Cheddar Bacon Cheeseball Recipe (Apple-Shaped)
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyDelicious and flavorful, this apple-shaped Cheddar Bacon Cheeseball recipe is the perfect fall appetizer recipe guaranteed to get a wow-worthy response.
Today’s recipe is this adorable and delicious Cheddar Bacon Cheeseball. I’m getting excited just writing that name!
What makes this Cheddar Bacon Cheeseball extra special (beyond the fact that it’s a ball of cheese) is that it’s designed to resemble an apple. This fabulously simple idea will take your entertaining to the next level, and it’s sure to impress your guests.
You might remember this idea as I originally shared it back in 2015. At the time I put two cheeseball recipes in one post, so I’m sharing again just to split up the two recipes. You can find the original post here.
How day you make an easy cheeseball?
In making this, I strongly recommend using freshly shredded cheese. As much as I love the convenience of the packaged variety, you can’t beat the flavor and texture of cheese you grate in your own kitchen.
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This Cheddar Bacon Cheeseball recipe is simple, elegant, and delicious. How can you go wrong with a ball of cheese?
For this cheeseball recipe, I rolled the final ball of cheese into paprika and crushed pistachio for two unique colors and textures.
Serve it with crackers, toasted bread, or veggies plus your favorite wine. You’re ready for a party.
If you liked this cheeseball recipe, you’ll love these too:
- Everything Bagel Cheeseball
- Pumpkin-Shaped Cheeseball
- Christmas Tree Cheeseball
- Spider Cheeseballs – for Halloween
- Cranberry Bacon and Walnut Cheeseball
Happy Entertaining!
Cheddar and Bacon Cheeseball Recipe:
Cheddar Bacon Cheeseball
Ingredients
- 16 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives or pimiento-stuffed, drained and chopped
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
- 8 slices bacon cooked until crispy and then crumbled
- 1/3 cup walnuts finely chopped
- 1/2 cup pistachio nuts* finely chopped*
- 1 tablespoon paprika*
Instructions
- Using a hand mixer, combine the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, kalamata olives (or pimientos), apricot preserves, milk, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and about 1/2 of the bacon in a large bowl until smooth.
- Then shape the cheese mixture into 2 balls. Again, there is no need to be perfect here since apples aren't uniformly shaped. Make an indentation in the top of each with your thumb so the balls resemble apples. Chill them for 30 minutes.
- Remove from the refrigerator and coat the cheese balls in the remaining chopped bacon and walnuts. (If preferred, the balls could instead be covered in pistachio nuts mixed with paprika.)
- Cover and chill for at least two hours before serving. Insert a branch with leaves to resemble an apple stem.
Notes
*Originally published on September 15, 2015. Updated to create a post for each cheeseball base recipe. Original / additional cheeseball recipe can be found here.
love these, really nice combination of flavors and a lot of wow factor, thank you!