Get all the details on everyone’s favorite retro-inspired appetizer, the cheese ball! These easy cheese ball recipes are such a fun, classic way to serve a crowd.

Fresh, flavorful cheeses combine for a quick and easy appetizer that no one can resist. And there’s the best bonus, too – they can so easily be made ahead!

12 easy cheese ball recipes.
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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 (or sweet) appetizer 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!

A hedgehog cheese ball on a white plate.
A pomegranate Christmas cheese ball shaped into an ornament, surrounded by crackers on a round white plate.

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. 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.

A spicy cheese ball on a white plate surrounded by crackers.

The Best Cheese Ball Recipes

Mini Cheese Ball Bites

Made with cream cheese, seasonings, nuts, bacon and often dried fruit, these delectable little bites are a surefire crowd pleaser! We’ve got a version covered in dried cranberries and one made with our favorite Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.

Serve them with pretzel sticks and watch them disappear from your spread of hors d’oeuvres. They’re the perfect addition to Jarcuterie!

Three pretzel cheese balls on a plate

Carrot Cheese Ball

I love a simple, cute and kitschy 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?

A carrot shaped cheese ball recipe on a plate with crackers.

Hedgehog Cheese Ball

This adorable Hedgehog Cheese Ball is the ultimate cheese spread with almonds, green onion and bacon! 

It’s great for woodland themed baby showers, Thanksgiving, Christmas or any special event when you simply want to serve up some charm.

A hedgehog cheese ball on a white plate, garnished with fresh rosemary.

Reindeer Cheese ball

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!

A plate with a reindeer head cheeseball on it.

Pesto Cheese Ball Wreath

This pesto cheese ball wreath makes the most festive holiday appetizer. Cream cheese, pesto, fresh basil and cherry tomatoes combine to create a flavor explosion!

Easy to make with just five ingredients, this gorgeous wreath will be the star of your Christmas party.

A pesto cheese ball topped with cherry tomatoes on a white plate.

Spicy Cheese Ball

This easy and delicious spicy cheese ball recipe is the perfect last-minute appetizer.

Full of zesty spices and easy to customize and serve, it’s great for parties, tailgates and all your holiday events!

It’s always a crowd pleaser and with just a few ingredients, it’s so easy to make. What are you waiting for?

A spicy cheese ball on a white plate surrounded by crackers.

Santa’s Hat Cranberry Cheese Ball

Make it festive this holiday season with a delicious cranberry cheese ball shaped like Santa’s hat!

This is the cutest way to bring a holiday appetizer to any gathering this season. It’s not only charming, it’s delicious and so much fun to make!

A cranberry cheeseball in the shape of a Santa's hat, on a plate surrounded by crackers.

Bunny Carrot Cake Cheese Ball

This adorable bunny carrot cake cheese ball is the most memorable and delicious Easter dessert or appetizer!

A bunny shaped cheese ball recipe adorned with flowers displayed on a white plate.

Funfetti Dessert Snowman Cheese Ball

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.

A cheesy snowman shaped doughnut on a plate.

Bunny Funfetti Dessert Cheeseball

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!

funfetti cheese ball

4th of July Dessert Cheese Ball

This flag shaped funfetti dip is the cutest way to add a little patriotic flair to your Fourth of July dessert display! It’s the cutest red white and blue snack and it’s great for patriotic parties.

Loved by kids and adults alike, it’s perfect for dipping and spreading with an array of fruits, cookies and crackers.

A red white and blue snack made of Funfetti dip in a flag shape, on a plate of cookies and crackers.
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Tips

  • Use room temperature cheese.
  • 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 in that time!)
  • If you’re concerned about the length of time that the cheese ball will be sitting out, make two smaller cheeseballs. When the first one is gone, replace with the second. This ensures food safety.
  • Mix and match your favorite flavor combinations with different fun shapes and seasons! For example, the pesto wreath could easily be a pesto tree!

Shortcut

How to Grate Cheese

Consider this your ultimate guide on how to grate cheese! I’ve got step-by-step tutorials on using a KitchenAid cheese shredder and shredding cheese by hand, along with lots of tips and pointers to help you get perfectly grated cheese every time. 

10 mins

A cheeseball on a plate with crackers.
5 from 1 vote

Easy Cheese Ball Recipes: Classic Cheese Ball

Homemade cheese ball recipes make the perfect appetizer for parties and holidays! Creamy cheese ball blended with fresh cheeses and herbs.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients  

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 4 tablespoons butter softened
  • tablespoons seasoning

Topping

  • 3 tablespoons seasoning

Instructions 

  • In a mixing bowl, blender, or food processor, pulse or mix to blend cream cheese until smooth. Add softened butter and process until well combined. Mix in seasoning.
    8 ounces cream cheese, 4 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons seasoning
  • Transfer mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Pull each corner tight to form a ball.

Chill

  • Refrigerate 4 hours (or up to 8).

Coat

  • Remove cheese ball from refrigerator. Add seasoning to a small plate. Uncover cheese ball and roll in seasoning to coat. Serve with crackers and vegetables.

Julie’s Tips

Use room temperature ingredients for best results.
Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 697IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 3mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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4 Comments

    1. Hi Terri,
      We don’t have a recipe for a jalapeño popper cheese ball, but wow that sounds good!
      Have a wonderful weekend,
      Julie