Holidays
Gourmet Cheese Ball Recipe with a Spicy Apple Margarita
Prep
30 minutes
Cook
10 minutes
Yield
4
This cheese ball recipe looks beautiful on a serving dish and is a great recipe for holiday hosting.
This is the perfect cheese ball recipe for holiday hosting this winter. BONUS! I’ve included a delicious pairing mocktail you can make alongside it – a spicy apple margarita. This will wow your friends and family at any gathering this year.
Why you’ll love this cheese ball recipe:
- Non-Alcoholic: This spicy apple margarita is non-alcoholic but tastes just like the real thing. You’ll love it
- Perfect for Hosting: This cheese ball recipe with a cocktail is the perfect duo for hosting this holiday season
- Delicious: Serve this gourmet cheese ball with your fav fruits, veggies, or crackers
Ingredient Notes:
Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative: This mocktail recipe is made using Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative. This stuff is seriously unreal. If you know me, I’m not a big drinker, but I do love the idea of a good cocktail now and again. This is the best alternative for that. This tequila has a grassy flavor, and smoky aroma, and is great for margaritas and Palomas.
Cheese: This cheese ball recipe is made with a combination of cheeses – cream cheese, goat cheese, and white cheddar. When combined with the herbs and seasonings, it makes for a flavorful, moldable ball of cheese that is great for serving on a charcuterie board or with some crackers.
How to make this cheese ball recipe:
For the gourmet cheeseball
- In a bowl mix together cheese, garlic powder, 2 tbsp chives, thyme, honey and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Put the mixture into the fridge for 10-15 minutes – this will help make it easier to shape the ball.
- Remove from the fridge and use your hands to form the mixture into a ball. Roll the cheeseball in the remaining chopped walnuts. Place the cheeseball into the fridge again for at least 15 minutes or until ready to serve.
- While the cheeseball is in the fridge, make the crispy baguette. Preheat the oven to 375F. Using a bread knife, slice the baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the baguette slices with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 10 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Set aside.
- Serve the cheeseball with crispy baguette and garnish the plate with seasonal fruit like figs and apples.
For the spicy apple margarita
- To make one cocktail: On a small plate, stir together jalapeno salt and pinch of cinnamon. Wet the outer edge of the cocktail glass using the wedge of lime, then press it into the jalapeno salt and cinnamon mixture.
- To a cocktail shaker add Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative, apple cider and orange juice – shake well to combine. Pour into a rimmed glass filled will ice. Garnish with thinly sliced apple and enjoy!
Expert Tips & FAQ:
Prepare in advance: To make the cheeseball ahead of time, complete all the steps EXCEPT DO NOT ROLL IN THE WALNUTS. Tightly wrap the formed cheeseball in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil – it helps to keep the shape and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, remove from the fridge about 20 minutes before serving, roll in the chopped walnuts and then serve.
Other delicious serving options: crackers, pita, vegetables, bagel chips, or pretzels.
What can I substitute honey for? Don’t want to use honey in the cheeseball? Substitute with maple syrup.
Other recipes you’ll love:
- Phyllo Dough Recipes: Black Bean and Feta Stuffed
- Baked Brie Rolls
- Baked Feta Dip
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Gourmet Cheese Ball Recipe with a Spicy Apple Margarita
Ingredients
For the gourmet cheeseball
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup softened goat cheese
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (divided)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp minced fresh chives
- 1 tbsp liquid honey
- 1 baguette
- olive oil
For the spicy apple margarita
- 2 oz Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative
- 2 oz apple cider
- 1 oz orange juice
- wedge of lime
- jalapeno salt and cinnamon for rimming the glass
- sliced apple for garnish
Instructions
For the gourmet cheeseball
- In a bowl mix together cheeses, garlic powder, 2 tbsp chives, thyme, honey and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Put the mixture into the fridge for 10-15 minutes – this will help make it easier to shape the ball.
- Remove from the fridge and use your hands to form the mixture into a ball. Roll the cheeseball in the remaining chopped walnuts. Place the cheeseball into the fridge again for at least 15 minutes or until ready to serve.
- While the cheeseball is in the fridge, make the crispy baguette. Preheat the oven to 375F. Using a bread knife, slice the baguette into 1-inch thick slices. Brush the baguette slices with olive oil on one side and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 10 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Set aside.
- Serve the cheeseball with crispy baguette and garnish the plate with seasonal fruit like figs and apples.
For the spicy apple margarita
- To make one cocktail: On a small plate, stir together jalapeno salt and pinch of cinnamon. Wet the outer edge of the cocktail glass using the wedge of lime, then press it into the jalapeno salt and cinnamon mixture.
- To a cocktail shaker add Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative, apple cider and orange juice – shake well to combine. Pour into a rimmed glass filled will ice. Garnish with thinly sliced apple and enjoy!
