Cheese Truffles (Mini Cheese Balls)

Last Updated April 25th, 2024 at 11:59 am by Lisa

Cheese Truffles are loaded with delicious flavors and toppings. Serve with crackers or pretzels for an easy appetizer and fun party food!

Scooped in small bites, these mini cheese balls are rolled in fine herbs, toasted nuts, cheese cracker crumbs, seasoning mixes, or assorted grated cheeses.

We all want appetizer ideas that look super impressive, can be prepped ahead, are very tasty, and everyone keeps reaching for during the party. These check every box...

Cheese Truffle Recipe

PRO TIP: Make these cheese ball bites up to a day ahead, keep in an airtight container on parchment paper chilled until your party starts.

I guarantee right now, you might even have all the ingredients to make these today! Take a peek in your pantry, freezer, and fridge...

• 2 - 8 ounce boxes of cream cheese
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup pepper jack cheese
• ½ cup crispy crumbled bacon or bacon bits
• ¼ cup green onions or chives
• 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ cup sour cream
• Serve with crackers, pretzels, or pita chips.

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Cheese Truffles Toppings

• assorted grated cheeses
• crumbled crispy bacon, green onions, and grated cheddar cheese
• crushed regular or candied pecans
• chopped fresh herbs: rosemary, thyme, and parsley
• crushed pretzels
• crushed parmesan whisps cheese crips
• crushed cheddar cheese crackers

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Pull the 2 packages of cream cheese out on the kitchen counter at least 30 minutes so they are easier to mix.

Make the crumbled bacon (it's worth the time!) but good bacon bits work in a pinch and save time. Cook bacon the way you like to and crumble it, you will need 1 cup for this recipe.

PRO TIP: 1 pound of sliced bacon makes about 1 ½ cups of crispy crumbled bacon so you will have some extra.

To cook in a large skillet or cast iron pan, slice a package of bacon slices into ½ pieces, and saute over medium heat, stir the chopped bacon pieces with a wooden spoon until crispy. Takes about 12 minutes. Drain the crumbled bacon on a paper towel over a baking sheet.

Grate the cheddar cheese and pepper jack cheese on a box grater or food processor. Pregrated cheeses are fine too!

In a large bowl, add the two cream cheese blocks, grated sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, crumbled crispy bacon, green onions, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and sour cream.

Mix cream cheese mixture with a hand mixer, in the metal bowl of a stand mixer, or stir with a large spatula until well combined.

Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Use a small 1" springloaded scoop and make individual cheese truffle balls. A scoop is great, and makes it go faster.

Or measure out 1 tablespoon of cream cheese truffles into balls. Roll them round in your hands.

Crush your toppings in a small food processor, in a plastic zip-top bag with a rolling pin, or chop on a board with a chef's knife. Place each topping in each bowl.

The toppings I used are; assorted grated cheeses, crushed pecans or Candy Pecans, chopped herbs, crushed pretzels, crispy bacon/green onions/cheddar cheese, crushed cheddar cheese crackers, and crushed parmesan whisps cheese crips.

Roll one truffle at a time in the mixture, and press the toppings onto each truffle. Sprinkle on some extra in spots. Place your tasty truffles on a platter. Wrap well with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve for up to 1 day.

Serve chilled on a platter with assorted crackers, pretzels, or pita chips.

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Flavors & Variations

Use some ingredients you prefer or have on hand. Here are a few ways to mix things up...

Bacon

Real bacon is the best, if you buy a 1-pound package of sliced bacon, it will cook down to 1 ½ cups of cooked crumbled bacon. You will need 1 cup for this recipe.

Seasonings

Instead of the Ranch seasoning packet, add a teaspoon of a seasoning salt blend, some Worcestershire sauce, or Everything Bagel seasoning.

Veggies, Dried Fruits, & Herbs

 In place of green onions, add fresh parsley, dill, or some chopped basil and rosemary. Or add some chopped Sun Dried Tomatoes or confetti of chopped colorful bell peppers. Dried cranberries or cherries would be so pretty for the holidays!

Meats

Add in chopped salami, slice some ham or pepperoni into thin small ribbons and mix it into the cheese ball.

Nuts & Seeds

 Roll in crushed toasted or Candied Pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, or toasted pine nuts.

Cheeses

Good grated cheese will make your cheese ball really tasty, add in Monterey jack cheese, parmesan cheese, feta, pecorino romano, white cheddar cheese, or Colby jack cheese.

Goat Cheese Truffles

For all you goat cheese fans, swap in goat cheese in place of the cream cheese, and make goat cheese balls rolled in different toppings!

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More Cheese Appetizers

Make Holiday Cheese Balls appetizers this year. There are four flavors of these Christmas appetizers to serve as party food all season. The Cheese Ball flavors are White Cheddar Rosemary Pomegranate, Pimento Cheese, Garlic Chive Goat-Cheese, and Cranberry Pecan. For game day football food, make a Bacon Ranch "Football Shaped" Cheese Ball and serve it with assorted crackers and pretzels or keep it classic and round Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball.

Serve a "pumpkin-shaped" Everything Bagel Cheese Ball appetizer for your next Fall party, Thanksgiving, and it's always a hit! Easy to make ahead in 15 minutes, chill, and take to a gathering.

Gorgeous Layered Cheese Appetizers with deli-style sliced cheeses and a creamy filling loaded with chopped nuts and dried fruit. Eat them as a snack or fancy finger food hors d'oeuvres! People will be fascinated by the elegant stacks, and they are so pretty on charcuterie boards.

Everyone loves cheese appetizers, and there is nothing easier than Marinated Mozzarella Balls on a gorgeous Charcuterie Board with some crackers, crusty bread, and drinks to get the party going.

Boursin Cheese whips together in just minutes for an easy appetizer. One of the best ways to eat it is simply with toasted warm bread or crackers. What makes this spread so good? The creamy texture from the whipping process, a grate of real parmesan cheese, garlic & fine herbs.