I had no idea that an easy cheese ball recipe could be this good. Last year I had the best cheese ball I ever had and now I get to share how crazy easy this appetizer is!
Our neighbor, Michelle thought up the most genius idea, she cancelled neighbor gifts at Christmas. Can we all have a moment of cheering for Michelle? Now, I’m not against neighbor gifts, but I don’t know that I’m for pouring out all of that extra stress for a bunch of cookies the neighbors throw away. Don’t worry, I’m going to tie it all together so you know what it has to do with The Best Cheese Ball I Ever Had.
We were so impressed with not just Michelle, but how the neighbors responded. Michelle sent out a big letter announcing that instead of doing neighbor gifts, what if we donated to a cause. Everyone could come visit at a little Christmas gathering at her house, bring a donation for a family in need or a reputable charity and visit with each other, which is more of what Christmas is about.
Oh it was such a success!! So much money earned, and we stuffed our faces, I mean, we all got into the Christmas spirit so much more!
Assuming you are using recently purchased ingredients, your cheeseball should last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator! To freeze: To freeze the cheeseball, wrap it well in plastic wrap (without nuts) and place it in a freezer safe ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 1 month.
How to Make a Cheese Ball
When I made a cheese ball for the very first time I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I was trying to use a spatula to shape it into a ball. Haha, actually, it’s not embarrassing at all, that’s hilarious. I don’t know why I was doing that, but it totally didn’t work.
Here’s the secret to forming a cheese ball, it’s a two part process.
The first step to shape a cheeseball happens when you place it in the saran wrap. You stick it in there and pull up all the sides around the cheeseball, roughly shaping it into a ball, twisting the top the closed. At this point you give it a little more of a ball shape, then let it chill in the fridge.
As the cream cheese solidifies a little again everything will become easier to press into a ball.
Remove from the fridge and unwrap the cheese, rolling it in chopped nuts or bread crumbs. At this point the cheese is more solid and the outside won’t stick to your hands. This is when you can really give it that perfectly round shape.
Can I Make a Cheese Ball a Day Ahead?
A cheese ball is quickly becoming the go-to for parties and holidays as you can make it an entire day ahead without worrying about the flavor changing or anything going bad. The key to making a cheese ball recipe a day ahead of time is to wait on removing it from the plastic to roll in its coating. Doing so keeps the nuts or whatever you are using from getting soggy.
Best Cheese Ball Ever!
FAQ
How long is a cheese ball good for in the fridge?
How do you keep cheese balls fresh?
Do cheeseballs go bad?
Can you freeze a cheese ball for later use?
How long does a cheese ball stay fresh?
Storing: A cheese ball should be stored in the refrigerator and will stay fresh for several days or up to 2 weeks depending on the freshness of your ingredients. To estimate how long your cheese ball will stay fresh, first notice the expiration date on the ingredients you are using.
Do commercial cheese balls have a shelf life?
Commercially prepared cheese balls may contain preservatives such as high amounts of salt that will extend their shelf life. Because the individual shelf life of each kind of commercial cheese ball may vary, manufacturers print the “best by” date on the package containing it.
Can You Refrigerate a cheeseball?
Wrap the cheeseball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. To serve: Make sure your cheese ball platter is complete with a cheese spreading knife. If you dip your cracker straight into the ball chances are it will bread into pieces! To make-ahead: Make the cheeseball but don’t coat it in nuts.
How do you know if a cheese ball is bad?
Use your senses to determine if your cheese ball has gone bad. Signs of spoilage include an unpleasant odor, visible signs of mold and an unappetizing taste. Once your cheese ball goes bad, discard it. Although you can sometimes cut the moldy bits off hard cheeses, you can’t do that with cheese balls.