Description
Jalapeno popper cheese ball brings creamy, spicy charm to party appetizers. Crisp crackers and fresh herbs complement this crowd-pleasing snack that will delight guests with its bold flavors and easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 packages (16 oz / 450 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (115 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup crispy cooked bacon, crumbled
- ¼ cup pickled jalapenos, finely chopped
- 2 fresh jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
- ¼ cup (60 g) sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
- ½ cup crushed crackers (like Ritz or pretzels)
- ¼ cup crispy cooked bacon, crumbled
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsps finely chopped jalapenos
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Vigorously whisk cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, and seasonings in a large bowl until achieving a silky, homogeneous consistency.
- Flavor Incorporation: Thoroughly integrate chopped pickled and fresh jalapenos, bacon fragments into the creamy foundation, ensuring uniform distribution of ingredients.
- Shaping Process: Envelop the spicy mixture in plastic wrap, compressing and forming a compact spherical shape with gentle, deliberate motions.
- Chilling Phase: Refrigerate the proto cheese ball for one hour, allowing flavors to meld and structure to solidify, enhancing overall taste profile.
- Exterior Coating: Crush crackers and combine with additional bacon crumbles, parsley, and jalapeno pieces to create a textured, flavorful exterior layer.
- Final Assembly: Retrieve chilled cheese ball, carefully roll through prepared coating mixture, pressing gently to ensure complete and even coverage.
- Presentation: Transfer to a serving platter, artfully arranging an assortment of crackers, pretzels, and fresh vegetable sticks alongside for an inviting appetizer spread.
Notes
- Manage Spice Level: Carefully seed and remove jalapeño membranes to control heat intensity, allowing guests with different spice tolerances to enjoy the dish.
- Bacon Crispness Matters: Cook bacon until extremely crisp and drain thoroughly on paper towels to prevent soggy coating and maintain optimal texture.
- Cheese Temperature Technique: Allow cream cheese to reach room temperature before mixing, ensuring smoother blending and preventing lumpy consistency.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cheese ball up to 2 days in advance and store covered in refrigerator to develop deeper flavor profiles and simplify party preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg