Description
Delicious and easy-to-make Mini Cheese Ball Bites featuring a creamy blend of cream cheese, cheddar, dried fruits, and Italian seasoning, coated in crunchy nuts and savory bacon crumbles. Perfect for parties or snacks, these bite-sized treats are served chilled with pretzel sticks for a delightful contrast of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature or softened)
- ¾ cup freshly shredded white cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup dried fruit (a mix of dried apricots, cherries, and cranberries, or individually used)
- 1-1½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
Coating
- 1½ cups mixed nuts (finely chopped)
- 1½ cups bacon crumbles
Serving
- 12 medium-sized pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Mix the Ingredients: Using a hand mixer, combine the cream cheese, shredded cheddar, dried fruit, and Italian seasoning. Beat together until the mixture is smooth and evenly blended.
- Form Cheese Balls and Chill: Scoop out the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet. Refrigerate the balls for at least 2 hours to firm up and develop flavors.
- Coat with Nuts and Bacon: Once chilled, roll each cheese ball in the finely chopped mixed nuts or bacon crumbles, or both, pressing lightly so the coating sticks well to the cheese balls.
- Refrigerate Before Serving: Cover the coated cheese balls and keep them refrigerated until ready to serve. For best taste, allow them to chill overnight to let flavors meld and ensure they are served very cold.
- Serve with Pretzel Sticks: Just before serving, skewer each cheese ball with a pretzel stick for a crunchy handle and an extra layer of flavor. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- You can customize the dried fruits based on your preference or availability.
- Mix and match the coatings by using just nuts, just bacon, or a combination of both.
- Keep the cheese balls well covered in the refrigerator to prevent drying out.
- These bites are best served cold, so plan ahead to allow enough chilling time.
- If you prefer a spicier version, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika to the cheese mixture.
