Cheese Ball Guide
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Get all the details on everyone’s favorite retro-inspired appetizer, the cheese ball! Cheeseballs are a palate-pleasing way to serve a crowd. Fresh, flavorful cheeses combine for a quick and easy appetizer that no one can resist!
A cheese ball is a classic appetizer that people have been making since the 50’s, and with good reason. They are fun to customize, affordable, and truly one of the most crowd-pleasing appetizers around!
This old-school dish is a savory hors d’oeuvre that pairs well with both beer and wine at parties. They’re quick and easy to make and I have found that they are the perfect addition to any occasion.
A cheese ball is traditionally a blend of cream cheese, shredded cheese and seasoning, rolled into a topping like nuts. However, there are so many ways to mix it up!
Today, I’m walking you through the basics of this classic, traditional appetizer. You’ll get all the best tips, ideas, variations and recipes! Are you ready?
Quick note: This is a detailed recipe guide intended to help readers learn everything they can about creating this classic appetizer. If you’re just here for the printable classic cheese ball recipe, feel free to click “jump to recipe” right under the title of this post and you’ll head straight there! There’s also a round-up of ALL my cheeseball recipes with links to each one.
Love appetizers as much as we do? Don’t miss my complete hors d’oeuvres round-up, as well as the 30+ Thanksgiving Appetizers!
Table of Contents
Cheese Balls: The Easiest Appetizer Ever
You can adapt it into so many different combinations, customizing with your favorite cheese, seasonings and toppings. I love that this vintage appetizer has come back in style. And why not? It’s delicious and so much fun.
In fact, you can even make a dessert cheese ball!
It’s a great make ahead appetizer (or dessert) that feeds a crowd. In fact, if you keep cream cheese on hand, you’ll probably be able to whip up a cheese ball right now!
They’re typically served with crackers, but pair well with pretzels, pita chips and veggies! Serving with a crudité platter makes a cheese ball keto friendly and low carb, too, so it’s always a welcome addition to my appetizer line ups at parties.
Types of Cheese to Use
Cheese balls most frequently begin with cream cheese. It’s the flexible, creamy and flavorful base that not only molds into perfection, but it allows other flavors to shine and become easily customized.
In the past, I’ve shown you how to soften cream cheese with a few tips and tricks that will make your life so much easier. These are great ways to get the cream cheese to the perfect temperature so that you can mix and form your cheeseballs!
After the cream cheese, you can use a wide variety of semi-firm or semi-soft cheeses to create the cheeseball of your dreams. A few suggestions?
- Fontina
- Gouda
- Feta
- Manchego
- Colby Jack
- Roquefort
- Havarti
- Cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- Swiss
- Blue cheese (don’t go too crazy here because it’s quite strong)
- Stilton
- Gruyère
- Gorgonzola
What Goes Inside a Cheese Ball?
Again, this is where things can get creative and fun. Cheese balls are comprised of a variety of ingredients traditionally, and you can get as wild or as tame as you’d like.
Seasonings and even liquid flavorings are important here. Consider the following add-ins for out of this world flavor:
- Worcestershire
- Lemon Juice
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Onions
- Shallots
- Garlic
- Alcohol like cognac, port or sherry
- Hot sauce
- Chutney
- Jams and Jellies
- Herbs like basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme and more!
- Paprika
- Honey
- Pimento
- Olives
That list is by no means comprehensive, but it gives you a good idea of all the directions you can go with your add-ins.
And don’t forget the meats! You can also add meat inside your cheeseball for an additional flavor and texture. Just make sure that they are minced in your food processor so they don’t interrupt the smooth, creamy cheese experience.
- Pepperoni
- Prosciutto
- Ham
- Sausage
- Chorizo
- Salami
Cheese Ball Toppings
The question you should be asking yourself is what can’t go on top of a cheeseball? There are so many fun ways to mix and match your toppings to your tastes and event.
Try one of the following:
- Nuts (toasted, roasted, seasoned, or plain – you can’t go wrong!) I like pecans, cashews, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts and walnuts. Get creative!
- Fruits (I like to use dried fruits like cranberries or dates because of the moisture content)
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Chips (crushed and salty!)
- Bacon
- Prosciutto
- Olives
- Pomegranate arils
- Pumpkin Seeds
How to Make a Cheese Ball
Creating a cheese ball is honestly less about the recipe itself and more about the approach and know-how. Knowing the basic fundamentals of creating this dish will take you far! Your creativity will soar once you understand the basic technique!
- Mix cream cheese and any other cheese you decide on, until smooth. Cream cheese must be a room temperature to begin.
- Create your ball shape – or if you’re feeling creative like I often prefer, form a shape that looks cute on a platter for your guests! Cover with sticky waxed paper to hold shape.
- Refrigerate. Cheeseballs must be chilled in order to hold their form.
- Roll in your topping.
- Serve to your guests! Or eat it all yourself, it’s your call.
You can make them into Cheese Ball Bites as well! Simply miniature portions, on a stick! They’re the perfect addition to Jarcuterie!
Tips for Creating The Best Cheese Ball
- Most important? Each of your cheeses needs to be at room temperature before your begin your creation!
- Using fresh ingredients, a cheese ball stays fresh wrapped in plastic wrap refrigerated for up to 2 weeks!
- For a softer, melt-in-your-mouth texture, add 3 tablespoons room temperature butter.
- Cream cheese should never be left at room temperature more than 2 hours. Fortunately, there is rarely a bite left by that time!
- In fact, if you’re concerned about the length of time that your cheese ball will be sitting out, try making two smaller cheeseballs instead of one. Then when the first one’s gone, bring out the next! This ensures food safety.
- You can mix and match your favorite flavor combinations with different fun shapes and seasons! For example, the pesto wreath could easily be a pesto tree!
Variations
- Make it into a shape for a creative and festive look.
- Make them bite-sized! Who doesn’t love miniature food?
- Try a sweet cheese ball! Creating a dessert cheeseball is easy, as I’ll explain below.
What to Serve with a Cheese Ball
You can take this in any direction you’d like!
- Crackers
- Crostini
- Sliced Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Grapes
- Figs
- Pita
How to Make a Dessert Cheese Ball
Yes, cheese balls can be sweet, too! In fact, these are a favorite with our little girls! They serve beautifully for parties because you can make them into so many different combinations and shapes.
To create a dessert cheese ball, you’ll simply begin with your room temperature cream cheese like any savory version.
Adding a variety of sweet additions is where you’ll take this a different direction! I like to use cake mix, buttercream frosting, honey, vanilla, powdered sugar, sprinkles and more.
You’ll serve a dessert cheese ball with a variety of fruits, graham crackers, nilla wafers, etc. I’m including a few of my favorite dessert cheese balls here so you can get fun ideas!
Every Cheese Ball Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Here you'll find my reader-favorite cheese ball recipes that are perfect for any occasion! A little spicy, a little savory, a little sweet - there's something for everyone.
This easy Santa Fe Cheese Ball recipe is a deliciously addicting last-minute appetizer recipe that’s always a crowd pleaser.
Mini cheese ball bites are the ultimate easy appetizer to serve at parties! They are filling, savory and delicious… not to mention so easy to customize.
Made with cream cheese, seasonings, nuts, bacon and often dried fruit, these delectable little bites are a surefire crowd pleaser!
Serve them with pretzel sticks and watch them disappear from your spread of hors d’oeuvres.
I love a simple, cute and kitchy Easter detail or two. So I’m sharing this darling and delicious carrot cheese ball which makes a charming Easter appetizer, don’t you think?
Make it festive this holiday season with a delicious Cranberry Cheese Ball shaped like Santa's hat!
This adorable Bunny Carrot Cake Cheese Ball is the most memorable and delicious Easter dessert or appetizer!
This adorable Hedgehog Cheese Ball is the ultimate Cheese Spread with almonds, green onion and bacon!
Learn how to make a cheeseball with a charming snowman cheese ball recipe! Get all the best tips and tricks for creating this sweet dessert snowman cheeseball.
Why buy a boring store bought Holiday Cheese Ball when it’s so easy to make your own? This Pomegranate Cheeseball recipe is a savory Christmas Cheese Ball with a vibrant taste of sweet and sour pomegranate seeds. Make it in the simple shape of an ornament and you’ll have an appetizer that everyone will love!
This Pesto Cheeseball wreath makes the most festive holiday Pesto Appetizer. Cream cheese, basil and cherry tomatoes create a Pesto Cheese flavor explosion! Easy to make with just five ingredients, this gorgeous wreath will be the star of your Christmas party.
This Bacon Ranch Cheddar Cheeseball is so cute and festive for the holidays! Shaped into a charming reindeer, this Christmas cheese ball will be the hit of your parties this year – a bacon cheese ball has never looked so cute!
This Funfetti Cheeseball is an easy no-bake dessert dip that will thrill the kids at your next gathering. A handful of ingredients turned into a cute bunny will be the hit of the party!
Judith Pohlers says
Great reference for Cheeseball Making! So grateful to be onboard.
Julie Blanner says
Thank you! I live for a great spread!