Kamil Perry
Cheese balls are a versatile snack that can be served in a variety of ways. The most common way to serve a cheese ball is with crackers. However, you can also get creative and serve it with other items such as pretzels, veggies, chips, or breads. If you're looking for a more interactive experience, you can provide a variety of dipping options for your guests to choose from. To elevate the presentation, arrange the crackers, veggies, and other accompaniments around the cheese ball on a single plate. For a classic approach, include a cheese spreading knife with your setup to prevent crackers from breaking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Serving suggestions | Crackers, chips, breads, vegetables, pita chips, bagels, pretzels, mini bagels, crudité platter, baguettes, celery sticks, radishes, carrots, cauliflower florets, fennel, potato wedges, pita triangles, saltines, water biscuits, artisan crackers |
| Cheese ball ingredients | Cheddar cheese, green onions, cream cheese, pecans, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, pepper, bell pepper, scallions, lemon juice |
| Preparation | Refrigerate the cheese ball for about an hour to let it firm up. Roll it in nuts or a coating of your choice. |
| Storage | Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to a week. |
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What You'll Learn
Use a variety of crackers
Crackers are a classic side to a cheese ball. While you can stick to one type, it's worth getting a variety box for an appealing presentation and to give your guests a fun opportunity to pick their favourites.
You can also make your own crackers. For instance, if you're making a cranberry-based cheese ball, you could add dried cranberries to your artisan crackers for matching flavours. Or, if you're making a cheddar and herb cheese ball, you can make a rosemary and sea salt artisan cracker.
There are many types of crackers you can buy. Artisan crackers are a crunchy and crisp cracker that is quite thick. Water biscuits are crumbly crackers with a hint of salt flavour. They are also quite thin and fragile, so they make a bit of a mess when bitten into. Saltines are a classic, buttery, and crispy cracker with a hint of sea salt flavour.
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Include some veggies
While crackers are a classic pairing with cheese balls, veggies are a great way to add variety and nutrition to your snack spread. Carrots and celery are simple, crunchy veggies that pair well with cheese balls. Cut your carrot into thin sticks, perfect for dipping. For an upgrade, include fancier veggies like fennel, cauliflower florets, and radishes. Celery sticks are juicy and stringy, providing a fun texture to dip into the cheese.
If you want to get creative, you can slice a baguette thinly, drizzle olive oil on the slices, and bake them to make crostini. You can then spread your cheese ball over these Italian toasts. Sourdough bread is another option, with its tangy flavor pairing well with the creamy cheese ball. Cut the bread into small, bite-sized pieces.
You can also use veggies as a base for your cheese ball. A crudité platter, surrounded by crackers, is a classic way to serve cheese balls. You can also get creative and use veggies like thick radish slices as a base, surrounded by crackers or other dippers of your choice.
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Don't forget a cheese knife
Cheese balls are a great appetizer and are usually served with crackers, pretzels, veggies, and more. But one thing you shouldn't forget is a cheese knife.
While crackers, pretzels, and pita chips are great for dipping into the cheese ball, chances are that they will break into pieces if you dip them directly into the ball. So, to avoid this, don't forget to provide a cheese spreading knife along with your cheese ball and crackers. This way, your guests can easily spread the cheese onto their crackers without breaking them.
In addition to the knife, you can also provide a variety of crackers for your guests to choose from. You can offer different types of crackers such as artisan crackers, water biscuits, saltines, or even make your own by adding dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, or pistachios. If you're feeling creative, you can even make rosemary and sea salt crackers to pair with a cheddar and herb cheese ball.
The cheese knife will not only prevent the crackers from breaking but will also allow your guests to spread the perfect amount of cheese onto their crackers. It adds a touch of elegance to your cheese ball presentation and makes it easier for your guests to enjoy the appetizer.
So, when serving a cheese ball, don't forget to include a cheese knife. It will make the experience more enjoyable for your guests and ensure that they can fully appreciate the creamy, savory goodness of the cheese ball without the hassle of broken crackers.
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Try adding some pretzels
Pretzels are a great addition to a cheeseboard and can be used in a variety of ways alongside a cheese ball. Firstly, they can be used as a vehicle for the cheese, dipped directly into the cheese ball. This works particularly well with softer cheese balls and crunchy, salty pretzels.
Pretzels can also be added to cheese balls as a coating. This works well with mini cheese balls, where a pretzel stick is added to each ball, making it easy for guests to pick up their own serving. The pretzel sticks will become soggy if left in the cheese balls for too long, so they should only be added just before serving.
For larger cheese balls, chopped pretzels can be used as a coating in the same way as nuts. The cheese ball is rolled in the chopped pretzels, creating a salty, crunchy exterior. Again, this should be done just before serving to avoid the pretzels becoming soft.
Pretzels are a great alternative to nuts, particularly for those with allergies. They add a salty flavour and crunchy texture to cheese balls and are a fun way to serve this classic party food.
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Use as a sandwich filling
Cheese balls are a versatile treat and can be used in sandwiches in a variety of ways. A simple method is to split open a pita triangle and spread some of the cheese ball inside—a cute little cheese sandwich!
Another option is to use crackers as the sandwich base. For example, Ritz crackers can be used to make party sandwiches. These are best served warm and crisp, straight from the oven. You can add deli ham, salami or pepperoni, and Swiss cheese. You can also add a cheese ball to the centre of the platter, with a small knife for spreading.
If you want to make a more elaborate sandwich, you can use a crusty baguette. Slice the baguette thinly, drizzle the slices with olive oil, and bake them at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes until golden and toasted. You can then spread your cheese ball over the little Italian toasts.
Cheese balls can also be used as a filling for wraps. Spread the cheese ball onto a tortilla and add any other desired fillings to make a tasty wrap sandwich.
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Frequently asked questions
You can serve a cheese ball with a variety of crackers, including Ritz, saltines, water biscuits, and artisan crackers.
Some alternatives to crackers include pretzels, pita chips, bagels, and veggies such as carrots, celery, cauliflower florets, radishes, and fennel.
Arrange your crackers, vegetables, etc. around the cheeseball so it can all be on one plate. You can also place the cheese ball on a platter with a cheese spreading knife.
You can make a cheese ball up to a week in advance and store it in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator. However, you should wait to add the nuts until closer to serving so that they don't get soft.
A classic cheese ball recipe includes cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions, and seasonings. It is then coated in chopped pecans or other nuts.
