Cheese balls are so easy to make and are easily adaptable with seasonal veggies, fruits, nuts, and an array of spices or herbs. Always a crowd-pleaser at our honey tasting parties!
As with most of the recipes served at our honey-tasting parties and posted here you may use many of the different varieties of flavored honeys made by Vickie's Bees in order to make subtle changes to other ingredients you're using with in the cheese ball recipe. For example, if I were going to add cranberries and then coat the cheese ball with crushed pistachios I may try the cranberry/orange/hibiscus honey to bring out the flavor of the fruit. Other times, I used peach chiptole to add a little heat and spicey flavor. Since this particular recipe is using vegetables and ranch dressing for a salty-sweet version we are going to use garlic/ginger/turmeric honey.
Ingredients
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream, I use organic
1 scallon diced very small, remember it needs to fit on crackers
Veggies, carrots, celery, etc. Nothing watery in makes the cream cheese mushy, slice very small
Ranch Dressing Powdered in Envelope packet, just over half a packet
2 Cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, finely shredded
White Cheese Puffs or Orange Cheetos, crushed to a powder for a topping. Keep in a Gallon Zip Lock Baggie
Vickie's Bees Savory (Garlic/Ginger/Turmeric Honey) for a nice flavor
Instructions
Place cream cheese in a bowl and beat with a mixer until fluffy.
Add sour cream, finely choppedvegetables, ranch dressing powder and mix until well blended.
Stir in shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Once blended let chill in refrigerator for minimum of 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
Remove from refrigerator and roll in a ball shape. Smash down flat and drizzle a light coat of garlic/ginger/turmeric honey on the top of the flatten cheese ball. Fold in and mix by hand. Gently roll into a ball shape. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Prior to serving drop the cheese ball into the Zip Locked baggie containing powedered cheese puffs. Roll the cheese ball around thoroughly coating it with the crushed cheese puffs. Remove from bag and plate.
Serve with gourmet crackers. May be used as part of a charcuterie board.
This party recipe requires chill time thus allowing the flavors to blend and the cheese ball to set-up so it hold its shape. This recipe makes approximately 24 servings. Cheese balls are very versatile and there are as many recipes for different cheese balls as there are honey flavors that we carry. Your imagination in the limit to what you can blend into a cheese ball based on seasonal produce. They are wonderful served with crackers, pita, artisan breads, etc.
If making ahead do not roll the cheese ball into final topping. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed roll in topping and serve.
Comentários