Come on… who doesn’t love a cheese ball? They’re fun to eat, and easy to make. Being a bit of a cheeseball myself, I have a particular affinity for these orbs o’ dairy.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking, “Cheese balls in Autumn?! Heaven forfend! Everyone knows National Cheese Ball day is April 17th. What kind of celebration enthusiast are you, Tamara?”
In truth, I have no idea why cheese ball day is in April. Makes no sense. These lactose spheres are perfect for football parties, I mean… in my family, we call October the beginning of cheese ball season! So, if you’re going to eat ’em in autumn, why not serve ’em in fall-fruit form?
Apple and Pear shaped cheese balls, printable recipe.
Apple Cheese Ball
- 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbs. butter, softened
- 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (must be finely grated)
- 1 Tbs. apple brandy
- 1 Tbs. apple jelly or apple butter
- 2 cups fried onions
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- branch and leaves for garnish
Pear Cheese Ball
- 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbs. butter, softened
- 5 oz. crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese, softened
- 1 Tbs. pear jam or jelly
- 1 Tbs. pear brandy
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans
- yellow food coloring
- branch and leaves for garnish
Ingredients note:
You can use flavored liquors instead of brandy — it’s just that the brandy has a richer, fuller flavor than a liquor.
Process:
In a bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and cheddar or gorgonzola cheese. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer until fluffy.
Add in jam and brandy, and beat until combined.
Place mixture in refrigerator while working on next step.
For Apple cheese ball:
Place fried onions in a ziplock bag and crush finely.
Add smoked paprika, and toss/knead to combine.
For Pear cheese ball:
Toast walnuts/pecans in a dry frying pan over medium heat, or in the broiler, until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Once cool, chop nuts finely (you can use a food processor for this step). Add 8 to 12 drops of yellow food coloring, if desired.
Place mixed coating in a small bowl.
Remove cheese mixture from the refrigerator and shape into desired form with your hands. Cheese mixture can also be placed in plastic wrap and molded, to keep hands clean.
Once a rough apple or pear form is achieved, drop cheese ball into bowl with coating, and press coating into the surface, refining fruit shape as you go.
After cheese ball is formed, add decorative leaves, and display.
Apple and Pear Shaped Cheese Balls
These can be refrigerated for 2 days, or frozen for up to a month. Be sure to allow time to thaw before serving. No one wants a tooth chipped by chilled cheddar.
Enjoy these glorious globes of cheese, an homage to the fromage in you!
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