Patrick Oconnell
Cheese balls are a type of snack food that first appeared in the 1940s and became popular in the 1970s. They are made of cornmeal and cheese powder and are usually shaped into balls, curls, puffs, or doodles. While cheese balls were invented in 1939, they were popularized in the 1990s by Planters, who debuted their Cheez Balls in 1981 and discontinued them in 1990. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of cheese balls, with many people feeling nostalgic for these snacks from their childhood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First appeared | 1944 |
| First recipe appeared in | Virginia Safford's 1944 cookbook |
| First made by | Mrs. Selmber E. Ellertson |
| Type of food | American hors d'oeuvre |
| Ingredients | Grated hard cheese, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, nuts, seeds, herbs |
| Brands | Utz, Kraft, Planters |
| Debut year | 1981 |
| Discontinued | 1990 |
| Reappeared | 2018 |
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What You'll Learn
Planters Cheez Balls were discontinued in 1990
Cheese balls, cheese curls, puffs, and doodles were invented around 1939 by an animal feed manufacturer in Wisconsin. In 1944, the first cheese ball recipe appeared in a cookbook by Virginia Safford, a columnist for the Minneapolis Star. This recipe helped popularize the snack, and it really found its place in the 1970s.
Planters Cheez Balls, made by Kraft Foods, debuted in 1981 and were discontinued in 1990. However, they were brought back in 2018 and still exist today.
The ingredients and production of cheese balls are not widely known, but these snacks hold a nostalgic pull for anyone who ate junk food in the '90s. They are often remembered as a staple of summer vacations and pool trips.
Cheese balls are an American hors d'oeuvre made from grated hard cheese and softened cream cheese, sometimes with a binder like mayonnaise. They are shaped, chilled, and often rolled in nuts, seeds, or herbs. They are typically served with crackers or crudites at holiday parties in the United States.
The cheese ball has become an entrenched feature of the American holiday table, with some even calling it a dynamic contrast when paired with sweet foods like chocolate ice cream.
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Cheese balls are a type of cheese spread
Cheese balls, those beloved snacks of the '90s, are indeed a type of cheese spread. But the story of their creation goes back much further, with a rich history that reflects the evolution of American cuisine and culture.
The origins of cheese balls can be traced as far back as 1801, when Elder John Leland of Cheshire, Massachusetts, crafted a mammoth 1,235-pound cheese ball known as "The Mammoth Cheese." This early incarnation was a product of the Baptist community of Cheshire, who donated milk from over 900 cows to create this enormous delicacy. It was served to President Jefferson on the White House lawn, marking a unique moment in American culinary history.
However, the cheese balls that gained popularity in the 1990s had more humble beginnings. They were invented around 1939 by an animal feed manufacturer in Wisconsin. The invention was a happy accident when an employee ran wet corn through a grinder, and it puffed up into what would become cheese curls, puffs, balls, and doodles. These cornmeal-based snacks were then seasoned with cheese powder, creating the addictive treats we know today.
Cheese balls, as a type of cheese spread, first appeared in the 1940s and were popularized by Virginia Safford, a columnist for The Minneapolis Star. She featured a recipe for a cheese ball in her 1944 cookbook, "Food of My Friends", and they began to appear at modest gatherings across the country. Despite their initial popularity, they eventually fell out of fashion, only to resurge in the 21st century.
In the 1980s and 1990s, brands like Planters and Utz introduced their versions of cheese balls, which became iconic snacks for that era. These cheese balls were often packaged in large plastic jugs or cans and were a staple at pool parties and movie nights. While they briefly disappeared, they have since made a comeback, tapping into the nostalgia of those who grew up in the '80s and '90s.
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They were first made in 1944
Cheese balls, as we know them today, were first made in 1944. They were described by Virginia Safford, a columnist for the Minneapolis Star, in her cookbook, Food of My Friends. Safford described a cheese ball made by Mrs. Selmber E. Ellertson.
Cheese balls, or "cheese in the round", as they were sometimes called, were a popular hors d'oeuvre in the 1940s and 1970s, often served at holiday parties in the United States. They are typically made from grated hard cheese and softened cream cheese, sometimes with a binder like mayonnaise, and are often rolled in nuts, seeds, or herbs.
The origins of cheese balls can be traced back to the 1800s, when a Baptist community in Cheshire, Massachusetts, donated milk from over 900 cows to make a 1,235-pound cheese ball, known as "The Mammoth Cheese". This cheese ball was crafted by Elder John Leland in 1801 and presented to President Jefferson at the White House.
Cheese balls, in their modern form, experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 21st century, with companies like Utz and Planters bringing back their versions of the snack in the 2010s.
In the 1980s and 1990s, cheese balls were a popular snack, often enjoyed at the pool or during summer vacations. They were sold in cans or plastic jugs and were known for their buttery flavour.
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Cheese balls are a popular nostalgic snack
Cheese balls are a popular snack that evokes a sense of nostalgia for many people. While the exact origin of cheese balls is unclear, they are believed to have been invented in the 1930s or 1940s and have since become an iconic part of American cuisine and culture.
Cheese balls, along with other cheese-based snacks like puffs, curls, and doodles, are thought to have been accidentally created in the 1930s by an animal feed manufacturer in Wisconsin. The story goes that when a grinder jammed, an employee ran some wet corn through the machinery, which puffed up as it exited the grinder. Seasoned with cheese powder, these cornmeal-based snacks were born and eventually called Korn Kurls.
In the 1940s, a new version of cheese balls emerged as an American hors d'oeuvre. This variety, typically made from grated hard cheese and softened cream cheese, was often shaped into decorative forms, such as balls, wheels, logs, owls, or pineapples. The first recipe for this type of cheese ball appeared in a 1944 cookbook by Virginia Safford, a popular columnist for the Minneapolis Star.
Cheese balls gained widespread popularity in the 1970s, but their reputation took a hit as they became associated with middle-class tastes. However, they remained a staple at holiday gatherings and parties, often served with crackers or crudités. In the 1980s and 1990s, packaged cheese balls, such as Planters Cheez Balls, gained a dedicated following, with some considering them a staple of their childhood snacks.
In recent years, cheese balls have experienced a resurgence, with some attributing it to nostalgia marketing targeting adults who fondly remember these snacks from their youth. Companies have reintroduced discontinued cheese ball products, and celebrities like Kim Kardashian West, Chrissy Teigen, and Lilly Singh have also promoted them. Today, cheese balls continue to hold a special place in the hearts of many, evoking memories of pool days, summer vacations, and childhood treats.
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They were invented by accident in 1939
Cheese balls, along with cheese curls, puffs, and doodles, were invented by accident in 1939. An employee of an animal feed manufacturer in Wisconsin was running some wet corn through a grinder when the machine jammed. The corn puffed up while exiting the grinder, and the employee seasoned the corn, creating a snack eventually called Korn Kurls. Over time, employees of the animal feed company continued to experiment with frying techniques and flavourings, such as cheese powder.
Korn Kurls were the accidental precursor to the cheese balls that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. These cheese balls were typically packaged in large plastic jugs or cans and were often taken to the pool or the movies. They were discontinued in 2006, but their popularity has endured, with people reminiscing about their salty, cheesy flavour and their bright orange cheese powder.
In 2014, a Change.org petition was started to bring back cheese balls, and in 2018, Planters, the nut brand owned by Kraft Heinz, relaunched the snack. The cheese ball's revival has been attributed to Amy Sedaris, who included a recipe in her 2006 cookbook, "Hosting a Party Under the Influence," and made a version on the Martha Stewart Show in 2007.
Cheese balls are also a type of American hors d'oeuvre that first appeared in the 1940s and then fell out of fashion. They are made from grated hard cheese and softened cream cheese, sometimes with a binder like mayonnaise, and are often rolled in nuts, seeds, or herbs. This type of cheese ball experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 21st century, with MplsStPaul Magazine calling 2016 "the year of the cheese ball."
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Frequently asked questions
Kraft Foods made Planters Cheez Balls in 1990.
Cheese balls are made from grated hard cheese and softened cream cheese, sometimes with a binder like mayonnaise.
Cheese balls are typically savoury, with some describing them as having a "buttery flavour".
Cheese balls are often served with crackers or crudites, especially at holiday parties in the United States.
No, cheese balls have been around since at least the 1940s, with some sources claiming they were invented in 1939 or even 1801.
