Cheese balls are a classic party appetizer for good reason. They are both incredibly tasty and easy to make. This version has blue cheese in the mix and a coating of bacon and pecans.
I am back in Memphis after my month-long stay in Knoxville, capped on the end by a weekend trip to Boston, and it’s been a whirlwind. Especially since it’s not over because I am off to a wedding in Nashville and a conference in San Francisco next! Apparently I am incapable of sitting still and although it has been fun, I am definitely looking forward to putting an end to all this traveling for a little while so I can get my apartment back into some sort of order.
Going back in time… I made this cheese ball before I left for Knoxville for an ArtjamN outing with my friend Brandi before she moved away to NC for her post-doc. Yes yes, I know I just posted a cheese ball recipe on Saturday, but that was a sweet version, this one is savory! And when I was given this recipe, I was told that this cheese ball drives people crazy. That might be an understatement because it vanished in under 30 minutes.
The cheese ball is very easy to put together, but you absolutely must prepare this ahead of time in order to allow the flavors to fully blend and enhance each other. As a result, your cheese ball will have a flock of people circling around it until every last smear of it disappears. Who knew a little blue cheese mixed into cream cheese and then covered in bacon and pecans could create such a crazed group of people!
Post updated 12/29/18, two pictures above are the originals.
BLUE CHEESE BALL
Makes 1 cheese ball
Ingredients:
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature (I used reduced fat)
4 oz. crumbled blue cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp brown sugar
Directions:
- Stir together butter, cheeses, onion and seasonings until well blended. Press into a 2-cup mold or bowl lined with plastic wrap (I used a cereal bowl). Chill at least 8 hours or overnight (you must do this or it will have no flavor).
- Before serving, make topping: Combine sugar and pecans in a non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray. Cook until the sugar melts and the pecans begin to toast. Add the bacon and stir. Remove from heat and let mixture cool.
- Invert cheese onto serving plate. Press bacon-pecan mixture on top of cheese. Serve with crackers or crostini.
Source: Beth’s mom
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11 comments
[…] I crave cheese balls outside of parties and gatherings, but to make an entire cheese ball for one person is just insane. […]
[…] from recipe I received from one of my parent’s friends. Turns out it is very similar to the blue cheese ball I already shared which was such a hit you would have though I was a magician doing a disappearing […]
I accidentally put the brown sugar into the cheese ball! Whoops! Is my cheese ball going to taste bad now?
Haha oh no! But it should be perfectly fine as it was only 1 tsp. Enjoy!
Loved, loved, LOVED this cheese ball!! It is beyond delicious. I am so happy I was assigned your blog this month for SRC which allowed me to find this treasure of a recipe. How you are able to fit in all your cooking, baking, and blogging while pursuing your PhD is quite something! My twin daughters are also microbiology wizards and are in their first year of med school. They actually talked about starting a blog detailing their journey through med school, but that soon fell by the wayside!
This looks so good! perfect for game day!
I can see why this is so popular – it looks super addicting! Hope you have fun at the conference in SF!
Pinned this one along with your Buckeye cheese ball! They both look incredible!!
Thanks! I highly enjoyed them both
just bookmarked this bc i know ppl will go crazy for it!
ooo this is perfect football watching food!!