They are so flavorful! The combination of cream cheese, cheddar, parmesan, garlic, and bacon is amazing. These little savory appetizers are so delicious! A mixture of cheeses, spices, and crumbled bacon - why wouldn’t they be? When I entertain, I like to start the evening off with a few simple party appetizers and cocktails. Ideally, the appetizers can be made beforehand, and I can serve them at room temperature. So these are perfect!
Ingredients
Instructions
Recipe Card
Cream cheese: I use full-fat cream cheese in this recipe. Shredded cheddar: I like to use sharp or extra-sharp cheese. Grated Parmesan: Make sure you use finely grated parmesan and not coarsely shredded. To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, dried parsley, and cayenne pepper. Minced garlic: You can also use garlic powder (just ½ teaspoon). Bacon: I use store-bought bacon bits. If you’d like, you can cook bacon until crispy and crumble it very finely.
Place the cream cheese, cheddar, parmesan, garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, parsley, and cayenne in a large bowl. Mix with a rubber spatula until blended. Place the mixture in the freezer for 15 minutes. Shape the mixture into 12 balls, using a measuring tablespoon to scoop them out of the bowl. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove them from the fridge 30 minutes before serving. Even after freezing the mixture, shaping the balls is a bit messy, so you can wear food-grade disposable gloves if you wish. The leftovers work well as a quick snack. I even like them for lunch - I make a plate of them with a salad (such as this tomato salad) or fresh-cut veggies and sour cream dip. Remember to take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving them to allow them to get to room temperature. Some foods, such as cheese and chocolate, are best at room temperature. You can also freeze the leftovers. Start by placing them on a parchment-lined large sheet or tray. Place them in the freezer for 1-2 hours until frozen, then transfer them to a freezer bag. You can keep them in the freezer for up to three months.
