separate shallow dishes. Arrange finely chopped parsley, crushed nuts, crumbled bacon, and everything bagel seasoning as potential exterior enhancements.
- Utilize a small cookie scoop to portion consistent cheese mounds. Gently roll each portion between palms, creating smooth, uniform spheres. Immediately tumble each ball through preferred coating, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Punctuate each cheese bite with a miniature pretzel stick or slender toothpick for elegant presentation and convenient handling. Artfully arrange the decorated morsels on a chilled serving platter, ready to tantalize guests with their vibrant appearance and complex flavor profile.
Notes
- Customize the cheese blend by experimenting with different cheese combinations like gouda, blue cheese, or smoked cheddar for unique flavor profiles.
- Toast nuts before coating to enhance their nutty aroma and provide a deeper, richer crunch that elevates the texture of the cheese balls.
- Prepare cheese mixture up to 2 days in advance and store in the refrigerator to save time during party preparation, ensuring flavors meld together beautifully.
- Create gluten-free versions by using gluten-free pretzels or replacing pretzel sticks with herb sprigs or small crackers for a versatile appetizer option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg