These ultra creamy cheese ball bites are made with three types of cheese and rolled in assorted toppings. An easy make ahead party snack that always gets rave reviews!
These cheese ball bites are such a fun and unique appetizer recipe for a special event. When you want a cheese ball try these poppable bites or my classic cheese ball recipe. If you want some kick try my jalapeno cheddar cheese ball!
I am a sucker for a good cheese ball, they’re on every appetizer table for a reason! These cute little cheese ball bites have the same great flavor as a regular sized cheese ball. However, they’re more elegant looking and you can roll them in a variety of toppings. Once you’ve tried these mini cheese balls, you won’t want to go back to the full sized ones!
Serve your cheese balls along with bacon deviled eggs, grape jelly meatballs and pigs in a blanket. These classic appetizers make parties even more fabulous! Try them for Christmas or New Year’s Eve!
Table of Contents
Cheese Ball Bites Ingredients
To make mini cheese balls, you will need cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, sharp white cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, pecans, dried cranberries, chives and parsley.
How Do You Make Cheese Ball Bites?
Place the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer or a spoon to combine the cheeses. Add the shredded cheese, salt and pepper and mix well. Roll the cheese mixture into bite sized balls. Coat each ball in either pecans, cranberries, or a blend of parsley and chives. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until you’re ready to eat.
Tips For The Perfect Appetizer
- The traditional choice is to serve cheese balls with crackers or pretzels. You can serve these snacks on top of crackers, or simply serve them on a platter with some toothpicks so people can grab their favorite flavor. Another option is to stick a pretzel stick into each one for a fun presentation that allows people to easily pick them up.
- I like to serve my mini cheese ball bites almost as you would a cheese board with grapes, nuts, and other accompaniments that pair well with cheese. You could even serve toasted baguette slices on the side for a little different twist.
- These mini cheese balls can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve them. Simply follow the recipe, cover the cheese balls with plastic wrap, and let them chill in the fridge. Remove them from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you plan to serve them.
- Make sure that you finely chop the toppings so that they easily adhere to the balls.
- For a sweet and savory flavor, try using candied pecans instead of regular pecans.
Quick Tip
Mascarpone cheese is an Italian soft cheese similar to cream cheese, but with a lighter texture. You can find it in tubs in the cheese aisle or deli section.
Recipe FAQs
Cheese balls are typically made of cream cheese and cheddar cheese, and often contain other ingredients such as butter, seasonings and herbs. They are rolled in some type of coating including nuts, herbs or even bacon.
Cheese balls pair well with crackers, pretzels, bread, fruit, nuts and fresh herbs.
The easiest way to firm up a cheese ball is to refrigerate it for at least 2 hours. If you’re short on time, you could try freezing it for 30 minutes.
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Flavor Variations
This recipe is great as-is, but there are so many different ways to customize the flavors to your tastes!
- Cheese: You should plan to use cream cheese as the base to make sure you have the correct consistency, but you can swap out the mascarpone for goat cheese, or use all cream cheese. Instead of white cheddar, try using blue cheese, aged parmesan, gruyere, manchego or smoked gouda.
- Coatings: Roll your balls in cooked crumbled bacon, everything bagel seasoning, green onions walnuts, pistachios, dried apricots, pomegranate seeds, smoked paprika or almonds for extra flavor and texture.
This appetizer will be the first to go at your party, and everyone will be asking for seconds!
More Great Party Appetizers
Cranberry Meatballs (Slow Cooker)
3 hrs 5 mins
Bacon Ranch Dip
6 mins
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
15 mins
Homemade Chex Mix
10 mins
Mexican Tortilla Pinwheels
10 mins
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Cheese Ball Bites
Ingredients
- 1 8 ounce block cream cheese softened
- 4 ounces mascarpone cheese softened
- 6 ounces finely grated sharp white cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pecans regular or candied pecans
- 3/4 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced chives
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Place the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a bowl; using a mixer or a large spoon, mix until thoroughly combined.
- Add the cheddar cheese and salt and pepper to taste, mix until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into bite sized cheese balls.
- Place the cranberries and pecans on two plates. Mix together the chives and parsley and put the herbs on a third plate.
- Roll 1/3 of the cheese balls in the pecans, 1/3 in the cranberries and 1/3 in the herbs.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- These mini cheese balls can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve them. Simply follow the recipe, cover the cheese balls with plastic wrap, and remove them from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you plan to serve them.
- Make sure that you finely chop the toppings so that they easily adhere to the balls.
Can I sub all mascarpone for cream cheese ? My husband like mascapone but hates CC.
Yes that should be fine, but mascarpone is softer than cream cheese, so it’s possible you might need to add a little more shredded cheese so everything holds together properly.
Can these be frozen?
I would freeze without the toppings, then thaw and roll in toppings right before serving.
Hi! These look amazing! I would like to prepare it for a get together I am planning. Can I make the balls, roll it in the toppings and then refrigerate for a day or roll the toppings only a little before serving (and not a full day)? Thank you in advance : )
Yes that will work!
Not sure why people leave reviews when they didn’t actually make it. But I just made these and they were yummy! My only tweaks were I added a little garlic powder to the cheese mix and instead of cranberries I did bacon with chives. Really yummy! Even my kids liked them!
Oh and I inserted a pretzel stick instead of a toothpick! Was perfect combination