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Cheese balls are always at parties. Sometimes they’re hit, but often they’re the ones that have been sitting at the store for months and have no flavor! I love the concept so I decided it was time to update the classic cheese ball with fresh and modern flavors. I took some of my favorite appetizers and made them into cheese balls. Served with crackers and veggies, these are going to become your holiday gathering go-to’s!
You don’t necessarily have to make these into balls, but can form them into whatever you like or just put them in a dish. Whatever you do, the flavor will be fantastic! These are great to take to a party or give as a gift. Enjoy!
More holiday appetizers
Cranberry Chicken Meatball Sliders
48 minutes mins
Holiday Pesto Meatballs
1 hour hr
Cranberry Cheese Log
4 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Cocktail Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
40 minutes mins
Watch how to make these three cheese balls
Three Cheese Balls
What's better than one flavor of cheese ball? Three, of course! These three cheese balls are perfect for the holiday season so you can satiate everyone's preferred flavors. There's a buffalo version, a ham pinwheel version, and a smoked salmon version. Super yum!
Ingredients
For the smoked salmon cheese ball
- 2 pkgs cream cheese room temperature
- 1 6-oz pkg crème fraîche room temperature
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp capers drained
- 4 tbsp minced scallion
- 4 oz smoked salmon
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup finely minced fresh dill
For the buffalo blue cheese ball
- 2 pkgs cream cheese room temperature
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 oz sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 oz blue cheese
- 4 tbsp minced scallion
- ⅓ cup buffalo wing sauce (can choose mild to hot)
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- minced celery
For the ham & pickle pinwheel cheese ball
- 2 pkgs cream cheese room temperature
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 4 oz shredded white cheddar cheese
- 4 oz shredded yellow cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup diced sweet or dill pickle
- ¼ lb Black Forest ham diced
- ¼ cup finely minced fresh parsley
Instructions
For the smoked salmon cheese ball
- Using a stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth.2 pkgs cream cheese
- Add crème fraîche and mix.1 6-oz pkg crème fraîche
- Then add salt, pepper, capers, scallion, salmon, lemon zest, and juice. Mix until combined.½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2 tbsp capers, 4 tbsp minced scallion, 4 oz smoked salmon, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Use hands to form a ball (can also make a log or just put in a dish) and roll in prepared dill.¼ cup finely minced fresh dill
- Chill until ready to use.
For the buffalo blue cheese ball
- Beat the cream cheese to ensure it is softened and smooth.2 pkgs cream cheese
- Add butter and continue mixing until smooth.4 tbsp unsalted butter
- Mix in cheddar cheese, blue cheese, scallion, wing sauce, salt, and pepper until completely combined.2 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, 4 oz blue cheese, 4 tbsp minced scallion, ⅓ cup buffalo wing sauce (can choose mild to hot), 1 tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Use hands to form ball shape (can form log or place in a dish) and roll on prepared celery.minced celery
- Chill until ready to use.
For the ham & pickle pinwheel cheese ball
- Beat the cream cheese to ensure it is softened.2 pkgs cream cheese
- Mix in butter until smooth.4 tbsp unsalted butter
- Add salt, pepper, white cheddar cheese, yellow cheddar cheese, garlic powder, pickles, and ham, mixing until combined.1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 4 oz shredded white cheddar cheese, 4 oz shredded yellow cheddar cheese, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ cup diced sweet or dill pickle, ¼ lb Black Forest ham
- Using hands, form ball (or log or place in a dish), and roll in prepared parsley.¼ cup finely minced fresh parsley
- Chill until ready to use.
Notes
The caloric information listed above is for the smoked salmon cheese ball. The caloric information for the other cheese balls are as follows:
- Buffalo blue cheese ball: 55 calories
- Ham and pickle pinwheel cheese ball: 64 calories
Nutrition
Serving: 1tbspCalories: 56kcalCarbohydrates: 0.9gProtein: 2.2gFat: 4.9gSaturated Fat: 2.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.9gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 18.3mgSodium: 65.5mgPotassium: 45.5mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.5gVitamin A: 31.7IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 15.8mgIron: 0.2mg
Just a question on your Ham and Pickle Cheese ball. Is it really 1/2 pickle? Or should it say 1/2 cup, maybe? Just curious. It sounds really yummy!
I am so sorry yes it is a half cup! What an oversight! I hope you had a wonderful new year!
I loved your three truffles video – but would like the exact amounts of the ingredients, especially for the spices in the chocolate spice truffles. I would like to make them for a baby shower later this month. Will use pink sanding sugar on the Oreo truffles!
Looking forward to making those delicious looking Cheese balls,especially the Cranberry one! Thanks for sharing this!!💞