The Ultimate Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball

The season of baby showers, wedding showers and graduation parties is here. You may be hosting one of these celebrations yourself. Here is a great appetizer for your upcoming party. This Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball is a great appetizer for your upcoming event and will be the talk of your party!

Now the idea of making a cheese ball may scare you but I promise this is a fool proof recipe! No fancy super chef skills are needed to create this delicious ball of cheese 🙂 Plus it is so super delicious I could eat it as a meal. 

Items Needed: 

• Hand mixer or stand-alone mixer
• Spatula
• Mixing bowl with lid

Ingredients:

• Ranch dressing mix packet
• Milk
• Mayonnaise 
• 8oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 6oz softened cream cheese (room temperature)
• 5oz chopped pecans, almonds or walnuts 

First you will need to make a double-strength batch of ranch dressing. To make double-strength ranch dressing use one packet of ranch dressing mix, 1/2 cup mayonnaise and 1/2 cup milk. Mix together well. This is your double-strength batch of ranch dressing. Now you are ready to make the cheese ball!

With your electric mixer mix 6 oz room temperature cream cheese and 1/2 cup double-strength ranch dressing in mixing bowl until fairly smooth. Add the 8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese and mix until blended. Sometimes I add extra shredded cheddar cheese if the mixer seems too soupy. You want your mixture to be sticking together well. Form the mixture into a mound in the center of the bowl and cover. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Set a timer so you don’t forget about your cheese ball! I have forgotten about mine before and then had to wait for it to thaw out before I could complete the last step 😛 

After 30 minutes remove the bowl from freezer. Scoop mixture out and form it into a ball. Roll ball in chopped nuts of your choice to cover. This Cheddar Ranch Cheese Ball tastes best if you refrigerate it covered over night, but you can still serve it the same day, too.  Serve with crackers of your choice. 

There are some great things about this recipe.

1. You can make it ahead of time and keep it in the freezer. Wait to add the chopped nuts until the day you serve it. The nuts can get soft in the freezer. Just let the cheese ball defrost some and then roll in the chopped nuts and it’s ready to be served for party time!
2. It’s a huge crowd pleaser! Don’t be surprised when all your guest are standing and conversing around the cheese ball during the whole party. 
3. This is a great appetizer to serve while you work on completing the main course for your party. No grumbling tummies at your party. 

Print out this recipe and try it at your next event or party. Your guests will be so happy you did and you will love all the praise for your awesome cheese ball making skills!