Cheese Ball is a classic party appetizer that’s easy to make ahead of time. This cheese ball is made with homemade everything bagel seasoning, cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
It’s always better when you can make appetizers easily and ahead of time. Try my Ranch Cheddar Cheese Ball and Spinach Artichoke Dip.
CHEESE BALL
Have you tried everything bagel seasoning yet? Oh, you must try it as soon as possible. I’m not just talking about everything bagels, I’m talking about the seasoning itself. You can use it on sandwiches, rolls, pinwheels, chicken, hummus, dips, and so many other foods. This simple combination of garlic, onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and salt is not just for bagels anymore.
Cheese ball is that classic appetizer that I make for almost every holiday. It’s so easy and always popular at parties. I’ve tried many different flavors and incorporated different seasonal ingredients, but this one is now our favorite. Cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning make a perfect pair, after all.
You can serve this cheese ball with so many options. Try it with pretzels, crackers, bagel chips, chips, celery, cucumbers, carrot sticks, and many other vegetables. If you have any cheese ball leftover, spread it on your toast or bagel in the morning. It’s makes an amazing spread for sandwiches as well.
WHAT IS EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING
Everything bagel seasoning is pretty widely available in many grocery stores but it’s so easy to make at home whenever you need it. It’s a simple combination of dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, flaked salt, black sesame seeds, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Plus, it is a little cheaper to make your own seasoning.
To make everything bagel seasoning, simply combine all the ingredients together in a glass jar with a lid, close the lid tight, and shake it to mix. You can make it just for the recipe and make extra and store it in the same glass jar. Seasoning mixes tend to have a long shelf life, just make sure to store it in a cool, dark place.
HOW TO MAKE A CHEESE BALL
Before making the cheese ball, make sure to pull cream cheese out of the refrigerator and out of the paper box. Leave it to soften for 30 minutes to an hour.
Once cream cheese has softened, simply combine it with sour cream, cheeses, and everything bagel seasoning in a bowl and mix until everything is completely incorporated.
Place a large piece of plastic wrap inside a deep bowl and transfer the cream cheese mixture into the bowl. Bring all the end of plastic wrap together and twist to seal. Shape the mixture into a ball and place it back into a bowl. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
When ready to serve, unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in everything bagel seasoning. Let the cheese ball sit for 15-20 minutes before serving it to the guests. This will give it a chance to soften and be easier to spread.
Can I Make It Ahead?
Absolutely! One of the reasons I love this appetizer is that I can make it ahead of time. Just don’t roll it in seasoning until right before servings, that way the seasoning doesn’t get soggy. You can also wrap the cheese ball in an extra layer of aluminum foil, after it’s been wrapped in plastic wrap. This will give it a little more protection from exposure to air.
How Long Does Cheese Ball Last?
Properly stored and refrigerated, a cheese ball can last up to 10 days. Make sure to wrap it air-tight in plastic wrap.
Can I Freeze A Cheese Ball?
Technically yes, you can freeze a cheese ball before coating it in seasoning or nuts. In practice though, I have noticed a textural difference after the cheese ball has been defrosted. Since cream cheese and sour cream both contain a good amount of liquid, it doesn’t retain the same smooth texture after being defrosted.
HOW TO MAKE MINI CHEESE BALLS
Prepare the cream cheese mixture according to the recipe, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. No need to shape the mixture into a ball since it will be divided into small portions.
To keep mini cheese balls the same size, use a cookie scoop to scoop out even amounts of cheese mixture and roll them into balls. Roll each ball in seasoning mix.
Insert pretzel sticks into each mini cheese ball.
NOTE: you may need a little more seasoning mix for mini cheese balls.
MORE EASY APPETIZERS TO TRY:
Pomegranate Pecan Party Appetizer
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Everything Bagel Cheese Ball
Easy cheese ball made with homemade everything bagel seasoning, cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Everything Bagel Seasoning:
- 2 tbsp dried minced garlic
- 2 tbsp dried minced onion
- 1 1/2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 1/2 tbsp black sesame seeds
- 2 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tbsp flake salt more or less per personal taste
Cheese Ball:
- 16 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 4 oz grated white cheddar cheese
- 2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
Instructions
Everything Bagel Seasoning:
Combine all the ingredients together in a glass jar with a lid, close the lid tight, and shake it to mix.
Cheese Ball:
Pull cream cheese out of the refrigerator to soften 30-45 minutes before making the cheese ball.
Combine cream cheese with sour cream, grated cheeses, and everything bagel seasoning in a bowl and mix until everything is completely incorporated.
Place a large piece of plastic wrap inside a deep bowl and transfer the cream cheese mixture into the bowl.
Bring all the ends of plastic wrap together and twist to seal. Shape the mixture into a ball and place it back into a bowl.
Refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
About 20 minutes before serving, unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in everything bagel seasoning. (Let the cheese ball sit for 15-20 minutes before serving it to the guests. This will give it a chance to soften and be easier to spread.)
Recipe Notes
All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have a slight variation.
Lisa says
Do you put all 4T bagel seasoning in the ball?
LyubaB says
Hi, Lisa! Yes, you put 4tbs in the ball then roll it in the remaining seasoning.