Favorite Cheese Ball Recipes

Yesterday was cheese ball search day for awhile.  I took this first one last night, which is a favorite anyway plus a couple others I found on Pinterest that I think sound good.  Anyone else have any favorites you’d like to share?

World’s Best Cheese Ball

 2, 8 oz bricks of cream cheese (softened)

1 cup crushed pineapple, drained 

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1 tsp seasoning salt (more or less, depending on your preference) 

1 cup chopped pecans 

*crackers for dipping

 Combine cream cheese, pineapple, onion, pepper, and seasoning in a bowl. Mix until all combined. 

 Line a small bowl with plastic wrap. Pour cream cheese mixture into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. This will allow you to shape into a ball. Put in the refrigerator to firm up; a couple hours or overnight. 

 Once firm, remove from the plastic wrapped cheese ball and shape into a ball. Sprinkle serving dish with pecans and place the unwrapped ball o’ cheese onto the pecans/plate. Sprinkle with remaining pecan and lightly pat so they stick. 

 Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve. 

 Yield: 12 servings

Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

8 ounces, Cream Cheese
¼ cup Sour Cream
1 cup Finely Shredded Cheddar Cheese
¼ cups Shredded Parmesan Cheese
¼ cups Finely Chopped Onion
½ teaspoons teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 pinch Cayenne Powder
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
¼ teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper
⅓ cup Dried Cranberries
½ cup Toasted Pecans, Chopped Coarse

Directions:

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, onion, garlic powder, cayenne, lemon juice, pepper, and cranberries until well combined.
Shape into one large ball and tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. .
Roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans and serve.

Recipe Note: if the mixture is too soft to form into a ball, place into the freezer until slightly firm, about 15 minutes, before shaping. You can also transfer the mixture to a large piece of plastic wrap and form into a ball inside the plastic wrap.

Source: adapted from Tasty Kitchen[1]

Mozzarella Cheese Ball

8 oz package cream cheese, softened
1/2 package (4 1/2 tsp) dry ranch dressing mix
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
finely chopped pecans

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl.  Mix well.  Form mixture into a ball and roll in chopped pecans.  Refrigerate before serving with crackers