Bacon Gouda Pistachio Cheese Ball
If you don't mind a softer cheese ball, you can make and serve it right away (no need to refrigerate).
Ingredients
- 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. crispy bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 cup chopped pistachios
- 1 honey crisp apple, sliced
- 8 oz salami, made into flowers (folded in quarters)
- 10-12 cherry tomatoes
- 1 4.5 oz package 34 degree rosemary crisps
- 1 4.5 oz package 34 degree cracked pepper crisps
- 36 Lindt chocolates, in wrappers
Instructions
- Mix cream cheese with Gouda cheese. Mix in the black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes (optional). Form into a ball; coat with bacon. Place nuts in a shallow dish. Roll cheese ball in nuts to fully coat, pressing them into the ball. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 2 hours (optional). Serve with crackers or toasted baguette slices.
- Place the cheese ball on a small plate in the center of a round board. Around it, lay down the cherry tomatoes.
- Around the inner outside edge, lay down the Lindt chocolate pieces.
- Cut an apple in half; slice and fan each half on either side of the cheese ball.
- Fill in open areas with salami flowers (folded in quarters), and fanned out crackers!
- Serve and enjoy!