Description
Ready to impress your guests without breaking a sweat? This Olive Cheese Ball is your go-to appetizer for any gathering. It combines tangy green olives, sharp cheddar, and creamy cheese rolled in a nutty herb crust. Ideal for holiday spreads, quick party prep, or just a delicious, easy recipe for any snack board. Think quick appetizer, no-bake snack, cheese dip ideas, savory holiday recipe, easy crowd-pleaser—all in one creamy ball.
Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped green olives (pimento-stuffed)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (for coating)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or dill (for coating)
Instructions
1. In a mixing bowl, blend cream cheese and sharp cheddar with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.
2. Fold in chopped olives, cranberries, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper using a spatula.
3. Transfer the mixture to a sheet of plastic wrap and shape it into a ball. Chill for at least 1 hour.
4. On a plate, mix chopped nuts and fresh herbs. Roll the chilled cheese ball in the mixture until fully coated.
5. Place the ball on a serving plate with crackers or vegetables. Serve immediately or keep refrigerated until serving.
Notes
For the best texture, let the cheese ball sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
Want a color boost? Add a sprinkle of dried cranberries to the outer coating.
This recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 35mg