Packed with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, herbs and spices, they’re rolled in walnuts for the perfect crunch.

These mini cheese ball bites are sure to be a hit with guests!

Just like my Easy Garlic & Herb Cheese Dip these mini cheeseballs are the perfect appetizer when you need an impressive appetizer quickly. For new year’s eve, Christmas or even a super bowl party, this delicious bite-sized appetizer is sure to be a hit.

why you’ll love this mini cheese balls recipe

• They’re easy to make and can be whipped up in under 10 minutes!
• Easy to make ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
• These mini cheese balls make a great party appetizer because they’re perfectly bite-sized.
• You can find all the simple ingredients you need for this recipe at your local grocery store.
• They’re a fun take on a classic appetizer!

ingredients needed to make these savory mini cheese balls

Cream cheese: a softened cream cheese at room temperature will mix best when making these mini cheese balls; this is the base of this recipe!

Cheddar cheese: shredded cheddar cheese is my favourite cheese to mix-in to make these cheese balls; I like to use an orange cheddar to help give the cheese ball some colour too

Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper give a savory flavor to the this mini cheese ball recipe

Walnuts: crunchy, finely chopped walnuts are a must to give texture to these mini cheese balls

Fresh herbs:  a mix of minced fresh basil & parsley or just one of the herbs is a must for a bite of freshness in the small cheese balls

Parmesan cheese: shredded parmesan cheese is a nice touch with all of the other flavours

step by step process to make this mini cheese ball appetizer

Step 1: To a bowl add softened cream cheese, shredded cheese (cheddar and parmesan), 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup chopped herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.

Step 2: Put the mixture in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up.

Step 3: Then scoop out 12-14 heaping tablespoons (about the size of a small cookie scoop) of the cheese mixture. Form each heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into a cheese ball with your hands (wet your hands a bit when rolling if the mixture is sticking too much).

Step 4: Spread the remaining chopped walnuts on a plate and roll balls in the walnuts. Place on a plate or serving tray and let set in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving. Or store in the fridge in an airtight container lined with parchment paper until ready to serve later. (Make these up to one day in advance and take out 1/2 hour before serving).

Step 5: Serve with your favourite crackers, pita chips or pretzels and enjoy!

expert tips to make this easy party appetizer

• If you don’t have time to soften the cream cheese, use a couple tablespoons of warm milk to help make it a an easier consistency to mix. Alternatively, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip the cream cheese into a more workable texture.
• Make these an even more fun appetizer by inserting pretzel sticks or crackers in the center of the mini cheese balls; this makes it even easier for guests to pickup from the platter!
• You can even serve these mini cheese balls with vegetables too.

common questions

Can I make these ahead of time?
YES. If making them for a holiday party or get-together I’d recommend making only one day ahead so they have the most fresh flavours when serving. If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

​Are there any other cheeses I can use in this appetizer?
YES! You could substitute the cheddar cheese with an old cheddar, white cheddar or sharp cheddar cheese, gruyere cheese or even pepper jack cheese.

​Can I substitute the fresh herbs?
If parsley or basil aren’t your favourite, you could try substituting with minced chives or green onions.

Would bacon bits work in this recipe too?
There are a lot of classic large cheese ball recipes that include bacon bits. You could add a 1/4 cup bacon bits to this recipe but I would decrease the salt to 1/4 tsp or none at all since the bacon will add saltiness to the cheeseball.

Is there a substitute for walnuts?
Different coatings that can be used instead of walnuts are chopped almonds, pecans or toasted breadcrumbs.

storage

These mini cheese balls can be store for up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap; however, if making them for a party I’d recommend making only one day ahead so they have the most fresh flavours when serving.

more easy appetizers to love from the blog

Easy Pear & Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer with Honey

Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie (holiday appetizer)

5 Minute Jalapeno Popper Dip

Easy and Quick Holiday Brie Crostini Appetizers

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Easy Herb & Walnut Mini Cheese Balls Appetizer

Make these herb & walnut mini cheese balls for a quick & delicious appetizer! A perfect bite-sized appy for Christmas, New Year's or gameday.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword cheese, cheese ball

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Resting time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12 -14 mini cheese balls

Calories 169kcal

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 250 g softened plain cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts, divided
• 1/4 cup fresh mixed herbs (minced parsley & basil)

Instructions

• To a bowl add softened cream cheese, shredded cheese (cheddar and parmesan), 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup chopped herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.
• Put the mixture in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up.
• Then scoop out 12-14 heaping tablespoons (about the size of a small cookie scoop) of the cheese mixture. Form each heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into a cheese ball with your hands (wet your hands a bit when rolling if the mixture is sticking too much).
• Spread the remaining chopped walnuts on a plate and roll balls in the walnuts. Place on a plate or serving tray and let set in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving. Or store in the fridge in an airtight container lined with parchment paper until ready to serve later. (Make these up to one day in advance and take out 1/2 hour before serving).
• Serve with your favourite crackers, pita chips or pretzels and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 392IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 0.3mg

The post Easy Herb & Walnut Mini Cheese Balls Appetizer appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

This soft cheese appetizer is simple to make and perfect for entertaining.

Having a simple canapé recipe in your back pocket is always handy when you’ve got guests coming!

Like my goat cheese appetizer with fig jam & pecans, this easy cheese appetizer takes just a few minutes to prep and is sure to wow everyone!

Why you’ll love this garlic and herb cheese holiday appetizer

• It only takes 5 minutes to prepare, it is so quick to make!
• You can serve it with homemade crostini, crackers or crudités.
• All you need are 8 simple ingredients.
• I’ve got a few ingredient substitutions so you can make this to suit your tastes.

Ingredients Needed

Garlic and Herb Boursin Cheese: can’t find Boursin cheese? Feel free to use another garlic and herb cheese!

Walnuts: I love using walnuts in this easy appetizer, but you can swap them out for almonds or pine nuts if you prefer.

Fresh Herbs: I used a mix of basil, chives and parsley.

Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese, Chili Flakes & Lemon Zest: Serious flavour boosters!

Step by Step Process for this easy cheese appetizer

• Step 1: In a shallow bowl or plate, spread the softened boursin cheese and drizzle it with the olive oil.
• Step 2: Sprinkle the cheese with chili flakes and a pinch of salt.
• Step 3: Add your chopped fresh herbs, chopped walnuts, the zest of half a lemon and a sprinkling of shredded parmesan cheese.
• Step 4: Serve with crackers or crostini and enjoy!

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Easy Garlic & Herb Cheese Holiday Appetizer

Make this easy cheese appetizer for your guests in under 10 minutes! With garlic & herb Boursin cheese, fresh herbs, walnuts & lemon, it's a joy to share.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword cheese, holiday appetizer

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Author Jess

Ingredients

• 2 150g garlic and herb Boursin cheese (remove from fridge 10 minutes before making the dip)
• 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes 
• pinch of coarse salt
• 1/4 cup cup chopped fresh herbs (mix of basil, chives, parsley)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• zest from half lemon
• 2 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese 
• Crackers or crostini for serving

Instructions

• To a low bowl or plate, spread softened boursin cheese mixed with plain Greek yogurt and then drizzle with olive oil.
• Sprinkle with chili flakes and a pinch of salt.
• Add chopped fresh herbs, chopped walnuts, zest of half a lemon and finish with parmesan cheese.
• Serve with crackers or crostini.

Notes

• Can't find Boursin cheese? Try a garlic and herb goat or cream cheese.

FAQ

How do I make crostini?

Preheat your oven to 400°Fahrenheit. Use a bread knife to slice a baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the slices of bread with olive oil on one side and then place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 10 minutes, flipping the slices of bread halfway through.

What else can I serve with this soft cheese appetizer?

I love serving this with homemade crostini and crackers, but you can also slice up some cucumbers, bell peppers and celery! If you’re using crackers, go with something plain so the flavours from the appetizer can really stand out.

I can’t find Boursin cheese at my grocery store!

Feel free to use another soft garlic and herb cheese if you can’t find boursin at your local grocery store.

Expert Tips for making this easy cheese appetizer

• Take the soft cheese out of the fridge about 10-15 minutes before making the recipe so it is easier to spread on the plate.
• Using fresh herbs instead of dried herbs makes all the difference, but in a pinch you can use dried herbs.
• Using good ingredients here makes all the difference! Olive oil and nuts can easily go bad, so I recommend checking the freshness of what’s in your pantry before you start the recipe.

Storage

Keep the prepared dip in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

More holiday appetizers to love from the blog

Easy Goat Cheese Appetizer with Fig Jam & Pecans

Blueberry and Goat Cheese Crostini Appetizer

Festive Market Cheeseboard

A Sparkling New Years Eve Party Menu

Snickerdoodle Blondies

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post Easy Garlic & Herb Cheese Holiday Appetizer appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.