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Bacon & Smoked Gouda Cheese Ball (Nuts Optional)

December 15, 2014 by Mirlandra 13 Comments

Jump to Recipe

 The perfect nut free cheese ball full of smoked Gouda and rolled in yummy bacon. In 10 minutes you can make a picture perfect ball that everybody will love.

Close up image of a big smoked gouda cheese ball. The ball has been rolled in cooked bacon and you can see one slice off the end. It is sitting on a blue pottery plate.

 

Marriage changes your life in every way I can think of. In my case those changes have been for the better, opening my heart and mind and growing me into a woman I respect. It also has caused the event of the Bacon & Smoked Gouda Cheese Ball.

Before I was married I had never eaten one of the famous balls of cheese. I remember seeing some purple ones in Winco and thinking that some people were crazy. I know, I judged, and I’m sorry. Jonathan grew up with cheese balls.

Their tradition for tree decoration involves a wonderful variety of favorite family munchies – among them the cheese ball. Jonathan and I have carried this fun tradition into our married life and set the tree decorating time aside for all sorts of calorie rich and expensive treats we don’t usually splurge on.

We look forward to adding little ones to our family in the future and seeing what wonderful foods they pick out to add to our tradition. I hope they will be lovers of bacon and smoked Gouda and will ask me to make this cheese ball every year.

Faced with this new tradition, I was not going to buy a purple cheese ball. Purple = good. Cheese = good. However, I am not yet ready for purple cheese. Maybe in my 40s?

Instead I decided that I should take my current cheese crush (smoked Gouda) and pair it with the most logical thing ever – bacon! Just like my marriage, it is the perfect match of two best friends. First I rolled it in pecans. Then I needed an appetizer for a Christmas party where we were asked to not bring nuts into the home.

I pondered this only to realize that the simple answer was to roll the thing in bacon! I did just that, everybody who tries it gives it rave reviews and all of a sudden I don’t know quite how I made food before I discovered the cheese ball. Of course, I also don’t know quite how I lived without Jonathan so I guess it makes sense.

You can make this delicious ball either rolled in bacon or pecans – it is up to you. Just don’t be surprised if you get asked to make it again, and again and again.

 

Close up image of a big smoked gouda cheese ball. The ball has been rolled in cooked bacon and you can see one slice off the end. It is sitting on a blue pottery plate.
Print Pin
4.07 from 33 votes

Bacon & Smoked Gouda Cheese Ball (Nuts Optional)

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1 ball (serves about 20 at a party)

Ingredients

For the Cheese Ball

  • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups smoked Gouda grated
  • 10-15 grinds black pepper use smallest setting on the grinder
  • 1 Tbsp. bacon crumbles I used Kirkland pre-cooked
  • 1/2 tsp. minced chives
  • 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

Roll Ball In

  • 1 cup bacon crumbles or chopped pecans

Instructions

  • In a medium mixing bowl use a fork to mash all ingredients except bacon/pecans to roll the cheese ball in.
  • Use a spatula to scrape the cheese mixture out unto a large piece of cling wrap. Use your hands to mold the cheese into a ball inside of the plastic wrap. If you have time, refrigerate the ball for an hour or so to firm it up. If not proceed to the next step.
  • Gently unmold the cling wrap from the ball and place it on a bed of bacon or pecans. Roll the ball until every side is covered in the coating. If there are a few bare spots press bacon in gently to cover.
  • Serve with a variety of crackers.

Notes

Tips:
1. Make the ball a day or so ahead so the flavor has time to develop a bit.
2. If you choose to roll the ball in pecans try adding 4 Tbsp. of bacon to the ball instead of 1 to up the bacon flavor.
3. For a variation try using ½ cup of pecans and ½ cup of bacon to roll the ball. Either mix them together before rolling or do half the ball in pecans and half in bacon. Have fun with it!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. gail

    January 12, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    This was delicious! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Mirlandra

      January 14, 2016 at 7:27 pm

      I’m glad you liked it!

      Reply
  2. Denise Wright

    August 08, 2016 at 9:04 am

    I’m making this for my book club tonight and can’t wait to try it. We read a book called Smoke so it’s very appropriate!

    Reply
    • Mirlandra

      September 27, 2016 at 4:11 pm

      Ooo I love book club nights! My book club tries to make food themed on the book and it is a true treat! Hope you had a great time with your friends 🙂 I have not read “Smoke” so now I’m curious!

      Reply
  3. easypeasylifematters

    November 19, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    My mouth won’t stop watering, this sounds so good! 🙂

    Reply
    • Mirlandra

      November 23, 2016 at 12:46 am

      Awe, thanks!

      Reply
  4. Abbey

    November 18, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    Are the minced chives necessary? And what if your black pepper isn’t in a grinder? Is there a rough measurement of black pepper?

    Reply
    • Mirlandra

      November 22, 2017 at 9:30 pm

      I like the flavor from the chives but by all means try it without! Food should be the way YOU like it. Try about 1/8 tsp. black pepper (a course grind size is best). Thanks for asking – sorry it was unclear!

      Reply
  5. SE

    November 14, 2018 at 7:09 am

    5 stars
    This is awesome! Can you make ahead and freeze it?

    Reply
    • Mirlandra

      November 14, 2018 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks! It is a favorite of mine that I’m just getting ready to do for Thanksgiving 🙂 I have not made it ahead and frozen it but I would be concerned that the texture might not be very nice. The nuts would certainly be a problem. You could make it several days ahead, leave the nuts off and refrigerate it well wrapped in plastic wrap. Just roll it in the nuts when you get it out and it would be ready to go! Hope that helps! Enjoy your holiday!

      Reply
  6. Michelle Vincent

    June 16, 2019 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    This is amazing” thank you so much for posting! I brought home an empty plate!

    Reply
    • Mirlandra

      June 17, 2019 at 11:21 am

      You are most welcome! This is always a favorite of mine for parties – it goes SO fast!

      Reply

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Welcome!  I’m Mirlandra

I provide real dinner solutions so busy women can kick kitchen overwhelm to the curb and learn to make simple, healthy dinners to fit any schedule and family.

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