This simple fall recipe is an easy holiday appetizer or game-day snack.
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Table of Contents
❤️ Why you'll love it
- Easy holiday appetizers that can be made up to 3 or 4 days ahead of time
- Cheese balls go together in 5 minutes. It just doesn't get easier without a caterer!
- It has a unique combination of flavors.
Cheddar cheese ball recipes are a dime a dozen. They are most often savory and sometimes even spicy.
I decided to go a little different direction with this tangy-sweet apple and cheddar appetizer.
I sweetened it with maple syrup and covered it in toasted pecans. The sweet-salty/ creamy-crunchy combinations make you keep going back for just one more bite.
This easy apple cheddar cheese ball recipe is full of fall flavors from tangy apple and maple to sharp cheddar and toasted pecans. Two types of apples are diced and mixed in.
I like to keep the peels on to give the cheese ball color and texture.
📖 Variations
- Substitute ripe pears for the apples.
- Add some grated Pepper Jack cheese to give it some heat.
- Shape mixture into an apple shape for a cute presentation. Use a cinnamon stick for the apple stem
- If you like a little more sweetness add a tablespoon of brown sugar to the recipe.
- If you have a little more time you can make mini cheese ball truffles. Be sure to cut the apple quite small if you decide to do this. Also, it's a good idea to put the small, individual cheeseballs on toothpicks for ease of serving.
🥫 How to store leftovers
You can make this a day or two ahead of time. Just wrap with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated. Take it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you're ready to serve it so it can come to room temperature.
If you have some leftover (which is very unlikely!) use it as a spread for bagels.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Refrigerate the cheese mixture overnight before shaping into a ball. Not only does it make it easier to work with the cheese and shape it properly but the flavors meld together and it will taste better.
Cheese balls are some of the most popular, easiest holiday appetizers ever. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep the making them even easier!
- Soak the apple pieces in lemon juice and water for a few minutes before using. It will keep the apples from getting brown.
- Toasted nuts really do make a difference! To toast nuts in the oven, spread them in single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 15 min. or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Use full fat cream cheese. Trust me on this - it just works better.
- Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature before trying to mix the ingredients.
- Don't roll the cheeseball in the chopped pecans until just before serving - they'll get soggy.
- Leave the peels on the apples for color.
- You can dice the apple in large or small dice - I just don't recommend grating or shredding.
When I was refining the recipe I thought it would be quick and easy to just pop everything in my food processor. HA! It turns into a very soft dip -- really yummy but not what I wanted.
👩🍳 FAQs
The base is usually soft cheese like cream cheese with a grated cheese mixed in. Choices for grated cheeses are often Cheddar, Colby, Monterey Jack, etc. Other ingredients are mixed in for texture and flavor.
Stored in the refrigerator a cheese ball is good for a few days up to 2 weeks depending on the other ingredients.
📚 Related recipes
- I love this spicy pumpkin-shaped cheeseball for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
- Baked brie with apples and bacon looks fancy but it's so easy.
🍽️ Serve with...
Serve this with apple slices, graham crackers, vanilla wafers, butter crackers -- just about any type of cracker or bread that isn't highly flavored with savory herbs like garlic.
📞 The last word
The sharp cheddar cheese paired with sweet apples is a classic flavor combination. It's perfect as part of a tray of easy holiday appetizers, a charcuterie board, or served with your favorite crackers on game day.
If you happen to be looking for something for brunch this apple bread recipe is quick AND delicious!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Apple Cheddar Cheese Ball
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ½ cup Honeycrisp apple, ,peel left on - diced
- ½ cup Granny Smith apple, ,peel left on - diced
- 1 pound cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups Sharp Cheddar, , shredded
- 1-½ teaspoons maple syrup
- 1-½ cups pecans, , toasted and chopped
Instructions
- Dice the apples.
- Blend the cream cheese and maple syrup until well mixed.
- Stir in the cheese and the diced apple.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Next day shape the cheese mixture into a ball.
- Gently press the chopped nuts into the cheese ball.
- Refrigerate until serving time.
Notes
- Refrigerate the mixture overnight before shaping. It makes it easier to shape.
- Soak the apple pieces in lemon juice and water for a few minutes before using. It will keep the apples from getting brown.
- Toasted nuts really do make a difference! To toast nuts in the oven, spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 15 min. or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Use full-fat cream cheese. Trust me on this - it just works better.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before trying to mix the ingredients.
- Don't roll the cheeseball in the chopped pecans until just before serving - they'll get soggy.
- Leave the peels on the apples for color.
- You can dice the apple in large or small dice - I just don't recommend grating or shredding.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published October 2, 2017. Last updated July 9, 2024 for more helpful information and editorial improvements.
Christi says
Is this freezeable?
Marye says
No, the apples get a weird texture.