The holidays aren’t quite over yet so put those resolutions aside for one more night and lets celebrate New Years Eve with cheese and champagne! I have the perfect last minute appetizer that you can whip up in a flash, just before your guests arrive.
We all have holiday memories of Port Wine Cheese Balls. Those shockingly pink, wine flavored, processed cheese balls from our childhood. Heck, I’ve had cravings for that stuff even as an adult! Well, this Cheery Cheddar & Garlic Cheese Ball is like the sophisticated, homemade version of that old favorite but way, way tastier!
Recently, Vons shared this recipe with me and I was excited to try it. Paired with a glass of ice cold, sparking champagne, you’ve got New Years Eve covered. This appetizer is simply shredded cheddar cheese blended with cream cheese, garlic, chives and spices, rolled up and served with crackers and a drizzle of red wine sauce if you are so inclined. This cheese ball is a thing of beauty to behold and to eat! Happy New Year!
photos by Leah Bergman
For more New Year’s Eve recipes, visit Von’s website & Pinterest boards for lots of tasty inspiration! A couple of recipes I plan to try: this Zesty Holiday Dip and these little Upside-Down Cakes baked in mason jars. Yum!
- 2 cups Lucerne® shredded triple cheddar blend (yellow mild, yellow sharp and white Vermont cheddar)
- ¼ cup Lucerne Cream Cheese
- 1-2 garlic cloves, smashed into a paste
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp chives, minced
- 2 tsp paprika
- Open Nature™ Flatbread Crackers
- 1 cup Red Wine
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- To make Wine Syrup, add red wine and sugar to a medium saucepan and reduce slowly over medium heat until thick and syrupy, or it measures about a quarter of its original volume. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Combine cheeses, garlic, salt, pepper, and chives in a food processor. Pulse the ingredients until for 30 seconds or until softened and mixed, then form into a round ball using your hands.
- To serve, sprinkle plate with paprika and drizzle with half of the Wine Syrup. Place “cheese ball” in center of plate, drizzle with remaining Wine Syrup and surround with crackers.
- *The original recipe calls for roasted garlic however I used raw because it's what I had on hand! If you use raw garlic you may want to cut down to 1 clove based on taste.
MaryAnne Locher says
Delicious! I’ll stick to one garlic clove next time, though.
lauren | love lola says
um, yum! that looks so amazing. gotta try it!