Toffee Chip Cheese Ball!

This "Toffee Chip Cheese Ball" is a little different as far as 'cheese balls' go!  It's a sweet cheese ball that is great served with fruit slices or graham crackers or even something like vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies!   This goes over really well with those who might not care for the savory cheese balls!   We served it a few weeks ago at my niece's bridal shower with apple slices and graham crackers.  With the apples it reminds me of a caramel apple and it's great for a Fall party or gathering!

Here is what you will need:

 2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened

4 Tbs. butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1  (8 oz.) pkg. Heath milk chocolate English toffee bits

2 cups dry roasted peanuts, chopped fine

apple slices, graham crackers, vanilla wafers or shortbread cookies for serving

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until well blended with an electric mixer.   Blend in the brown sugar, confectioners sugar and vanilla.  Stir in the mini chocolate chips and the Heath toffee bits.    This will be very soft.  Pull as much as you can away from the sides of the bowl into a ball shape.  Cover with plastic wrap, leaving it in the bowl and place in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours or overnight.   This needs to be very cold or you won't be able to form the cheese ball. 

Place the finely chopped dry roasted peanuts on a large piece of wax paper.  Remove the cheese ball from the bowl and with your hands form into a smooth ball shape.  Lay it in the peanuts and roll it to coat all sides.   When it is all coated in the peanuts lay it gently on a serving plate.   This is a semi soft cheese ball, so it must be very cold and you have to work fast.    

Place apple slices and graham crackers around the edges for serving!  Or you can use whatever you like for serving!   If you do not have time to chill this or don't want to take the time, you can place it in a serving bowl and serve as a dip instead of a cheese ball. Just sprinkle the top with the chopped nuts.   I think the cheese ball makes a prettier presentation, but they both taste the same!  

Curried Chicken Cheese Ball!

Did you know that today is National Cheese Ball Day?  Don't feel bad I didn't either.  Which is sort of ironic, because I planned on posting this cheese ball recipe today before I found out it was National Cheese Ball Day.  I just happened to get an email from Food Network and it said something about "In Honor of National Cheese Ball Day" ...very strange.

This is sort of a different cheese ball than most people make and if you like the flavor of curry you will love it.  I always make this cheese ball when my sister and nieces are coming to visit because they love it.  I must admit it is rather addicting.  It's one of those things you just can't quit eating, like potato chips or M&M's. 

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Canned chicken breast (canned works best for this because it mixes better), 2 blocks cream cheese, Parmesan Cheese, cheddar cheese, green onions sliced thin, Tabasco sauce, garlic powder, curry powder, soy sauce and walnuts or pecans to roll it in.

Leave the cream cheese out of the refrigerator until it is soft.  Slice the green onions as thin as possible and include some of the green blades for the color.   Mix the cream cheese, green onions, curry, shredded cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, soy sauce, and Tabasco sauce.  Mix in the chicken that has been chopped in small pieces.   Place it back in the refrigerator to chill before you try to roll it in a ball (about an hour will do).  Chop walnuts or pecans fairly fine and place them on wax paper or foil.  Shape cheese mixture into a ball and roll all sides it the nuts. 

This is really good served with seedless grapes, strawberries or sliced apples and Nabisco Chicken in a Biskit crackers.

It makes a huge cheese ball so I usually divide in half and make two out of it.

Ingredients:

1 cup chicken chopped

2 8 oz. cream cheese (you can use light cream cheese if you prefer)

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions

1 Tbs. curry powder ( I use mild curry powder so if you are using hot curry powder, use less)

1 Tbs. soy sauce

1 tsp. Tabasco sauce

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Party Cheese Ball!

  

 

This is the oldest recipe I have for a cheese ball.  I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, years ago and it is still one of my favorites for making a cheese ball.  It's also simple, without a lot of different ingredients. Cheese balls are good to keep on hand during the holidays in case guests drop in or you need something to take to a casual get together.  They also make nice gifts.  The flavor of this cheese ball just gets better as it ages also.  Here is what you need:

 

 

2  8oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened  (can use light cream cheese)

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1/3 cup bleu cheese crumbles (optional)

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

1 pkg. onion soup mix (I used Lipton)

dash of Tabasco sauce to your taste

2 cups chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

 

 

Blend softened cream cheese with Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix and Tabasco sauce.  Mix in cheddar cheese and bleu cheese if you are using it.  Cover and chill until it's firm enough to roll into a ball.  You can divide this and make two smaller cheese balls. 

 

Spread chopped nuts on a sheet of wax paper.  Roll cheese mixture into a ball and roll in the nuts to coat the outside.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for several hours.  Take the cheese ball out about an hour before serving.  Serve with crackers.