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cheese ball

For decades, cheese balls have been a popular party food, providing a fun and delicious addition to any spread.

Typically, they’re made with grated cheese and cream cheese, with an assortment of ingredients often including chopped nuts and fresh herbs. They’re easy and quick to prepare especially if time is not on your side.

For this recipe, we’re using orange cheddar, sour cream, chopped bell pepper and scallions, but a cheese ball is a good way to use up bits and pieces from the fridge. I like to add a few shakes of Old Bay spice to my cheese balls for a savoury, aromatic touch with a spicy kick you wouldn’t normally find in this simple appetizer. I would suggest preparing it in advance to allow the flavours time to mingle before serving.

carrot shaped cheese ball
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Carrot-Shaped Cheese Ball

Serve on its own with toasted baguette slices and crackers, or add crudites, olives, pickles or a selection of sliced charcuterie meats and sausages. Just about anything goes.

Ingredients

  • 2 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups shredded old cheddar cheese, divided in half
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan or Asiago cheese, grated
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 2 tbsp red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp scallion, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Old Bay spice
  • Hot sauce of your choice, couple of dashes
  • pinch of salt and pepper
  • fresh dill or parsley for carrot top garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cream cheese and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Add the remaining ingredients, then taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  • On a large platter, place cheese ball mixture and with hands mold into a carrot shape. Cover with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar, patting down to make it stick. Grate and add a little more if needed. Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight.
  • 30 minutes before you are ready to serve, take the cheese ball out of the refrigerator. Add herbs as a carrot top and serve with crostini and/or an assortment of crackers.