Green Olive Cheese Balls
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Refrigeration time: 1 hour
- Baking time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Ingredients
For Single recipe
(Makes 24 Green Olive Cheese Balls)
Serves 6
Baking Pan:
- Quarter Sheet Pan (approx. 9x12-inches)
Flour and Spices:
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- Dash cayenne pepper
- Dash of black pepper
Cheese:
- 1 cup coarsely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (4-ounces)
Butter and Worcestershire Sauce:
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- ⅛ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Olives:
- About 24 small pimiento-stuffed green olives, drained (see Comments below)
Ingredients
For Double recipe
(Makes 48 Green Olive Cheese Balls)
Serves 12
Baking Sheet:
- Standard half-sheet pan (approx. 13x18-inches)
Flour and Spices:
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- Generous dash of cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Cheese:
- 2 cups coarsely shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8-ounces)
Butter and Worcestershire Sauce:
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ⅛ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Olives:
- About 48 small pimiento-stuffed green olives, drained
Instructions
-
Get out an ungreased cookie sheet and set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour and spices.
- Mix in the cheddar cheese.
- Pour the melted butter into the bowl.
- Use a fork to incorporate the butter into the flour and spice mixture.
- Use your hands to bring the dough together into a ball. NOTE: Do not overwork the dough.
- Mold 1 teaspoon of dough around each olive and roll between your palms to shape into a ball. NOTE: An exact teaspoon of dough is just right. Too much dough will overwhelm the olives.
- NOTE: If the dough becomes dry and crumbly add a sprinkle of water and bring it back together with your hands.
- Place the dough balls 1-inch apart on the cookie sheet.
- Cover the cookie sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until set.
- Serve.
Comments
Do Ahead Tip: Roll the olives in the dough, place them on the baking sheet covered, and refrigerate for up to a day. Then pop them in the preheated oven just before your guests arrive!For a different flavor try using green olives stuffed with garlic.