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 holidays like Christmas or New Year’s Eve!
Table of Contents
Cheese Ball Bites Ingredients
To make cheese ball bites, you will need cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, sharp white cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, pecans, dried cranberries, chives and parsley. See the recipe card below for amounts and details.
- Cream Cheese: Use a block of regular cream cheese. You can soften your cream cheese by leaving it on a counter at room temperature for 15 minutes or by unwrapping it and microwaving it for 15 seconds at a time until it softens.
- Mascarpone Cheese: This 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 of your grocery store.
- White Cheddar Cheese: Any block of sharp white cheddar cheese will work for this recipe. I recommend shredding your own cheese as the pre-shredded bags of cheese can be drier and often have anti-caking agents.
- Chives: Look for chives that are a vibrant green color. Avoid chives that are wilted or have brown tips.
How Do You Make Cheese Ball Bites?
To make cheese ball bites, first place cream cheese and mascarpone cheese in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer or a spoon to combine the cheeses. Add the shredded white cheddar 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 Cheese Ball Bites
- The traditional choice is to serve cheese ball bites 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.
- If you prefer a cheese log, you can shape your cream cheese mixture in a log shape. Then wrap the cheese log in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour. Remove the cheese log from the plastic wrap, roll it in your toppings and enjoy.
Quick Tip
Make sure that you finely chop the toppings so that they easily adhere to the cheese balls.
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 cheese ball bites 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.
- Savory Coatings: Roll your balls in cooked crumbled bacon, everything bagel seasoning, green onions or smoked paprika for extra flavor and texture.
- Nutty Coatings: You could cover your cheese balls in different nuts like chopped walnuts, pistachios or almonds.
- Sweet Coatings: Try rolling your cheese ball bites in chopped dried fruits like dried apricots, dried peaches or raisins. You can also roll your cheese balls in chopped candied pecans or pomegranate seeds.
- Spicy: Bring the heat by adding finely diced jalapenos or a little hot sauce to your cream cheese mixture or by adding some red pepper flakes to your topping mixture.
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
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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.
How many balls does the recipe make and how many per serving it says serves 12 does that mean I ball per person
It makes 24 balls!
They look amazing. Can they be frozen?
I’d freeze them, then thaw and roll in toppings right before serving.
I love these. I can’t wait to try them this Christmas eve. I was wondering what your thoughts were about POSSIBLY making them ahead of time. Maybe make the balls without toppings and store in fridge til the 24th. I’m not sure. What do you think?
They should be fine for 2-3 days in the fridge, the nuts will soften a bit but that’s not a big deal usually.
I was thinking the same thing. It’s worth a shot. Thank you 😁
Hi, I usually make a Cheese Christmas tree for Christmas Eve and was looking for a new recipe. Can I use this recipe to shape into a tree? Sounds delicious!
Yes that should work fine!
I love these! I used to make cheeseballs years ago – then stopped. I’m going to have to start again and try these!
Wow these are so pretty and festive. I bet they taste good too!
Nothing says Christmas like a cheese ball. I live for them!!
I love these! They are even themed for Christmas. I can’t wait to try these out!
Oh this is a really nice recipe! My husband is a cheese ball fanatic.
I love cheese balls! These are perfect for holiday parties and gatherings!
They look festive and they sound delicious. If there’s one thing I can’t go wrong with serving in my house, it’s cheese.
These look super delicious and so festive! I’ll have to make these!
These sound so amazing! I love mascarpone! I will definitely be making these for our holiday gathering!
Cheese balls are one of my favourite things to serve at a dinner party. I love the idea of cheese ball bites for a dinner party. A fun and tasty way for the guests to sample the different cheese ball options.
These cheese balls look so good. I love cheese balls around the holidays!
Cheese ball appetizers are awesome and they’re always a hit with the people in the party. After all, who doesn’t like cheese, right? I think this is such a lovely idea!
These cheese balls are so colorful! I’ve never seen cheese balls with that much color before!
Oh, these are pretty clever. Offering a few varieties at a party would definitely be a good idea. So many toppings would be good with them.
Those are fantastic! I love that you made them look like little ornaments! That’s so cute.
Great idea. I am famous in my family for my cheeseball, but never thought to make them into bites. Love this.