Party food has to do a lot—please a diverse crowd (Paleo-ites, picky eaters, veg-heads), taste great, look good, and be at its best whenever your guests want to nibble. That normally requires some work from the host, rendering them sadly alert and on task all night.

Not the mighty cheeseball. All you have to do is mix, get your roll on into a selection of amazing toppings, and then chill until it’s party time. As the evening rolls on, put out another ball. That’s it! Now you can actually focus on enjoying yourself instead of reheating puff pastries while everyone else has fun.

 

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INGREDIENTS

Cheese Ball Base:

Makes 3 Cheese Balls
3 24 oz. packages of cream cheese
1 8 oz. log of softened goat cheese
½ cup softened unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Hot sauce to taste (optional)
2 Tablespoons chives (optional)
 
Topping Options: 
Funyuns
Black and white sesame seeds
Pistachios (or substitute with walnuts) 
Triscuits
Chives
Parsley
 

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine the cream cheese, butter, lemon juice in the bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment. Add salt, pepper, and hot sauce to your liking. Mix until combined.
2. Add in goat cheese and mix until combined.
3. Form the mixture into three balls—you’ll be able to experiment with a different topping for each one. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate to chill. You can build your cheese base the day before, and then add on toppings pre-party.
4. One hour before serving, roll each ball in the topping of your choice and then chill until you are ready to serve.

 

 
Hi-Brow / Low Brow 
Mix your 7/11 favorite snack with a mixture of Asian toppings. Roll your ball in a mix of crushed Funyuns and black and white sesame seeds.
 
Go Nuts 
Shell out for a plethora of shelled pistachios. Crush them and toast them lightly on a roasting pan in the oven. Once they have cooled, roll your ball in the roasted pistachios. (You can also substitute walnuts for this recipe.) 
 
Crackers on your Cheese 
Get really meta by serving them Triscuits on Triscuits. Shred Triscuits completely and roll your ball in the shards to cover completely.  
 
Herbs the Word 
Give them a hint of something green with an herbaceous ball. Chop chives and parsley, then roll to cover. Serve with gluten free crackers.