Not only does this cheese ball taste great, it looks marvelous as well. It’s really easy to put together and can be made ahead of time, saving you the stress of last-minute preparations just like this healthy guacamole. This would be great for any big game, get together, or potluck you might be having! Serve it with sturdy crackers or celery and carrot sticks as a game-changing appetizer.

cheese ball on plate surrounded by crackers

Gouda and Sun-Dried Tomato Cheese Ball

I don’t entertain a lot, but whenever my dad comes to visit I like to put out some dips and spreads, veggies and other munchables. When he came up I made this cheese and a few other fun things. This cheese ball is delicious and packed with smoked Gouda flavor and wonderful sun-dried tomatoes!

Just a tip: You might want to take it out of the refrigerator an hour or so ahead and time to let it soften up a bit.

I made this cheese ball using my food processor, but you can mix everything with a wooden spoon. Using the food processor will cream the shredded cheese in with the cream cheese and combine it much better than by hand.

RELATED: These Mozzarella Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms make a great appetizer for a crowd!

cheese ball mixture spread onto a cracker

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Ingredients for Gouda and Sun-Dried Tomato Cheese Ball

adapted from Betty Crocker’s Cookbook

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
2 cups shredded Gouda cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Food processor
Mixing Bowls
Cutting board
Chefs knife

Cheese ball recipe

Combine cream cheese and Gouda cheese in food processor until creamy. Remove cheese mixture from processor and place in a bowl.

Shape mixture into 1 large or 2 small balls or logs; roll in pecans.

Chop up the sun dried tomatoes.

bowl of cream cheese with chives and sun dried tomatoes

Combine chives, tomatoes and garlic powder with the cheese mixture.

cheese ball being covered with chopped nuts

Shape mixture into 1 large or 2 small balls or logs; roll in pecans.

cheese ball with crackers on a plate

Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours but no longer than 2 weeks. Serve with crackers. Doesn’t it look delicious? This cheese ball will knock your guest’s socks off! It’s a pretty impressive looking ball of cheese if I don’t say so myself.

Looking for more appetizer recipes? Check out this Hot Spinach Dip, another great dip for any gathering. Or this Cranberry Salsa, which is perfect for Fall or Thanksgiving! If you’re a cheese lover like me, you’ll enjoy this 2 ingredient Ricotta Whipped Feta, the easiest recipe EVER! Or for a refreshing twist, these Cucumber Sandwiches are a family favorite around here, I make them just about every Thanksgiving or family gathering!

For fall or the holidays, be sure to try my Cranberry Cheese Ball or my Snowman Cheeseball.

This post was originally published on this blog on Jan 4, 2011.

cheeseball surrounded by crackers