Description

Red, White, and Blue Cheese Balls are a festive appetizer filled with smoky roasted red peppers, sweet corn, and tangy blue cheese, coated with crunchy almonds and fresh chives.

Ingredients

For the Cheese Balls:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

3 tablespoons butter, softened

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pinch cayenne pepper

1 cup diced roasted red peppers

2 cups fresh white corn kernels

4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

For the Coatings:

½ cup chopped toasted almonds

½ cup sliced fresh chives

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Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, salt, pepper, cayenne, roasted red peppers, corn, and blue cheese. Stir until thoroughly combined.
Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until completely chilled.
Once chilled, use a sorbet scoop or tablespoon to form tablespoon-sized balls of the cheese mixture. Place them on a lined sheet pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate again for about 1 hour until firm.
Once firm, take the cheese balls and roll them in the coatings of toasted almonds and chives until completely covered.
After coating, roll each ball briefly in your hands to achieve a perfect round shape.
Transfer the coated cheese balls to a plate or pan and keep them chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

If you enjoy extra heat, you can add more cayenne pepper or even chopped jalapeño to the cheese mixture.
For a vegan version, substitute the cream cheese and butter with plant-based alternatives and choose a vegan-friendly coating like walnuts or pecans.
Feel free to get creative with different coatings, such as fresh herbs like rosemary or parsley, or different types of nuts.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: undefined
Category: Appetizer
Method: Mixing, Chilling
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cheese ball
Calories: 90
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 120mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 3g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 15mg