Three Mini Cheeseball Recipes for the Holidays
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by Chef Karista Bennett, Food Editor[/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]Creamy, dreamy and totally decadent, these Mini Cheeseball Recipes are a must at your next holiday celebration.
Thinking about celebration food always makes me think of small bites – nibbles and nosh that keep you coming back to the food table, browsing, tasting, and hoping no one saw you snag a few extra nibbles.
Not long ago we saw a small bite food trend that never truly seemed to fade. Or at least it hasn’t at my house. There’s a reason we all love those small bites, it allows us the opportunity to “sample” everything on the food table without feeling guilty that we ate everything on our plate.
[x_pullquote type=”right”]Creamy, dreamy and totally decadent, these Mini Cheeseball Recipes are a must at your next holiday celebration. [/x_pullquote]Small bites are a lovely indulgent at a party or celebration but I also adore preparing a few different recipes of bite-sized nibbles for a quiet dinner at home and then pairing them with our favorite wine or cocktails.
This holiday season I couldn’t resist creating these Three Mini Cheeseball Recipes. Of course I had to begin with my absolute favorite cheese, goat cheese. This is the perfect occasion to use your favorite, good quality cheese. Maybe there’s a particular goat cheese that calls out to you every time you pass the gourmet cheese counter. That would be the cheese to use.
I prepared the first Mini Cheeseball Recipe with a creamy goat cheese blend and dried cranberries. Then I rolled them in fresh herbs and plated them for guests. Or me!- In addition to goat cheese, I also use a creamy bleu cheese blend, rolled in chopped smoky bacon
- For the third Mini Cheeseball recipe, I use a tangy feta cheese blend, mixed with dried figs rolled in toasted pine nuts – all gorgeous and so perfect for the holiday appetizer table or a quiet night at home by the fireplace.
However you celebrate the holiday season, these Three Mini Cheeseball Recipes will delight your guests and beautifully grace your holiday table. These bite-sized lovelies are simple, delicious and a perfect blend of flavor and texture and won’t leave you feeling as if you over indulged.
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- 8 ounces good quality goat cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, finely chopped (I like a blend of chive and Italian parsley)
- Mix together the goat cheese, thyme leaves, cream cheese and dried chopped cranberries.
- Once nicely blended, place the mixture in the refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight.
- To make the mini cheese balls, place the chopped fresh herbs in a bowl.
- Using a small scoop or teaspoon, roll cheese and cranberry mixture into a small ball and then roll it in the fresh herbs.
- Place each cheese ball on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- When finished either plate and serve or place them back in the refrigerator until time to serve.
- 4 ounces good quality crumbled feta cheese, room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ – 1 cup dried figs, stemmed and finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped toasted pine nuts
- Mix together the feta cheese, cream cheese and chopped dried figs.
- Once nicely blended, place the mixture in the refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight.
- To make the mini cheese balls, place the chopped toasted pine nuts in a bowl.
- Using a small scoop or teaspoon, roll the cheese and fig mixture into a small ball and then roll it in the toasted pine nuts.
- Place each cheese ball on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- When finished, either plate and serve or place them back in the refrigerator until time to serve.
- 4 ounces good quality bleu cheese, room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/2 cup crumbled and finely chopped cooked bacon
- Mix together the bleu cheese and cream cheese.
- Once nicely blended, place the mixture in the refrigerator for at least one hour or overnight.
- To make the mini cheese balls, place the chopped bacon bits in a bowl.
- Using a small scoop or teaspoon, roll the cheese mixture into a small ball and then roll it in the bacon bits.
- Place each cheese ball on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- When finished, either plate and serve or place them back in the refrigerator until time to serve.
