Whether as onebeautifully presented cheese platteror in the form of delicious snacks, the cheese is always a good choice for party food. Today we would like to introduce you to another great idea on how to make cheeseServe finger foodcan. Have you ever tried cream cheese balls? They taste incredibly delicious and at the same time are an absolute eye-catcher on the table. If you're looking for ideas for your Christmas table, you can't go wrong with these appetizing cream cheese balls. Many recipes and tips for their preparation are waiting for you in the article!
Finger food cream cheese balls are the perfect make-ahead party food
Cream cheese is not one of the most expensive types of cheese and is often left out during cheese tastings. However, this type of cheese can be wonderfully combined with other foods, making it...sophisticated appetizersarise. One of them are these beautiful cream cheese balls. For the appetizing snacks, cream cheese is mixed with other types of cheese, fresh herbs, nuts and dried fruit. The cream cheese balls can also be ideally prepared as finger food - for a relaxed party evening.
Cream Cheese Balls vs. Cream Cheese Ball
A large ball of cheese spread is a classic finger food recipe. In the USA, the so-called cheese ball is often served at parties, which is typically nothing more than large-format cream cheese balls. Of course, you decide for yourself whether you prepare the popular appetizer large or small. A few examples of how you can decorate the large cheese ball like a Christmas tree, a snowman and a reindeer for your holiday table can be found below.
Good to prepare: Make your own cream cheese balls
The cream cheese balls are an attractive appetizer for a party evening with friends. They're easy to put together and can be tossed in a variety of delicious ingredients. And the best part about this recipe is that you can prepare it up to two days in advance and celebrate stress-free the day of the party. The recipe follows.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients for approx. 24 balls:
For the cheese mixture:
- 200 grams of grated cheddar cheese
- 250 grams of cream cheese, soft
- 1/2 bunch chives, chopped
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the toppings:
- 3 tablespoons chopped, toasted walnuts
- 3 tablespoons chopped, dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons chopped, crispy fried onions
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives
- 3 tablespoons (3 strips) fried, diced bacon
- 3 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds
Preparation:
1. In a large bowl, stir together cheddar cheese, cream cheese, chives, paprika and cayenne pepper. Form about 24 balls out of the mixture (tip: if the mixture sticks, moisten your hands with a little water).
2. Place the toppings in shallow bowls and roll each ball in any topping, pressing lightly. Chill before serving.
*If you are preparing the cream cheese balls in advance, prepare the cheese mixture, form the balls, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Shortly before the guests arrive, roll the balls in the desired toppings.
Serve finger food cream cheese balls correctly
And how can the cream cheese balls be served as finger food? In fact, these are so delicious that you could eat them just like that. Classically, the balls are served with bread, such as a baguette, crackers and crostini. You can place these under the balls, tuck them in or simply distribute them around them. The variants are almost endless.
If the balls are too big, it is also worth providing a small cheese knife so that your guests can spread the cheese on the bread. If you like it a little healthier, you can serve the balls with vegetable sticks, such as carrots, cucumbers or celery.
Recipe for savory cream cheese balls with bacon
The secret behind this cream cheese bites recipe is in the spices. Do you know ranch seasoning? These are all the herbs and spices that are in the dressing of the same name. With this spice mixture your cheese balls will be even more aromatic and delicious.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooling time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients for 16 cream cheese balls:
For the cheese mixture:
250 grams of cream cheese
100 grams of cheddar cheese, grated
2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
For the spice mixture:
50 grams buttermilk powder
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the coat:
8 strips of bacon, fried until crispy and finely chopped
1/2 bunch chives, finely chopped
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
Preparation:
1. Place all ranch seasoning ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Place the mixture in a sealable container and store in the refrigerator.
2. Mix the cream cheese, cheddar and spice mixture well. Form into 16 small balls (approx. 1 cm diameter) and let them solidify in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.
3. In a small bowl, stir together fried bacon, chives and pecans. Roll the balls in the resulting mixture and place on a flat plate.
4. If not serving immediately, cover plate loosely with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Of course, you can spice up the balls as you like and refine them with ingredients of your choice.
Christmas finger food cream cheese balls: recipe and decoration ideas
If this year's family reunion is taking place at your home or you would like to bring something to the party, the cream cheese balls are a quick but effective idea for finger food. The following recipeis wonderful for the Christmas buffetand offers your guests new taste experiences that they will certainly remember for a long time.
Cream cheese balls recipe with goat cheese
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients for 30 cream cheese balls:
For the cheese mixture:
500 grams of cream cheese, soft
100 grams goat cheese, crumbled
100 grams of cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/4 bunch chives, thinly sliced
For the cover:
1/2 bunch chives, thinly sliced
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
30 pretzel sticks
Preparation:
1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Form small balls with your hands.
2. Place sliced chives, chopped pecans, and cranberries in separate, shallow bowls.
3. Roll the cheese balls in the desired casing and skewer each with a pretzel stick. Store in the refrigerator until serving. If you are making the appetizers more than 4 hours in advance, add the pretzel sticks just before serving.
4. To make the finger food look even more festive, tie a bow of chives around each pretzel stick.
Great party recipe for young and old: reindeer cream cheese balls
Are you celebrating Christmas with children? Then these cute reindeer cream cheese balls are a must on the table. Both the children and the adults are happy about this. Here's how:
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooling time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients for 10 people (20 balls):
500 grams of cream cheese, soft
2 tablespoons ranch dressing
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
6 strips of bacon, finely chopped
1 medium tomato, cut into 20 small cubes
40 snack pretzels
Preparation:
1. Place cream cheese, ranch dressing, and shredded cheddar cheese in a medium bowl and stir until well combined. Place the cheese mixture in the refrigerator and let it cool for 30 minutes.
2. Form the cheese mixture into balls and roll each ball in chopped bacon. Place cheese balls back in the fridge for another 30 minutes.
3. Place a tomato cube as a nose in the middle of each ball. Diced peppers work just as well. Then cut each pretzel in half and use as antlers. Insert into both sides of the balls. Complete!
Tips for perfect cream cheese balls
Here we would like to give you a few tricks and tips that can help you create this original appetizer.
- To ensure that your cream cheese balls are the same size, you can either use a spoon to shape them or, ideally, an ice cream scoop.
- To make rolling the balls easier, put the topping in a saucer instead of a bowl.
- If the cream cheese balls are too soft and cannot be formed easily, either chill them for 30 minutes or mix in some quark.
Great finger food ideas for Christmas with cream cheese balls
Finger food cream cheese balls are a real feast for the taste buds and the eyes. They go well with various occasions and quickly become an eye-catcher on your table. Now we would like to introduce you to a few ideas on how you can prepare the little appetizers for Christmas. How about a wreath made of cream cheese balls, for example?
To do this, you should arrange the balls in a wreath shape on a flat plate and then decorate them with sprigs of fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, sage and bay leaves. You can also arrange the cream cheese balls like a Christmas tree or shape them into a large Christmas tree ball. There are no limits to creativity when it comes to serving.
Mini Christmas trees made from cream cheese balls
Decorate finger food cream cheese balls with rosemary sprigs
Ideas for a big cheese ball for Christmas
Would you like to serve the cream cheese balls as one large cheese ball? No problem. Instead of small balls, form the cheese mixture into a large ball and serve in the center of a plate with crackers, tortilla chips, or pretzel sticks around it. If you want to make this finger food for Christmas, it would be even better if you shape the cheese like a Christmas motif.
With a little skill, you can conjure up a Christmas tree out of it, for example. The cheese mixture should be neither too soft nor too firm to make it easier to shape. Before you shape the Christmas tree, wet your hands. The finished tree can then be decorated with grated almonds, cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley.
Shape the cheese ball into a Christmas tree and decorate the top of the tree with pecans
Decorate a Christmas cheese ball for children like a snowman
Reindeer made from cream cheese as a Christmas appetizer
