Description
These Mini Cheese Ball Bites are a delightful appetizer combining creamy cheese, dried fruits, savory Italian seasoning, and crunchy coatings of bacon crumbles or mixed nuts. Perfectly portioned and served chilled with pretzel sticks, they make an elegant, flavorful bite for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature or softened
- ¾ cup freshly shredded white cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup dried fruit (mix of dried apricots, cherries, and cranberries)
- 1–1½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
Coating
- 1½ cups mixed nuts, finely chopped
- 1½ cups bacon crumbles
Serving
- 12 medium-sized pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Using a hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, dried fruit, and Italian seasoning until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Form Balls and Chill: Shape the cheese mixture into tablespoon-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow them to firm up.
- Coat the Balls: Roll each chilled cheese ball in either the bacon crumbles or the finely chopped mixed nuts, pressing gently so the coating sticks well.
- Store Properly: Keep the coated cheese balls covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve. For best flavor and texture, chill overnight.
- Serve with Pretzels: Just before serving, skewer each cheese ball with a pretzel stick and enjoy these cool, flavorful bites.
Notes
- You can choose to coat the cheese balls with bacon, nuts, or both for varied flavors.
- Serving the cheese balls very cold enhances their taste and texture.
- Dried fruit combinations can be adjusted to your preference.
- Make these appetizers up to one day ahead to save time on your event day.
