Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls Recipe

 Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls Recipe Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls Recipe photo by Taste of Home Rating 0

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With chipped beef and three kinds of cheese, this appetizer from our Test Kitchen appeals to everyone. Make ahead of time to blend the flavors.
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Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls Recipe
  • Prep: 2 hours + chilling
  • Yield: 28 Servings
    •
120 120

Ingredients

  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
  • 2 packages (2-1/2 ounces each) thinly sliced dried beef, finely chopped
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) finely shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1-1/4 cups crisp rice cereal, crushed
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped white onion
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • TOPPINGS:
  • Blue paste food coloring
  • 1/2 cup finely shredded Swiss cheese, chopped
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
  • 1 can (4-1/4 ounces) chopped ripe olives
  • 1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 package (2-1/2 ounces) thinly sliced dried beef
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped green onions (green tops only)
  • 1/2 cup diced sweet yellow pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced sweet red pepper
  • 15 small water chestnut slices
  • 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon milk
  • Black paste food coloring
  • 2 breadsticks
  • Assorted crackers

Directions

  • In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, ricotta and sour cream; add beef. Beat in the cheddar cheese, cereal, onion and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
  • In a small shallow bowl, combine blue food coloring and Swiss cheese; set aside. Shape cheese mixture into 16 balls. Roll one ball in white onion for the cue ball. Roll another cheese ball in olives for the eight ball. Roll a third ball in colored Swiss cheese; make a stripe of colored Swiss cheese on a fourth ball.
  • With remaining cheese balls, make six solid-colored balls and six striped balls by rolling in the cheddar cheese, beef, red onion, green onions, yellow pepper and red pepper. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
  • Thoroughly pat water chestnuts dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, milk and black food coloring. Cut a small hole in a corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip #4. Fill bag with cream cheese mixture. Write numbers on water chestnuts; lightly press one water chestnut onto each ball (except cue ball).
  • Arrange pool balls on a wooden cutting board. Use breadsticks for pool cues. Serve with crackers. Yield: 16 cheese balls (about 1/3 cup each).

Originally published as Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls in Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook Annual 2007, p180

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Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls Recipe

Rack 'em Up Cheese Balls

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(1-1) of 1 reviews

Reviewed on Sep. 16, 2012 by luvbngrammie

i am on a pool league and i can't wait to take them to our banquet. they are going to go over so great. what a great idea!

 
 

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