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Cheese Ball

A creamy cheddar and cream cheese ball rolled in chopped pecans and fresh herbs, ready to spread on crackers.

By Wanda Oyola 1 h 15 min Easy

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Recipe in testing: I'm cooking it in my TM7™ and will update the steps and the photo with my own.

A cream cheese and cheddar ball coated in chopped pecans, herbs and small cheddar cubes, on a platter surrounded by round crackers.

The cheese ball is a retro American party classic that never really left the holiday table: a creamy mix of cream cheese and sharp cheddar, shaped into a ball and rolled in crunchy pecans and fresh herbs. Set it in the middle of a platter with crackers and a knife, and guests help themselves.

The Thermomix® TM7™ chops the pecans and herbs for the coating first, then chops the cheddar with garlic and green onion and blends everything with the cream cheese. After an hour in the fridge the mixture is firm enough to roll. Press a few cubes of cheddar into the coating if you want it to look like the photo.

Made in the Thermomix® TM7™

Cheese Ball

Makes: 1 cheese ball, about 500 g

  • Prep15 min
  • Cook0 min
  • Total1 h 15 min
  • Serves12

Ingredients

For the coating

For the cheese ball

To serve

Instructions

  1. Set aside 6 pecan halves for the top. Place the rest of the pecans in the mixing bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 5. Add the parsley and chop 2 sec/speed 5. Transfer to a plate, mix in the chives and set aside.
  2. Place the cheddar, garlic and green onion in the mixing bowl and chop 6 sec/speed 6. Scrape down the sides with the spatula.
  3. Add the cream cheese, Worcestershire and paprika and mix 20 sec/speed 4, scraping down once halfway, until well combined.
  4. Scrape the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap, gather it into a ball and twist the wrap closed. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, until firm.
  5. Mix the cheddar cubes, if using, into the pecan coating. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the coating, pressing gently so it sticks all over. Press the reserved pecan halves on top.
  6. Set it on a platter, let it sit 10 minutes at room temperature so it spreads easily and serve surrounded by crackers.

Tips

  • Make ahead: the wrapped ball, without the coating, keeps 3 days in the fridge. Roll it in the pecans and herbs the day of the party so they stay crunchy and green.
  • Nut-free? Roll it in chopped fresh herbs and crumbled crisp bacon instead of pecans.
  • Besides crackers, serve it with apple slices, celery sticks and thin pretzel crackers.

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