Mini Cheese Balls are everything you love about an ordinary Cheese Ball, only personal sized! The zesty ranch cream cheese ball recipe smeared on a crunchy cracker is the best appetizer around.
Mini Cheese Ball Recipe
Cheese balls are one of my go-to appetizers.. both for making and eating. 😉 I love the smooth and tangy cheese layered on top of a crunchy cracker. It’s filling, but not overly so and all around just a great way to begin a meal, or, let’s be honest, BE a meal the next day.
There is only one thing that I am not quite on board with when it comes to cheese balls. The fact that everyone at the party is digging their crackers into the same cheese ball. Makes me cringe and maybe even shutter a little bit. That little reason right there is why this is my favorite way to make cheese balls. Miniature. Nearly bite-seized. Single serving cheese balls!
How to make an Easy Cheese Ball
This cheese ball recipe couldn’t be easier. Four ingredients (if you count the nuts on the outside!) is all you need. If you’d rather, you could make this into one large cheese ball, but I will be explaining how to make miniature, single serving cheese balls in this post.
To make the cheese ball mixture you will need on hand:
- room temperature cream cheese
- ranch dressing packet
- shredded cheddar cheese
How to quickly bring cream cheese to room temperature
How to quickly bring cream cheese to room temperatureThis is something I swear I can never remember to do ahead of time. (Please, tell me I’m not alone!) The best way I have found to bring it to room temperature quickly, is to lay the cold cream cheese in between two heating pads on low or microwaveable rice heating bags. When the cream cheese is sandwiched between two warm items, it usually only takes 5-10 minutes for it to come to room temperature.
To make the cheese ball mixture, it is as simple as using your stand mixer or electric hand mixer to mix cream cheese, ranch dressing mix and shredded cheese together. Once everything is mixed together, we will want to pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to make it a bit easier to roll in the crushed almonds.
Use two spoons to drop approx 2 tbsp worth of mixture into a bowl of chopped or crushed almonds. (I usually use my blender to roughly chop them) once the cheese ball mixture is covered in almonds, it is easily rolled into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture.
Do Cheese Balls need to be refrigerated?
Yes, this will need to be stored in the refrigerator to ensure proper food safety. If they are not currently being served, store in the refrigerator.
How long are Cheese Balls good for?
Cheese balls will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days. For best results, store the cheese balls in an airtight container to avoid the cheese balls drying out.
Cheese Ball Bites
Mini Cheese Balls are everything you love about an ordinary Cheese Ball, only personal sized! The zesty ranch cream cheese ball recipe smeared on a crunchy cracker is the best appetizer around.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Chill Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 16 cheese balls
Calories: 137kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 1 pkg ranch dressing mix
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup almonds chopped or crushed
Instructions
-
In a stand mixer or using an electric hand mixer, mix together the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix and shredded cheese.
-
Once mixed, chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
-
Place the chopped almonds in a bowl.
-
Spoon 2 tbsp worth of cheese ball mixture into the bowl of almonds. Cover the cheese ball mixture with the chopped almonds and then roll the cheese ball into a ball.
-
Set aside and repeat with remaining cheese ball mixture.
-
Store in the refrigerator and serve with crackers.
Nutrition
Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 74mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 416IU | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg
Mini Cheese Balls are everything you love about an ordinary Cheese Ball, only personal sized! The zesty ranch cream cheese ball recipe smeared on a crunchy cracker is the best appetizer around.
