mini cheeseball bites featured image
Mini cheese ball bites are the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve or any time! Roll them in your favorite topping and stick a pretzel in them for an easy bite-sized app!
Jump to Recipe

Mini Cheese Ball Bites are the perfect appetizer for your holiday party! This cute little finger food appetizer is made just like the big version, but rolled in tons of options like dried fruit, nuts, bacon, and more! Then topped off with a pretzel stick so they are easy to grab and pop in your mouth!

mini cheeseball bites hero image


Cheese Ball Bite Appetizers

Mini cheese ball bites have officially replaced my go-to cheese ball appetizer. Making them miniature has totally changed the game! These are a huge hit whenever I bring them to a party. The best part is that they can be made in a variety of flavors, so there’s something for everyone. 

The single-serve bite-size form is so fun and makes it easy for people to eat them while standing or walking around. Unlike a traditional cheese ball, which can be a bit cumbersome to serve! They are great with crackers, pretzels, or even veggies!

hand picking one of the cheeseball

Why We Love This Cheese Ball Bites Recipe

  • Quick and easy to make – great make-ahead recipe.
  • Great appetizer for a get together or gathering.
  • Perfect appetizer for Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve or even a tailgate!
  • Finger food!
  • Can be made in a variety of flavors.
  • Homemade, and cheaper and way better than store-bought versions.
mini cheeseball bitten on top of plate

Ingredients / Shopping List

  • Cream cheese
  • White cheddar cheese
  • Salted sweet cream butter
  • Horseradish sauce
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Green onions
  • Dried cranberries
  • Sliced almonds
  • Pecans
  • Bacon (cooked)
  • Pretzel sticks 
ingredients list

Substitutions and Additions

  • CHEESE: You can substitute any freshly shredded cheese in the cheese ball.
  • SPICY: Want to add some heat to your cheese balls? Try adding a teaspoon of hot sauce to the cheese mixture before chilling. You could also split the mixture in two and add the spiciness to half.
  • TOPPINGS: You could use any type of toppings to roll your cheese balls in. Another option would be to leave the cheese balls plain, or roll them in shredded cheese if you just want the cheese flavors!

SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW

How to Make Mini Cheese Ball Bites

Your mini cheese balls will come together quickly and easily. The prep work only takes about 15 minutes! Then, just wait for them to chill and add your toppings. That’s what I like to call an easy party appetizer!

  1. Beat the cream cheese and butter together.
    Beat the cream cheese and butter together.
  2. Add the cheddar cheese, horseradish, and worcestershire. Mix until well combined.
    MIx the cheddar cheese, horseradish, and worcestershire
  3. Cover the bowl tightly and chill for 1 hour.
  4. Scoop out the cheese mixture into 1 tablespoon pieces and roll into a ball.
    Scoop out the cheese mixture into 1 tablespoon pieces and roll into a ball
  5. Roll the cheese balls in the different toppings, completely coating each one.
    Roll the cheeseballs in the different toppings, completely coating each one
  6. Place the finished cheese balls on a prepared baking sheet.
    mini cheeseball coated with different toppings
  7. Just before serving, place a pretzel into the center of each cheese ball.
    Cheese Ball Bites in a tray

Storage Tips

  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Remove the pretzel sticks before storing. They will get soggy if left in the cheese balls.
  • To Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing your mini cheese balls. The consistency of the mix does not thaw well. These are best fresh.
Cheese Ball Bites with raisin topping

Frequently Asked Questions

What to serve with mini cheese ball bites?

You can use any type of pretzel or small, hard breadstick for serving. These are also delicious with crackers, pita chips, or bagel crisps. I’ve even tried them with veggies like carrots and celery before and it was delicious.

What type of cheese is best for a cheese ball?

Using cream cheese as the base is a must because it’s so soft and easy to manipulate into balls. As for the shredded cheese, you could use any flavor you’d like. You could even separate your mixture and add different cheese to some. It would be delicious to try these with a sharper cheese like Swiss or a spicy cheese like Pepper Jack!

Can these cheese balls be made ahead of time?

Yes, I actually prefer to make these cheese ball bites the night before and letting them sit in the refrigerator overnight to chill. I like to serve them best cold, so I get them all ready to go and then stick the pretzel stick in them right before I am ready to serve.

Cheese Ball Bites without pretzel sticks

Other Easy Appetizer Recipes

5 from 22 votes
mini cheeseball bites featured image

Mini Cheese Ball Bites

Serves — 30
Mini cheese ball bites are the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve or any time! Roll them in your favorite topping and stick a pretzel in them for an easy bite-sized app!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients
  

Cheese Balls

  • 16 ounce cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup white sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
  • 2 tbsp salted sweet cream butter softened
  • 1 tbsp horseradish sauce
  • 1 tsp worcestershire sauce

Toppings

  • ½ cup green onion finely chopped
  • ½ cup dried cranberries chopped
  • ½ cup sliced almonds chopped
  • ½ cup pecans finely chopped
  • 5 slices bacon cooked, finely chopped
  • 30 pretzel sticks

Instructions
 

  • Using a stand mixer, or a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high, beat the cream cheese and butter for 1 minute.
  • Add the cheddar cheese, horseradish sauce and the worcestershire sauce. Continue mixing on medium speed until well combined.
  • Tightly cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside.
  • Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out the cheese mixture. Roll it into a ball and set it on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Once all of the cheese mixture has been scooped and balled, roll the cheese balls in the different toppings until the cheese balls are completely coated. Return the coated cheese balls to the baking sheet.
  • Just before serving, stick the pretzel sticks into the center of the cheese ball.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Remove the pretzel sticks before storing. They will get soggy if left in the cheese balls.
  • To Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing your mini cheese balls. The consistency of the mix does not thaw well. These are best fresh.

Video

Nutrition Info

Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 172mg | Potassium: 82mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg

Related Recipes

Secrets to Quick & Easy Desserts
FREE EMAIL BONUS
How to make delicious desserts in no time at all!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How many stars would you give this recipe?




Comments

  1. Hi Im making your cheese ball appetizer for a reception and have been warned the cheeseballs may fall off the pretzel sticks im going to place them on a platter with an ice chamber below . Any other tricks to assembly that might be helpful ? Lisa W

  2. looks delicious. I am not a fan of horseradish is there a substitute I can use? Can I use orange cheddar instead of white?

    1. 5 stars
      I would say just leave the horseradish out, that is what I am going to do when I make them for our New Years Eve party.

  3. These are adorable! I am making these for a party tomorrow, and then again for Thanksgiving next week. So festive! I am just wondering how far in advance can they be made, maybe the day before? ❤️