Cheese Ball
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A gourmet twist on the classic party cheese ball, this creamy mix of goat cheese, scallions, chopped dates, and roasted pecans is always a crowd favorite—especially on a charcuterie board or appetizer spread.
This cheese ball recipe, adapted from chef Vivian Howard’s cookbook Deep Run Roots, takes the retro classic to a whole new level. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say it’s the best cheese ball recipe out there. Howard calls it a “party magnet,” and she’s right—it’s the kind of appetizer everyone gathers around. A little fancier than the usual Cheddar version, it’s made with a blend of goat cheese and cream cheese, and flavored with scallions, chopped dates, and buttery roasted pecans.
I suggest doubling the recipe—cheese balls freeze beautifully, and you’ll be so glad to have an extra stashed away. Come impromptu guests, a cocktail party, or the holidays, you’ll be ready!
“I’ve made the cheeseball twice and it’s definitely been a party magnet! No one can believe it’s homemade and that it’s just so darn delicious!”
What You’ll Need To Make A Cheese Ball
- Goat Cheese, Cream Cheese & Butter: Forms the rich, tangy and creamy base of the cheese ball.
- Hot Sauce: Adds a subtle kick to balance the richness of the cheese.
- Dates: Lend a sweet, chewy contrast.
- Scallions: Provides a fresh, oniony flavor that cuts through the richness.
- Salt-And-Butter-Roasted Pecans: Add a crunchy, savory coating with a buttery finish (see recipe below).
- Flat-Leaf Parsley: Adds freshness and a pop of color.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix the creamy base. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle or beaters, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, butter, hot sauce, and salt. Mix on medium-low speed until well combined.
Step 2: Add the mix-ins. Mix the dates and scallions into the base until evenly blended, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm it up.
Step 3: Form the cheese ball. Lay a large sheet of plastic wrap on your counter and scrape the chilled cheese mixture into the center. Gather up the corners of the plastic with one hand and use your other hand to twist and shape the cheese into a rough ball. Don’t stress if it feels a little soft—it will firm up as it chills. Refrigerate for at least an hour, or until it’s firm enough to handle.
Step 4: Coat the cheeseball. On a plate, combine the chopped pecans and parsley. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the mixture until fully coated.
Step 5: Chill and serve. Refrigerate the cheese ball until ready to serve. Let it sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving so that it has a spreadable texture.
More Crowd-Pleasing Appetizers You May Like
Cheese Ball
Ingredients
For the Cheese Ball
- 4 oz (½ cup) goat cheese (or 2 oz each goat cheese and blue cheese), at room temperature
- 3 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup chopped dates (see note)
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped scallions, white and green parts, from 2 to 3 scallions
- ⅓ cup salt-and-butter roasted pecans, chopped (see recipe below) or store-bought salted pecans
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
For the Salt-and-Butter-Roasted Pecans
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the Cheese Ball
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the beaters or paddle attachment, combine the goat cheese (and blue cheese, if using), cream cheese, butter, hot sauce, and salt. Mix on medium-low speed until evenly combined. Add the dates and scallions and mix on low speed until evenly blended. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 15 minutes. Place a large sheet of plastic wrap on a work surface, remove the cheese mixture from the fridge, and scrape the mixture onto the center of the plastic wrap. Holding the four corners of the plastic in one hand, twist the cheese with your other hand to seal the plastic and shape the cheese into a rough ball. Don't worry if the cheese is soft. It will firm up in the refrigerator. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until the cheese ball is firm enough to handle.
- Combine the chopped pecans and parsley on a plate. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the nut mixture until evenly coated. Chill until ready to serve. Let the cheeseball sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving so that it has a spreadable texture. Serve with crackers.
For the Salt-and-Butter Roasted Pecans
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.
- In a medium bowl, toss the pecans with the melted butter and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Spread the pecans out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the pecans are slightly darkened and fragrant. While still hot, sprinkle the pecans with the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt. Let cool for 10 minutes. The nuts will keep for 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
- Do not use pre-chopped dates from a bag, as they are sweetened. I use whole pitted Medjool dates; you'll need 4 to 6 dates to get ⅓ cup chopped.
- Make-Ahead/Freezing Instructions: The cheese ball can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 1 month (if freezing, wait until you thaw the cheese ball to roll it in the nuts). To freeze, wrap the cheese ball well in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Comments
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Is there another cheese to use instead of goat?
Thank you
Sure, you can use blue, cheddar, or gruyere cheese instead. Hope you enjoy!
Made this for Thanksgiving and now have been asked to bring one for Xmas dinner. Delicious.
I prepared the recipe as written but did use a combination of blue cheese and goat cheese. This was delicious. The buttered, salted pecans were such a great addition and way more flavorful than just roasted nuts. I highly recommend’
I completely ran out of pecans and only have thin sliced almonds on hand. Do you think those work instead of the pecans?
Yep!
Is it okay to substitute sweetened dried cranberries?
All the dried cranberries I find are sweetened.
Hi Mary, all dried cranberries are actually sweetened, so yes, they will work. 😊
This recipe was definitely a HUGE hit at our recent get-together! My husband wants me to make one for his faculty’s potluck. Unfortunately, I will have to roll the cheese ball in the nut and parsley, and re-wrap it in plastic the night before. Will the nuts and parsley become soft and unappealing by noon next day? Should I just omit the parsley? Thanks for your advice and tons of thanks for the fantastic recipe!
Hi Crissy, Glad it went over well! Assembling and coding it the night before should be fine. Hope everyone in your husband’s office enjoys. 😊
Thank you, Jenn! I KNOW they will love it and be asking for your recipe! He will be ready with your recipe and your website!
FYI to anyone needing to make the recipe GF: The goat cheese log you have pictured in the recipe ingredients photo, VERMONT CREAMERY GOAT CHEESE (4 oz.) is certified GF and is available at Whole Foods.
Hi Jenn,
I have a bag of chopped pecans. Can they still be roasted per your recipe?
Thanks,
Chris
Sure but they may take slightly less time in the oven, so keep an eye on them. Enjoy!
Love this recipe and made it with a twist for a cocktail party. After chilling, I rolled the mixture into olive size balls, then coated with the pecans/parsley and popped a pretzel stick in the top to make it easy to pick up. These went into the freezer on a tray for about 20-30 minutes to firm up before serving. The girls asked for these to be made for our next get together. Huge hit, thanks Jen.
I heading off to the store to buy the ingredients to make this tonight (I’m sure it will be a winner). I have loved all your recipes and just ordered one of your cookbooks from Amazon. Thanks for making me a better cook/chef!
💗
Oh wow, this was an absolute hit! Made this with your ham and cheese sliders and your deviled eggs. In fact, all of them were faves. Keepers, all!
This recipe looks amazing but can’t stand goat cheese. Is there a substitute you can recommend for the goat cheese? Thank you!
Sure, you can replace the goat cheese with equal parts cream cheese and blue cheese, or for a totally different flavor, you could go with shredded sharp Cheddar or Gruyere. Hope you enjoy whatever combo you use!
Thank you for this alternate recipe. So just to confirm I would use 3 oz cream cheese and 4 ounce cheddar OR Gruyère? Or equal parts cream cheese and desired cheese? Thanks! 🙏🏻
You’d stick with the 3 ounces of cream cheese and replace the goat cheese with 4 ounces of cheddar or gruyere. Hope that clarifies!