Description
Savory mini cheeseball bites bring nostalgic party appetizer magic to your gathering. Creamy cheese, crunchy nuts, and zesty herbs combine in perfectly portioned morsels you’ll crave at every celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheese Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (100 grams) finely shredded cheddar cheese
Coating and Garnish Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (75 grams) finely chopped pecans
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) everything bagel seasoning
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Serving Ingredient:
- 23 pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Prepare a parchment-lined cookie sheet for easy assembly and cleanup of the mini cheeseballs.
- Remove cream cheese from refrigerator several hours prior to ensure optimal softness, then massage in a mixing bowl until completely smooth and spreadable.
- Incorporate shredded cheese, everything bagel seasoning, and freshly chopped green onions into the cream cheese, stirring until ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Utilize a tablespoon measuring spoon to portion out consistent amounts of the cheese mixture, then gently roll each portion between palms to create uniform spherical shapes.
- Transfer finely crushed pecans into a shallow dish, then delicately roll each cheese sphere to completely encase them with a crunchy exterior coating.
- Arrange pecan-coated cheeseballs on the prepared parchment paper, maintaining slight separation between each bite-sized morsel.
- Refrigerate the mini cheeseballs for a minimum of one hour to allow flavors to meld and texture to firm up.
- Just before serving, insert a crisp pretzel stick into the center of each cheeseball or alternatively place them atop round crackers for an elegant presentation.
- These appetizers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 hours, maintaining their fresh texture and flavor profile.
Notes
- Soften cream cheese at room temperature for at least 2 hours to ensure smooth, easy mixing without lumps.
- Use a light touch when rolling cheeseballs to keep them delicate and prevent dense, heavy texture.
- Crush pecans finely for a more uniform and elegant coating that adheres perfectly to the cheeseball surface.
- Experiment with alternative coatings like everything bagel seasoning, dried herbs, or finely chopped bacon for diverse flavor profiles and dietary adaptations.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 123
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 28 mg