Mom’s Party Cheeseball ~ every party needs an easy and delicious cheese ball!
There’s nothing like the combination of mild, medium and sharp cheddar cheeses, all blended together with cream cheese and a few seasonings to please a hungry snacking crowd! This easy make-ahead appetizer holds up wonderfully for hours and is perfect served with crackers, bread, fruit and nuts. And, if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, just try it on a grilled cheese sandwich – oh my!
I’m a wonderful “middle” child with four siblings – two older, and two younger. We all grew up in the TV dinner generation. If you don’t know what a TV dinner is, then never mind, I feel old. The last 50 years has witnessed tremendous change in they way we all live, work, play and eat. Electronic everything. But, I digress. Way back when I was young, it was a real treat for us to pick out our favorite TV dinner and eat it in our rooms while mom and dad entertained. People don’t have parties like they used to. My mom must have been some sort of Wonder Woman to be able to raise 5 kids, do laundry, clean, make school lunches, cook dinner every night, and host some pretty extravagant dinner parties for our dad’s clients and co-workers. She used the good china, made all the food (without instant Google help), and dressed up in floor length dresses, some she even made herself on her sewing machine. When mom and dad entertained we all had to stay in our bedrooms, and could only come out to use the bathroom. Do people still dress up and have grownup parties anymore?
At all these lovely parties, events and family gatherings, mom always made her easy-peasy cheese ball to serve to her guests. She’s been gone 25 years but I still have her hand written recipe card with the “little of this, little of that” style of writing when it came to seasonings. I don’t think my readers would be happy if I left the instructions vague when it comes to measurements, so I researched similar recipes (on the internet and in cookbooks) and came up with a winner that would make mom proud!
Mom’s original recipe suggests rolling the cheese ball in chili powder, nuts or parsley. I love the colors the chili powder and parsley give the cheese balls, but since I had nuts on hand, that’s what I used. This recipe makes 2 small or 1 large cheese ball, but the small cheese balls are still pretty big. You can easily cut this recipe in half or divide the cheese mixture into three 8-inch logs each rolled in a different topping for a beautiful display. Grab a couple of packages of good tasty crackers, a sliced baguette, candied nuts, and an assortment of fresh and dried fruits for a complete and hearty party platter!
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- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 8-ounce package sharp or intense (white)cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic salt)
- dash of cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 8-ounce package medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 8-ounce package mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup toasted, chopped nuts for rolling
Combine the cream cheese and 8-ounces of the cheddar cheese in the bowl of a food processor, or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the Worcestershire Sauce, garlic, cayenne and mayonnaise. Process until well blended. Add another 8-ounces of the cheddar cheese and process again until mixed well. Remove the cheese mixture to a large bowl and add the remaining 8-ounces of shredded cheddar. Blend using a wooden spoon until combined. Divide the cheese ball in half and wrap each in a large sheet of plastic wrap. Twist the extra plastic wrap together at the top, forming the cheese into a ball. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
When ready to serve, roll the cheese ball in chopped toasted pecans, sliced almonds, chopped parsley, or chili powder.
Cheese balls can be made up to two days in advance. Roll in toasted nuts just before serving.
Cheese balls may be rolled in toasted nuts, chili powder or chopped parsley.
Allow the chilled cheese ball to come to room temperature (about 1 hour) before serving.
Serving Suggestions: Crackers, pickles, olives, grapes, toasted nuts, candied nuts, toasted baguette slices, pickled peppers, or dried fruit
We love making this recipe in our workhorse of a food processor – click on the photo for more information:
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If you’re looking for more deliciously easy ways to entertain, try our Buffalo Chicken Roll Up Appetizers or this recipe for Mini Cheese Quiche for simple make-ahead finger-friendly appetizers. Parties need plenty of cheese so check out this great roundup of drool-worthy Baked Brie Recipes from The View from Great Island. I love these pretty Spring Herb Cream Cheese Appetizer Cups from Rachel Cooks, and if you’re looking for something a little sweet, don’t miss this Caramel Apple Cream Cheese Spread Recipe from She Wears Many Hats.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Love this and so much better that it’s nostalgic 🙂 I love cheese balls for entertaining! Can’t wait to try this one!
Thanks Jennifer!
Your cheese board is stunning. Beautiful food and photo! The world has changed dramatically in the past 50 years. In recent years, the change has been exponential in every area. Just look at the produce department and the fruits and veggies that are available all year from all over the globe! While some tastes have changed (tv dinners were such a treat), nostalgic food will always taste good. Food memories are the best. Your mom’s cheeseball will never go out of stlye.
Thank you Wendy 🙂 It’s almost shocking to review all the new technology, etc. that has come along during my lifetime. Much more to come I’m sure!
I believe your mom had a good recipe.
Thanks Larry – it’s been around a long time!
But did you have TV Trays to eat your TV Dinners? LOL. I think they were life savers for busy women, and then we graduated from Swanson to Stouffers 🙂 Your mom’s cheese ball looks delicious especially with all of the lovely additions you have on your platter. I love that you still have your mom’s recipe card ♥
I had to laugh out loud Susan – because my husband was talking about that very thing! Yes we did have TV trays to eat our TV dinners 🙂 Then you have to move everything to get up and change the channels – but that didn’t take long since there was only 3 or 4 channels anyway. Thank you so much Susan.
Loved your comments about your mom’s cheese ball. I make a similar one and the original recipe called for shaping it into a pineapple, scoring lines on the outside, placing sliced olives in the “diamonds” created, and putting a REAL pineapple top on the top of the cheese ball (which sometimes was top-heavy). I finally found a small plastic pineapple and have used the top of that (which works so much better) and cleans up well, too. Never fails to get compliments and it freezes well, too. And, yes, be sure to take it out of fridge to soften for at least an hour. My next one will be your mom’s cheeseball recipe. Thanks a bunch.
Thank you so much JoAnn! I’ve seen cheeseballs with the whole almonds like that but I have not tried it. I bet yours is so pretty. Thanks – hope you have a terrific holiday season.
Hi Tricia, oh yes, I remember the TV dinners but they were only for special occasions at our house, lol. Anyway, you can never go wrong with a cheese ball and this looks fabulous!
Special occasions for us too Cheri – thank you!
I remember being sent to my room when my parents had a party but my brother and I would watch them from the stairs. Your cheese ball looks amazing.
Funny how we remember these things 🙂 Our kids were always in the middle of everything. Thank you!
I’m having my family gathering next weekend and I’m trying to pull it all together so thanks for the inspiration. I love this spread you put together; I love a good cheese board with so much to look at and so much to eat! The abundance and richness is such a great part of the holidays. Thanks for sharing your mom’s cheese balls, and happy holiday season!
Thanks Monica – hope it all goes well and I’m sure there will be something amazingly chocolate on your table!
Your mom was truly amazing! And wow, what a legacy she left! You party tray is gorgeous Trica, I think I’d just call it dinner!
Aww thanks Chris – she really was a hard worker and very talented. This has been lunch for a few days now – haha! Not complaining either 🙂
Love this Tricia ~ what a gorgeous spread! We would sit at the top of the stairs and listen to the parties my mom and dad had, what a great memory, I haven’t thought about that in years. Pinning and sharing this fun vintage recipe!
How cool – why don’t we have parties like that? Thanks for sharing 🙂
wow Can I come over for the party? The cheese platter looks amazing, Tricia.
Yes you can Angie – look forward to it 🙂 Have a lovely weekend and thanks!