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Cheese Balls! It’s Not The Holidays Without Them

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What’s a holiday party without cheese balls?
Cheddar and Cranberry Cheese Ball
Let’s face it. I love cheese. Any kind…served any way. But I really love a good cheese ball. Not the kind that you buy at the market–even a good market–they’re always hard and dried out and crumble when you try to spread it on a cracker.


But a great, creamy and rich-tasting homemade cheese ball–well, there’s nothing like it. 

Again, I have Martha Stewart to thank for this recipe. It’s simple to make and really worth it. You start with one basic base recipe and end up with three different flavors. I loved all three, but I think my favorite was with Roquefort.

INGREDIENTS FOR CHEESE BALLS
BASE RECIPE:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 packages cream cheese (8 oz. each), softened
  • 2 TBS fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 5 dashes hot sauce, such as Tabasco
  • 1/2 tsp coarse salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground white pepper
CHEDDAR AND CRANBERRY:
  • 8 oz. sharp orange cheddar cheese, finely grated
  • 2 TBS store-bought chutney
  • 3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
  • water crackers–or others–for serving
ROQUEFORT AND WALNUT
  • 6 oz. Roquefort cheese
  • 1 shallot, minced (about 1 TBS)2
  • 2 tsp brandy (optional)
  • 1 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
  • crackers for serving
GOAT CHEESE AND SCALLIONS:
  • 8 oz. goat cheese
  • 2 TBS finely chopped scallions
  • 1/3 cup fresh curly leaf parsley, finely chopped 
  • 1 English cucumber, cut into 1/8 inch thick slices for serving 
  • crackers for serving

 Goat Cheese and Scallion Cheese Ball

Put butter, cream cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper into the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until combined.

 Divide equally among 3 medium bowls.

Stir cheddar cheese and chutney with the base in the first bowl. Use your hands–it’s like making meatballs.

Form into a ball. Wrap tightly in Saran wrap and refrigerate. You can make it ahead and it will keep in the fridge for 3 days or it will freeze for up to a month. Before serving roll cheese ball in the craisins and serve with crackers.

Mix Roquefort and shallot with the base, add brandy and form into a ball. Wrap and store. Roll in walnuts before serving.

Mix goat cheese and scallions with the base, form a ball, wrap and store. Roll in parsley before serving. 

Roquefort and Walnut Cheese Ball

 If you have a favorite of the three recipes you can make just one cheese ball–simply adjust the ingredients.

But if you love cheese as much as I do, try all three. I think you’ll love them all.

And remember, read it first at Stu News.


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