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Mini Cheese Balls made with ranch seasoning, sharp cheddar cheese, green onions and bacon. They’re absolutely perfect for entertaining or snacking!

This post is sponsored by Fisher Nuts. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A few weeks ago, I was at my friend Emily‘s house working on our marshmallow wreath video and she showed me a plate of adorable cheese balls. They were so cute that her little one thought they were chocolate candies and asked if she could have one after lunch.

Since I love a good cheese ball recipe and everything mini, I drew a little inspiration from Emily and added mini cheese balls to our New Year’s Eve menu. We’re keeping our NYE pretty low key. No fancy dinner out for us this year – and we’re totally okay with that because we get to spend the evening with family and Elle. And let’s be real, we’ll probably be in our jammies long before the ball drops.

While I’d love to be hosting a big shindig complete with loads of snacks like french onion dip and baked crab rangoon and pizza dip, I opted for simplicity.

We have a pretty simple menu planned that includes roasted beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, wedge salad and these mini cheese balls. And if I’m being honest, I picked up a strawberry cheesecake from Costco because I’m kinda dessert-ed out at the moment. No worries though, I have a few sweet treats planned for you next week!

The great thing about these mini cheese balls is that they come together in a matter of minutes. Simply toss everything into a bowl and give the mixture a good whirl with an electric mixer. Then use a mini scoop to portion and roll each ball. I chose to roll my mini cheese balls in Fisher’s chopped pecans for a little added crunch and sweetness, but really, the possibilities are endless.

You could use any kind of nut you like, from walnuts to sunflower seeds. I like to keep Fisher’s nuts on hand all the time, for adding to everything from granola to cookies, and especially sweet/savory applications like these cheese balls. Fisher’s nuts are my favorite to buy because they stand up neat and tall in my pantry with their easy-open, stand-up bags. It’s easy to see I’ve got pecans, walnuts, and almonds at the ready, and whether or not I’m running low on any of them. Plus, you can’t beat the variety!

Whether you’re getting all dolled up for a fancy-schmancy New Year’s on the town, or spending the evening on your couch – I hope you have a fun and unforgettable evening with those you love. Happy New from our little family to yours! You can enjoy these mini cheese balls even if you’re going out – consider them a “pre-game” snack!

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Mini Cheese Balls

Yield: 40 mini cheese balls

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Mini Cheese Balls made with ranch seasoning, sharp cheddar cheese, green onions and bacon. They’re absolutely perfect for entertaining or snacking!

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Ingredients

• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1-ounce packet dry ranch seasoning mix (see below)
• 2 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked, cooled and crumbled

For the Garnish

• 1 cup Fisher chopped pecans

For Serving

• assorted crackers for serving

Instructions

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce and ranch seasoning mix until thoroughly mixed. Add in cheddar cheese, green onions and bacon and mix until combined. Cover and place mixture into the refrigerator for about one hour.

2. Use a small scoop to portion the cream cheese mixture. Roll into small balls and then roll into the chopped pecans.

3. Cover mini cheese balls and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

- Make sure you use the dry ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix and not the dip mix.

- These mini cheese balls taste best when they are allowed to chill for at least 8 hours to let the flavors marry.

Nutrition Information

Yield 40 Serving Size 1 mini cheese ball
Amount Per Serving Calories 119Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 25mgSodium 206mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 0gSugar 1gProtein 5g

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This post is sponsored by Fisher Nuts. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that continue to make My Baking Addiction possible.