Sweet & Spicy White Cheddar Cheese Ball with Apples & Bacon

October 18, 2024

45

medium

24

  • Prep the Apples:
    • Slice one apple into thin pieces and place them in a small dish.
    • Drizzle with 1 tablespoon brandy and 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Set aside to marinate while you prepare the rest.
  • Cook the Bacon:
    • In a large skillet, fry 6 slices of bacon over medium heat, turning frequently until crispy.
    • Once done, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to cool and drain excess grease. Crumble when cool.
  • Prepare the Cheese Mixture:
    • Finely chop the marinated apple slices.
    • In a food processor, combine:
      • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
      • 1 cup Adams Reserve New York Extra Sharp Cheddar (shredded)
      • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
      • The finely chopped apples.
    • Pulse until everything is well mixed and smooth.
  • Make the Pecan-Bacon Coating:
    • In a mini food processor (or the cleaned regular processor), combine:
      • 1/2 cup pecans
      • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
      • The cooled, crumbled bacon.
    • Pulse until finely chopped and well combined.
  • Form the Cheese Ball:
    • Transfer the cheese mixture onto a cutting board.
    • Wet your hands lightly and shape the mixture into a ball.
    • Roll the cheese ball in the bacon-pecan mixture, pressing gently to ensure it sticks and evenly coats the surface.
  • Serve:
    • Place the cheese ball on a serving platter.
    • Surround with crackers and apple slices (dipped in lemon juice and water to prevent browning).
    • Enjoy!
Reviews

Ingredients:

Adjust Servings
0.5cup apple dried
2teaspoons applejack brandy (I used 1 T. of Finger Lakes Distilling Maplejack)
1teaspoon maple syrup pure
6slices bacon
8ounces lowfat cream cheese softened, (NOT nonfat)
10ounces adams reserve new york extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
0.25teaspoon cayenne pepper
2teaspoons brown sugar dark
1cup trader joes and spicy pecans sweet

Directions

1.
Prep the Apples
1. Slice one apple into thin pieces and place them in a small dish. | 2. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon brandy and 1 tablespoon maple syrup. Set aside to marinate while you prepare the rest.
Mark as complete
2.
Cook the Bacon
1. In a large skillet, fry 6 slices of bacon over medium heat, turning frequently until crispy. | 2. Once done, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to cool and drain excess grease. Crumble when cool.
Mark as complete
3.
Prepare the Cheese Mixture
1. Finely chop the marinated apple slices. | 2. In a food processor, combine: |8 oz cream cheese (softened) | 1 cup Adams Reserve New York Extra Sharp Cheddar (shredded) | ¼teaspoon cayenne pepper | The finely chopped apples. | 3. Pulse until everything is well mixed and smooth.
Mark as complete
4.
Make the Pecan-Bacon Coating
1. In a mini food processor (or the cleaned regular processor), combine: | ½ cup pecans | 2 tablespoons brown sugar | The cooled, crumbled bacon. | 2. Pulse until finely chopped and well combined.
Mark as complete
5.
Form the Cheese Ball
1. Transfer the cheese mixture onto a cutting board. | 2. Wet your hands lightly and shape the mixture into a ball. | 3. Roll the cheese ball in the bacon-pecan mixture, pressing gently to ensure it sticks and evenly coats the surface.
Mark as complete
6.
Serve
1. Place the cheese ball on a serving platter. | 2. Surround with crackers and apple slices (dipped in lemon juice and water to prevent browning). | 3. Enjoy!
Mark as complete

Recipe content adapted from Foodista, modified and licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Print

Share Your Thoughts