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    Home » recipes » appetizer » Garlic Herb Cheese Ball

    by Kathy Patalsky · updated: May 18, 2022 · published: Dec 3, 2019 · About 5 minutes to read this article. 3 Comments

    Garlic Herb Cheese Ball

    Jump to Recipe
    garlic herb cheese ball

    I love a good cheese ball around the holidays! And this Garlic Herb Cheese Ball, made using vegan ingredients, garlic, lemon and fragrant dried herbs is one worthy of a holiday party or simple anytime snacking.

    cheese and crackers appetizer
    creamy and rich, yet light and fluffy
    walnut crusted cheese ball
    happy cat under the tree
    Mr. White is certainly enjoying his Christmas tree.

    Holiday Appetizer

    Super easy to make, this recipe for my vegan Garlic Herb Cheese Ball comes together in about a half hour and requires no baking, just a quick blend to whip things to fluffy, cheesy perfection – and a bit of chill time.

    Stack some crackers or veggie sticks on your serving plate and enjoy the cheese ball fun. This cheese ball goes perfectly with fancy “cheese platter” type ingredients like:

    Cheese Platter Ingredients to Try:

    • fancy olives
    • dried fruit
    • apple slices
    • aged cashew cheese
    • crackers
    • marcona almonds
    • grapes
    • whole satsumas, leaves and stems in tact
    • pretzels
    • salted mixed nuts
    • sourdough or crostini
    garlic herb cheese ball
    vegan cheese ball

    How to Roll a Cheese Ball:

    It’s actually a pretty easy process! First, make sure your cheese ball mixture is well chilled. I actually pop mine in the freezer for ten minutes or so to really firm things up. If you are finding that your mixture is just too wet, you can always try folding in more cheese shreds or even another pinch of the dried herbs. but really, it should be good to go after chilling. Then you oil-coat your hands and roll into a ball. The final step is to roll the ball in your chopped nuts. Chill again to set and serve!

    garlic herb cheese ball
    party approved cheese ball

    How good is this cheese ball?

    Well, let’s just say that I had one bite and then an hour later I was coming back for more and basically devoured half this ball and some of my fave rye crisps and veggie sticks for lunch. Cheese ball for lunch? Sure!

    Garlic Herb Cheese Ball Flavors..

    The creamy cheese flavor has a mild accent of salty Parmesan. Then the delicate Italian herbs come through in every bite, and a richness from the EVOO. And then all that dense creaminess is brightened up by the addition of lemon juice and pepper.

    So yeah….. to answer that question: SO GOOD!

    Party approved. TV binge-watching night approved. Anytime approved.

    Which vegan cream cheese to use?

    I just happen to have Tofutti on hand, so that is the brand I used. I also chose this brand because I know how thick and firm the texture is – which is helpful when making a cheeseball. For eating plain, such as on bagels, I love Kite Hill’s cream cheese. But Kite Hill tends to be a bit softer, so that brand still needs to be tested for this recipe.

    I also like Tofutti because it always seems to be the cheapest brand on the shelf. Helpful if you are making multiple cheese balls this holiday season!!

    What about the herbs?

    I like using dried herbs because they soak up any excess liquid in the cheese, making it an easier mold into a ball. If you want to fold in a few pinches of fresh basil or parsley, finely chopped, go for it! But the dried herbs, I found, do the trick just fine.

    My dried herbs were a mix of: oregano, basil, thyme and savory. Summer savory, or santoreggia, is my favorite lesser known italian herb. I found it at Eataly and absolutely love it!

    • Dried herbs blend
    • Savory herb
    garlic herb cheese ball

    Garlic Herb Cheese Ball

    Creamy and light, this vegan garlic, herb cheese ball has an accent of lemon to brighten the rich cheesy texture, walnuts coating the outside. Perfect for a party appetizer, cheese platter or everyday snacking.
    4.42 from 12 votes
    click the stars to rate
    Print Pin
    Prep: 10 mins
    Chill Time: 20 mins
    Total: 30 mins
    Servings: 8 servings

    Ingredients

    Cheese Ball:

    • 8 oz cream cheese, vegan
    • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 4 tablespoon Parmesan shreds, vegan
    • 1 tablespoon mixed dried italian herbs, unsalted
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoon garlic granules
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

    Coating:

    • ½ cup raw walnuts, or pecans

    For hands:

    • 1-2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

    Instructions

    • Add all the cheese ball ingredients to a small mixing bowl.
    • Beat the ingredients together until smooth and fluffy. Scrape the bowl and spoon the cheese together to form a sort of very flat ball. Just to get the mixture tight and together.
    • Place the bowl of whipped cheese in the freezer for 15 minutes.
    • Finely chop your walnuts or pecans.
    • Remove cheese from the freezer. Pour EVOO on your hands and coat your palms in the oil. Then using your hands, scoop the chilled cheese from the bowl and roll it gently into a ball shape. Roll the cheese ball in the chopped walnuts, coating all sides.
    • Place the ball gently on your serving plate and place it back in the freezer. Allow to chill for five minutes.
    • Serve the cheese ball with crackers, crostini or veggie sticks. Best when eaten within an hour of removing from the fridge.
    recipe author: Kathy Patalsky

    Notes

    vegan cream cheese brand: I used Tofutti, but other brand you could use include Kite Hill (the best flavor and texture) or Follow Your Heart. 

    nutrition estimate | per serving

    Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
    Appetizer
    American
    cheese, christmas, easy, garlic, holiday, party food, snacks, vegan, walnuts
    Did you make this?Snap a pic + tag me! @KathyPatalsky

    Pin it for later!

    garlic herb cheese ball

    Want more cheese spread ideas? This similar recipe uses cashews in the mix.

    More appetizer

    • Sage-Citrus Butternut Squash Dip
    • Toasty Pumpkin Chickpea Fritters
    • Sweet ‘n Spicy Glazed Cocktail Balls
    • Party-Ready Cashew Cheese Spread

    About Kathy Patalsky

    Hey there! I'm Kathy, lover of kitty cats, weekend baking, 90's movies, travel, beach fog and foamy lattes. Since 2007, I have been sharing my vegan recipes and photos. My goal is to make your cooking life a little easier, delicious - and plant-loaded - while sharing some LIFE and conversation along the way.

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